NYT: For Episcopal Pioneer Jefferts Schori, the Challenge Is to Unite

[DeepModem Mom]

For an Episcopal Pioneer, the Challenge Is to Unite
By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: June 21, 2006


(Michael Houghton for The New York Times)
Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is the first woman to lead the Episcopal Church.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 20 — As she talked about her past and her future, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on Tuesday described a life filled with so many unusual steps — including learning to fly and entering the Episcopal priesthood at age 40 — that it seemed to suggest an almost congenital appetite for challenge.

She now faces one of her greatest challenges, one that she has called "a grand adventure."

Bishop Jefferts Schori's election on Sunday as the first woman to lead the Episcopal Church has cast her deep into the maelstrom that has engulfed the American arm of the 77-million-member Anglican communion....

***

An angry debate about the election of a gay bishop and the blessing of same-sex unions in the United States has frayed the church at home and threatened to fracture the Anglican communion, the world's third-largest church body. Lay and clergy representatives at the Episcopal Church's triennial general convention here are trying to hammer out a response that would satisfy the Archbishop of Canterbury and those Anglican primates abroad who are profoundly offended by the Episcopal Church's actions.

Bishop Jefferts Schori, the 52-year-old bishop of Nevada, will have to sell whatever decision her church makes to the rest of the global communion, a task that may be made more difficult by her sex. Most of the 37 other provinces of the communion do not ordain women, and the willingness of those primates to accept a woman, particularly one who has endorsed gay bishops and same-sex unions, will only become clear over time....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/21/us/21episcopal.html

[xchrom]

1. i'm sure continued union is her goal.

but if the ordination of women is the cornerstone of the disagreement -- i don't know how conservatives swallow their bile now.

[kwassa]

2. This makes it harder for the conservatives

They have to tackle gender and homosexuality issues at the same time, and makes them look regressive about both.

[xchrom]

3. yeah but they don't mind looking regressive.

they've been told to hate by god.

[kwassa]

4. Some are more sensible than others.

Episcopals try hard to be a big-tent religion, and there are various flavors of conservatism within the church. Some leaders opposed to Robinson's ordination will still stay in the church, and not try to leave.

[xchrom]

5. i am episcopalian.

some might stay -- but i'm not interested -- and i'm not interested in the most regrassive staying.

have the same conversations over and over and over is simply counter productive when you could be out there doing what your are supposed to do.

hogwash -- let. them. go.

[Solo_in_MD]

6. The big fight is going to be over property and retirement funds

As it is in many things these days.

[xchrom]

7. yes -- the conservative churches are going to

have to admit they are in a miserable position there.

and i mean miserable.

but if they want to wallow in their misery -- then take it else where.

time to move on.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

12. I personally have no trouble with their going to their

Anglican break-aways. Just leave the church, the land, and the budget please.

I suppose the bigger problem might be the Anglican Communion throwing the ECUSA out. But really, who does that hurt? We did without them during the Revolution, we can do it again.

They are going to feel really stupid in a few years, in their storefront churches with a piano and folding chairs.

[SPKrazy]

8. They May Be The Counterweight

to the whole church swinging too far to the left

I don't like the conservative element of our Church

but they are there, and they are there for some reason

just like the far left of the Church are there for some reason

I'm left of center, but not swinging way out over the precipice left

the balance is good

debate is good

without it, who knows where we'd go as a Church?

[kwassa]

9. Are you episcopal?

[SPKrazy]

10. I Am What I Am

and an Episcopal is what I am

grew up a Presbyterian

then many years here and there (from Baptist to Church of Christ to no church to Episcopal)

But yes, that is what I am and have been for several years now

[davidinalameda]

11. Church of Christ?

scared of them

[SPKrazy]

13. Well, I Probably Am Too

but we started going with a friend and the people were really nice, and really it wasn't so bad, until I went to Wednesday night men's group and some dork was talking about how he was "going to quit his job" because there was a gay person working where he worked.

That did it for me for the most part. When I found out Ken Starr was COC, I said never again.

But I really enjoyed a lot of the people there, they were very nice, welcoming, and friendly. They really like to eat too!

[davidinalameda]

14. I went to school with many COC kids

VERY conservative bunch

[BOHICA06]

15. How is she going to recover from ....

sticking it to gays and lesbians two days after her election. Sure she says she's for full inclusion, but then says that GLBT Episcopalians have get to the back of the bus and calls it, "the best we can do!"

Yowie!!!! There went the trust.