Three dozen people storm out of a Sunday service.

ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -About half the members of an Episcopal parish walked out of Sunday services to protest the dismissal of their interim minister, who opposes an openly gay man’s selection as New Hampshire bishop.

About halfway through the service at Church of the Redeemer, approximately 35 people who opposed the choice of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as bishop-elect walked to the street and held a news conference to express their anger at the removal of the Rev. Donald Wilson.

Bishop Douglas Theuner of the Diocese of New Hampshire removed Wilson on Friday for insubordination when Wilson refused to come to Concord to meet with Theuner on the matter. Robinson will automatically succeed Theuner when the bishop retires next year.

Church of the Redeemer, which has about 70 members, recently voted 28-10 to oppose Robinson’s selection. Wilson came to Sunday’s service and remained inside with about 30 others. He did not comment on the walkout.

Theuner “decided to take our priest away from us and didn’t even ask us,” said Lisa Ball, one of the spokeswomen for the group opposing Wilson’s removal.

She said they want Wilson returned or at least replaced by another conservative priest who also believes the Bible prohibits gay priests.

Kathy Lewis, another member of the group, said they would keep walking out until they get a priest of their liking.

Ball said the protest has nothing to do with homophobia, and “it has nothing to do with gay bashing.”

“This is (Theuner’s) way of punishing Redeemer … not respecting our opinion,” she said.

David Tyler, the junior warden of the church and one of those who remained inside, said the parish “has a disagreement. We are trying to work this out.”

But unfortunately, “some people decided to take that a step further,” he said.

Senior warden Ann Elkins expressed sadness over the walkout by “people we’ve known and loved for years. We’ve spent a lot of time building a close relationship. That’s what church is all about.”

She said the parish will work with any minister that is sent to it.

Dr. David Moberg, a lay representative to the standing council of the diocese, also called it a “sad day.”

“It hurts us all,” he said, after coming out of the service.

Theuner was not available for comment.

Robinson, speaking to reporters after services at All Saints Parish in Peterborough, said the disagreement was unfortunate, but that Theuner did not remove Wilson simply because the minister opposed Robinson’s election and consecration.

“What he said was he … would not submit to my authority as bishop. That’s a violation of his ordination vows,” Robinson said.

“No one has to agree with the new bishop in order to get diocesan support,” Robinson said, adding that the diocese has put close to $100,000 into Redeemer parish over the last few years. “You don’t have to march in lockstep to be in communion.”

The Rev. Canon Marthe Dyner, who was appointed by Theuner to serve as interim minister of the church, conducted the service.

“I’m sad, very sad that they felt they had to disrupt the service,” she said.

However, Dyner denied that she had physically pushed them when they tried to make a statement at the beginning of the service.

Two dissenters said Dyner told them, “You’re not welcome to voice your opinion here.”

Dyner denied telling them that.

“I didn’t touch them,” she said.

AP-ES-11-09-03 1627EST