Episcopal women in ministry envision an outward-looking church
-05/10/06
As the Episco
Episcopal women in ministry envision an outward-looking church
-05/10/06
As the Episcopal Church in the USA prepares to receive Katherine Jefferts Schori as its first woman Presiding Bishop in November this year, a pioneering gathering of women in Anglican ministry was told that ìThe church is here to be a voice of justice-making … of compassion, of peace, of reconciliation.î
Expansive visions of what the Episcopal Church might become echoed through a discussion at the ëImagine: Claiming & Empowering Ordained Women’s Leadershipí conference, writes Mary Frances Schjonberg for Episcopal News Service.
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Inclusion, healing and hope for the world, ministering outside of a hierarchical system while transforming that system, and overcoming obstacles and fears were themes heard in those visions.
The session was part of the first church-wide gathering of ordained women in the 32 years since women were admitted to the orders of priest and bishop. The conference, which also includes some lay presenters, runs until 6 October 2006 at the Kanuga Conference Centre in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Presenters at the session included House of Deputies president Bonnie Anderson; retired Episcopal Divinity School professor Carter Heyward; Episcopal Church Black Ministries Missioner Angela Ifill; and Dean Tracey Lind of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland.
Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori responded to the presentations and received a warm reception.
Carter Heyward told the gathering that the priesthood of all believers is a call to help one another.
“It’s the work of healing. It’s the work of liberation. It’s what we’re put here by our maker to do; to be a priesthood of believers, to be not primarily focused on ourselves but sharing a passion – and by passion, I mean energy as well as a willingness to suffer – with and for the world,” she said.
Concluded Heyward: ìThe church doesn’t exist for itself, we all know that. We’re here in the world, for the world. The church is here to be a voice of justice-making … of compassion, of peace, of reconciliation.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Joy greets the first-ever Anglican woman leader; First female Anglican leader prepares to weather the storm – by Simon Barrow; Anglican women worldwide thrilled at new US Episcopal head; US Episcopal Church turns down ban on gay bishops; Ecumenism not hit by woman presiding bishop, say observers; Archbishop sympathises with those fed up with Anglican rows; Divided opinion on the meaning of ECUSA stance on gay bishops; Archbishop of Canterbury rejects politicking over Anglican covenant]
Episcopal women in ministry envision an outward-looking church
-05/10/06
As the Episcopal Church in the USA prepares to receive Katherine Jefferts Schori as its first woman Presiding Bishop in November this year, a pioneering gathering of women in Anglican ministry was told that ìThe church is here to be a voice of justice-making … of compassion, of peace, of reconciliation.î
Expansive visions of what the Episcopal Church might become echoed through a discussion at the ëImagine: Claiming & Empowering Ordained Women’s Leadershipí conference, writes Mary Frances Schjonberg for Episcopal News Service.
.
Inclusion, healing and hope for the world, ministering outside of a hierarchical system while transforming that system, and overcoming obstacles and fears were themes heard in those visions.
The session was part of the first church-wide gathering of ordained women in the 32 years since women were admitted to the orders of priest and bishop. The conference, which also includes some lay presenters, runs until 6 October 2006 at the Kanuga Conference Centre in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Presenters at the session included House of Deputies president Bonnie Anderson; retired Episcopal Divinity School professor Carter Heyward; Episcopal Church Black Ministries Missioner Angela Ifill; and Dean Tracey Lind of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland.
Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori responded to the presentations and received a warm reception.
Carter Heyward told the gathering that the priesthood of all believers is a call to help one another.
“It’s the work of healing. It’s the work of liberation. It’s what we’re put here by our maker to do; to be a priesthood of believers, to be not primarily focused on ourselves but sharing a passion – and by passion, I mean energy as well as a willingness to suffer – with and for the world,” she said.
Concluded Heyward: ìThe church doesn’t exist for itself, we all know that. We’re here in the world, for the world. The church is here to be a voice of justice-making … of compassion, of peace, of reconciliation.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Joy greets the first-ever Anglican woman leader; First female Anglican leader prepares to weather the storm – by Simon Barrow; Anglican women worldwide thrilled at new US Episcopal head; US Episcopal Church turns down ban on gay bishops; Ecumenism not hit by woman presiding bishop, say observers; Archbishop sympathises with those fed up with Anglican rows; Divided opinion on the meaning of ECUSA stance on gay bishops; Archbishop of Canterbury rejects politicking over Anglican covenant]