A shot across the bow...

[pat]

Three years ago, the ECUSA voted to confirm Gene Robinson as the first gay bishop. Yesterday, they voted Katherine Jefferts Schori the first woman Presiding Bishop. (The PB is the head of the Episcopal Church of the United States.)

Make no mistake, within the Anglican Communion, this election is going to be just as significant, just as controversial, as Robinson's. Even more so.

Wow.

Jefferts Schori voted for Gene Robinson's consecration. The runner up for PB, Henry Parsley of Alabama, opposed it.

Things are going to get seriously unpleasant within the ECUSA, and within the Anglican Communion, even more so than they were after the last General Convention.

While I rejoice at the election of a woman as PB, and the signal that sends about the role of women in God's work at all levels, I am sad about the turmoil that this is going to cause.

It is very easy to say "They're wrong" but in reality it's not that simple: we are people who share bonds of faith, bonds of history. "They" are not some amorphous enemy; they are our friends and fellow believers.

Comments

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Wow....

From first ordinations of women in the 1970s to Presiding Bishop in 30 years.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I celebrate with you, and I share your concerns. It is very hard to know how to deal with a shared faith that does not include a shared vision of what God's love, God's justice, and God's presence means.

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it's happened. Sad it'll cause more turmoil. It does make me think about actually looking at local churches, though. I'm just never sure that they'd be ok with me - the church I grew up in isn't.

Do you have time/energy for coffee or lunch this week?

[pagawne.livejournal.com]

The church will survive. It is time some of the dust was removed and housecleaning, as you well know, isn't always pleasant, but so very well worth it.
Remember it is often said that God moves in mysterious ways. He can deal with this, and we will as well.

[sisterfish125.livejournal.com]

Just think, in a few years or so, we'll all be looking back on this and say "do you remember how much of a stink they all made over that little thing???"

I think it's a good thing. Something that will take a little getting used to, but if the church can't get over this, I'd have to wonder how it got past the crucifixion of Christ...

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

While I rejoice at the election of a woman as PB, and the signal that sends about the role of women in God's work at all levels, I am sad about the turmoil that this is going to cause.

It is very easy to say "They're wrong" but in reality it's not that simple: we are people who share bonds of faith, bonds of history. "They" are not some amorphous enemy; they are our friends and fellow believers.

Amen. and Amen.

When I was growing up, my family attended a Canadian Baptist church (similar to ABC/USA in range of theology and tolerance), and when I was sixteen I joined the church through believer's baptism. Lay deacons served communion in our local church, and women could not be deacons. Deaconesses attended the Deacons meetings, shared in the visitation and decision-making, and washed the communion plate. I believe that the denomination did ordain women but the story I got as a kid was "but only to be foreign missionaries". I remember my mother reminding me at the time I was baptized (1977 or so) that I could choose to join another denomination with a wider range of options for women, but I wasn't quite ready to be that rebellious.

Anyway, when I was 17 or 18, a constitutional amendment for women becoming deacons and serving communion came up at our Annual Meeting. Opinions were expressed on both sides. When I pointed out that such a change wouldn't require a constitutional amendment after all because the constitution didn't say that Deacons had to be men, they all smiled tolerantly and went on with their business as if I had pointed out that the constitution didn't say that deacons had to be human. Fortunately, the amendment passed.

But it was a few months before a woman served communion (the deacons took turns), and for the first several years they always had at least one man serving, so that people who wouldn't receive from a woman had the option to quietly move to the other side of the church and still take communion. Part of me was sad that the minister and deacons' board weren't more pro-active about demonstrating the new commitment to inclusivity, but part of me recognized this as a loving patient solution giving time for healing.