CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – More than six months after his confirmation rocked the Episcopal Church, the ninth Bishop of New Hampshire is poised to take control of the diocese with a knock on the door.

In a ceremony known as investiture, Bishop V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, knocks at the door of St. Paul’s Church and is admitted to the worshipping community. Departing Bishop Douglas Theuner will pass his shepherd’s crook, called a crozier, to Robinson as a symbol of the transition.

The two men have shared leadership of the diocese since Robinson was made a bishop in November.

“It’s a family time for the diocese. It’s a time to give thanks and a time to welcome Gene to his new role,” said the Rev. Hays Junkin, who will open the door when Robinson knocks at the start of the service.

The investiture does not carry the weight that Robinson’s consecration did in November, an event that drew protesters and triggered angry responses from many corners of the world.

Robinson is the first openly gay man to be elected as a bishop, both in the national Episcopal church and the worldwide Anglican Communion of which it is a part.

Several Anglican bishops abroad have said they will no longer associate with the Episcopal Church USA because it approved Robinson’s election.

In the United States, a dozen conservative bishops are organizing an alternative network of dioceses and parishes that object to Robinson’s lifestyle. They argue that homosexuality violates biblical laws.

Robinson has lived with his partner, Mark Andrew, a state administrator, for 15 years and has two daughters from a previous marriage.

“Let’s be clear,” Robinson told CBS’ “60 Minutes” in an interview. “We’ve always had gay bishops. All I’m doing is being honest about it.”

In his new role as bishop of New Hampshire, Robinson will have to deal with opposition. Two churches, Church of the Redeemer in Rochester and St. Mark’s in Ashland have voted to affiliate with the new network of conservative churches.

Church members there do not want Robinson to serve as their bishop. Robinson said he hopes to work with them.

“Here in the diocese we are continuing to reach out in every way possible to individuals for whom this is still a troubling thing,” he said.