Posted on 03/02/2006 10:36:46 PM PST by sionnsar
I’m sure Alice will just love this; hat tip to B.B. for emailing this to me:
“There is one other thing in my life that seems a little unsafe to me at the moment, which I want to share that with you. I share it in the confidence that it is often in what is unsafe that God is most present and available and calling all of us to grow in faith.
Earlier this month the Nominating Committee for the Presiding Bishop announced a slate of four Bishops to become the 26th Presiding Bishop. All four bishops nominated are good people, solid bishops, and cherished friends. The election will occur at the General Convention this summer in Columbus, Ohio.
This week I received a letter saying that several of my colleagues have nominated me by petition as an additional candidate. I have not sought this nomination, and indeed, I have others plans that excite me greatly, both with you in mission and to use my upcoming sabbatical to study canon law in Wales. I do not know if I have a call to be Presiding Bishop, and I am not even asking myself that. What I am asking myself is if I am called to let the Church decide if I have gifts that might be useful to it at this particular moment. At the same time, serving as the Presiding Bishop at this particular time in the Church’s history would be the adventure of a lifetime, and it has over and over been in what is challenging and difficult and risky and unsafe and adventurous that I have most experienced God’s care for me and God’s efforts to shape me into a faithful follower of Jesus. I would be the biggest hypocrite in the world if I constantly called you as the people of this Diocese into challenge and adventure and were not willing to be called to that myself.
I do not know where this will lead. In response to my colleagues’ request I have begun a process of discernment with my family and with my spiritual director. There is much to think about. I have already spent a considerable amount of time praying my way through this, and I am, quite frankly, not yet finished. Whatever I may decide God is calling me to do, I know for sure that it is not to leave the Diocese of Lexington. The only question in my spirit right now is whether it is to serve you in a different way and to love you from a different place. I expect to reach a decision as to whether or not I will allow myself to be considered in the next two weeks. All I can do now is ask for your prayers. I would value your counsel. I promise that I will inform you as soon as I have made a decision.
You all are an unbelievable gift from God for me. You are an adventure. Some of you are more of an adventure than others. The future is something, of course, that we cannot know. What we can choose, though, is never to opt for taking the easy way or the safe way but to choose the adventure every time. “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am brining you good news of great joy for all the people.’” Good news. Great joy. For all the people. Do not be afraid.”
The Rt. Rev. Stacy F. Sauls
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Is that a biblical teaching? Sounds a little self-focused to me.
Rt. Rev. Stacy Saul, is this a female?
Male, I believe. The whole thing struck me as self-focused, though I could be a bit too critical...
Bishop Stacy Fred Sauls. Wife is Ginger Sauls. Two adopted college age boys (Korean). He is an attorney turned Episcopal priest, turned revisionist bishop of the Diocese of Lexington, KY.
If you're a praying person, pray for his soul.
Thank you. I shall.
P-e-e-e,y-o-o-o!
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