Though not the best quality (it was taken with my cell phone), I love this photo and how the sun is shining through the church window right onto her!Turn inward for a moment and greet the spirit planted within you.- KJS
You may be wondering why someone (like me) would create a page dedicated to The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. I'll do my best to explain this:
In 2006, I found a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church. I made it "official" by getting baptized on Easter 2006. As someone new to the Church, I was very keen on following Church news and issues. So I obviously I was following the General Convention of the Church (it takes place every 3 years) in the summer of 2006 and knew that a new Church leader- a new Presiding Bishop was to be elected as the current one was finishing his 9 year term.
I was following the happenings online when the news broke that the Episcopal Church had elected its first female Presiding Bishop- the first woman leader in the Anglican Communion, the first woman to lead a major Christian denomination. The news broke on CNN and other major news outlets.
Being someone who cheers any time a woman breaks a glass ceiling- especially in the field of religion, I was thrilled. I was excited to be part of the Episcopal Church and I knew my decision to join was a right move. To see her elected in the same year of my baptism was a thrill.
Her status made her an instant celebrity of sorts: her background was the subject of several articles and the interviews started to appear. The more I learned about her, the more I admired her. And I thought, "I'd love to hear and see her in person!"
It is exciting for me to have a leader who was not only female in a field that had been previously male-dominated, but to have a leader who has a science background (marine biology), who believes in Darwin and knows that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. I feel the same way.
I also like it that she's a pilot and she loves nature. She has a sense of adventure. She mixes the beauty and wonders of nature with Gospel and the Baptismal Covenant so well in her book, "A Wing and a Prayer." The book is a message of peace, justice and hope. It is great to open and read any page, especially on days when you feel frustrated, are disappointed in something or someone, or think you are losing faith or burning out. It is a great remedy.
She speaks Spanish and is well traveled. She has an appreciation for small parishes and knows that they are as important as the bigger cathedrals. I also like that she supports gay clergy and gay unions: all are to be accepted and included just as Jesus was accepting of everyone. She sympathizes with the marginalized.
I admire her leadership, and her willingness to take on a denomination that has had it's share of conflicts. She's already been vilified by some inside and even outside the Episcopal Church. This is not easy for anyone to stomach, but I have confidence in her as a leader. I pray for her every Sunday during Prayers of the People, and I mean it!
As the first woman Presiding Bishop, she is a historical figure as well, I followed her installation online and shared the experience with others. It was very moving. I am sure she is an inspiration to many women young and old, and will continue to be so.
I think her strength as a leader, her compassion and sincerity come through even in photographs, hence why I posted so many.
She became a topic of conversation among various Anglican/Episcopal message boards, blogs, etc. I started talking about her too on my own blog. Then the idea came to me that she deserves her own page. It's not that unusual that a religious figure has a blog/site devoted to them. Cardinal Ratzinger had an online fan club long before he was Pope Benedict XVI!
Three years later after her election, she visited my diocese and I got to see her celebrate Eucharist in that colorful chasuble and mitre first seen on the day she was installed. Everything about her was so calming- the tone of her voice, the words of her sermon, even her physical gestures. It was time for communion and I could not believe that I was now going to stand in front of her face to face. I stood in front of her, she looked right in my face and I received communion from her, I was so honored and moved that I burst into tears as I made my way back to my seat! After the service was over, I got up the nerve to talk to her and tell her how much I loved being part of the Church and that I was still a fairly new member. She told me, "Welcome home." -as she shook my hand. She was also kind enough to sign my copy of "A Wing and a Prayer." She radiated such warmth and goodness. She will look you right in the eye when she speaks to you, as if you are the most important person in the room.
It's safe to say that this encounter made me an even bigger fan than before.
I think that some may appreciate this page. Comments are welcome, and feel free to link this page in your page if you so desire. I'd like to know about it though!
Peace and Shalom,
Stacey
You may be wondering why someone (like me) would create a page dedicated to The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. I'll do my best to explain this:
In 2006, I found a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church. I made it "official" by getting baptized on Easter 2006. As someone new to the Church, I was very keen on following Church news and issues. So I obviously I was following the General Convention of the Church (it takes place every 3 years) in the summer of 2006 and knew that a new Church leader- a new Presiding Bishop was to be elected as the current one was finishing his 9 year term.
