A sign of hope for Episcopalians (Barf Alert)

The Seattle Times ^ | 6/23/06 | Robert V. Taylor

[XR7]

Why on Earth would there be any controversy about the election of the first woman as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church? When I heard the news of the election of the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, my heart leapt and I thanked God. I wanted to celebrate even as I was surprised by the news.

For some within the worldwide family of Anglican Christians, Bishop Jefferts Schori's election is cause for concern. I believe this election is an invitation into holy conversation about discovering the face of God among us. It is a sign of hope.

When the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) made the decision to ordain women to the priesthood 30 years ago, it made a bold theological statement. After 2,000 years in which a male-dominated tradition used Scripture to justify excluding women from positions of ordained leadership in the church — as deacons, priests or bishops — the question of baptism was fully addressed. If baptism made you a full member of the body of Christ, how could that same household of God, known as the church, exclude more than half of its members from responding to a calling to ordained ministry?

It is often assumed that Episcopalians in the United States were the first church within the Anglican Communion to ordain women to the priesthood...The conversation that has led to this reality has not confused unity with uniformity. In fact, the conversation has been rooted in the notion of agape, or love, which allows for unity in diversity...

The Very Rev. Robert V. Taylor is the dean of Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle and a native of Cape Town, South Africa.

[pgyanke]

Good post. Typical liberals... It's all about ME!

[leilani]

For these people who demand to be made priests or bishops, it is not about helping people or being a role model or a person in a leadership role. Its about having power over others. And that is a very bad reason to make someone a priest or bishop.

OUTSTANDING point - and it puts all those in the church heirarchy who have been framing the debate over her elevation to Bishop on exactly those terms (i.e.: "empowering" women) to shame.Or at least it might if they were actually a real religion still and not the "Official Confederacy of Bureaucrats Spouting Greeting Card Platitudes" that the Epicopalian Church of America is today.

[Crackhead Willie]

This is sad. I can't believe what these people are finding in the Bible. I just wonder what Bible they are reading because these things are not in mine. I guess they will not realize what they are doing until judgment day. I feel extreme pity for them because there maker will not.

[Crackhead Willie]

uh oh! their