A day after the controversial consecration of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire's Episcopal Church, members of the MSU community disagree on whether it should have been allowed and whether it violates Christian teachings.

As dissenters protested outside the ceremony, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson addressed a congregation of 4,000 supporters who cheered several times in his support.

The Rev. Sean Ferrell, the chaplain at Canterbury at Michigan State University, an East Lansing Episcopal church, issued a statement Monday in support of the consecration.

"The clergy and people of the diocese of New Hampshire have known Gene for 30 years," Ferrell said.

Ferrell pointed out that Robinson is not the first gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, just the only one who was openly gay before being consecrated.

The reverend said the topics of sexuality and homosexuality have been points of discussion in the Episcopal Church for 30 years.

"I'm sure we'll be talking about it even more now after this weekend," Ferrell said.

Kinesiology sophomore Megan Holt disagrees with the church's decision, attributing it to a more politically correct agenda.

"They're afraid of making people angry," said Holt, who is an active member of MSU's Spartan Christian Fellowship. "They're trying to live to please the world and not please God."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican spiritual leader who oversees the Episcopal Church in the United States, also thought the decision would have a negative effect on the church, calling it a "matter of deep regret."

Although nobody is perfect, Holt said, we should expect the clergy to set a good example.

"In a church, people call on their pastor to be above the things of this world," Holt said. "We realize they have sin, but to live a lifestyle of sin is not the way that Christ wants us to live."

The Episcopal Church's decision to consecrate Robinson came at a time when many gay-rights issues, including the rights to marry and sodomy laws, are fresh in the public's conscious.

"It's a really monumental stand that (the Episcopal Church) is taking in regards to the (lesbian, bi, gay and transgender community)," social relations sophomore Franny Howes said.

Howes is the president of People Respecting the Individuality of Students at MSU, or PRISM, South Campus' LGBT caucus.

Howes said the controversy surrounding the consecration is just another way members of society use religion to fuel their homophobia.

"They go back to the six Bible verses rather than the hundreds that regulate heterosexual relationships," Howes said. "It's just another way to justify hate. If you're a real Christian, then you should listen to the words of Jesus."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.