I was following the happenings online when the news broke that the Episcopal Church had elected its first female Presiding Bishop- the first woman leader in the Anglican Communion, the first woman to lead a major Christian denomination. The news broke on CNN and other major news outlets.
Being someone who cheers any time a woman breaks a glass ceiling- especially in the field of religion, I was thrilled. I was excited to be part of the Episcopal Church and I knew my decision to join was a right move. To see her elected in the same year of my baptism was a thrill.
Her status made her an instant celebrity of sorts: her background was the subject of several articles and the interviews started to appear. The more I learned about her, the more I admired her. And I thought, "I'd love to hear and see her in person!"
It is exciting for me to have a leader who was not only female in a field that had been previously male-dominated, but to have a leader who has a science background (marine biology), who believes in Darwin and knows that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. I feel the same way.
I also like it that she's a pilot and she loves nature. She has a sense of adventure. She mixes the beauty and wonders of nature with Gospel and the Baptismal Covenant so well in her book, "A Wing and a Prayer." The book is a message of peace, justice and hope. It is great to open and read any page, especially on days when you feel frustrated, are disappointed in something or someone, or think you are losing faith or burning out. It is a great remedy.
She speaks Spanish and is well traveled. She has an appreciation for small parishes and knows that they are as important as the bigger cathedrals. I also like that she supports gay clergy and gay unions: all are to be accepted and included just as Jesus was accepting of everyone. She sympathizes with the marginalized.
I admire her leadership, and her willingness to take on a denomination that has had it's share of conflicts. She's already been vilified by some inside and even outside the Episcopal Church. This is not easy for anyone to stomach, but I have confidence in her as a leader. I pray for her every Sunday during Prayers of the People, and I mean it!
As the first woman Presiding Bishop, she is a historical figure as well, I followed her installation online and shared the experience with others. It was very moving. I am sure she is an inspiration to many women young and old, and will continue to be so.
I think her strength as a leader, her compassion and sincerity come through even in photographs, hence why I posted so many.
She became a topic of conversation among various Anglican/Episcopal message boards, blogs, etc. I started talking about her too on my own blog. Then the idea came to me that she deserves her own page. It's not that unusual that a religious figure has a blog/site devoted to them. Cardinal Ratzinger had an online fan club long before he was Pope Benedict XVI!
Three years later after her election, she visited my diocese and I got to see her celebrate Eucharist in that colorful chasuble and mitre first seen on the day she was installed. Everything about her was so calming- the tone of her voice, the words of her sermon, even her physical gestures. It was time for communion and I could not believe that I was now going to stand in front of her face to face. I stood in front of her, she looked right in my face and I received communion from her, I was so honored and moved that I burst into tears as I made my way back to my seat! After the service was over, I got up the nerve to talk to her and tell her how much I loved being part of the Church and that I was still a fairly new member. She told me, "Welcome home." -as she shook my hand. She was also kind enough to sign my copy of "A Wing and a Prayer." She radiated such warmth and goodness. She will look you right in the eye when she speaks to you, as if you are the most important person in the room.
It's safe to say that this encounter made me an even bigger fan than before.
I think that some may appreciate this page. Comments are welcome, and feel free to link this page in your page if you so desire. I'd like to know about it though!
Peace and Shalom,
Stacey
Hi Stacey. I like your blog. I became Episcopalian this April, being received by Bishop Jeff Lee at the Great Vigil of Easter in Chicago. I appreciate the ministry of faithful, gifted women in TEC. My parish priest and vicar is just this type of talented woman. And we have just welcomed a transitional deacon to our church, where she will minister to, and with us, for about six months. Coming most recently from Evangelical churches, this ministry is certainly new, but most welcome to me. One thing I like about Bishop Katharine is how she gives careful, thoughtful answers to questions. Keep up your good work. And thanks for visiting my page too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comments and for visiting my blog. Please feel free to share my site with others. I am so glad you found happiness in the Episcopal Church. Welcome home!
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