The annual convocation of the Navajoland Area Mission adopted overwhelmingly an amended resolution to defer the election of an interim bishop until September. The convocation met June 12-14 at Good Shepherd Mission in Fort Defiance, Ariz.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori presided and officiated at the opening Eucharist, which was attended by about 150 persons, including 40 delegates. Prior to the start of the convocation, Bishop Jefferts Schori had nominated the Rev. Canon David Bailey, canon to the ordinary for the Diocese of Utah, as a possible choice for interim bishop. Her proposal also included identifying and training Navajo leadership, and fund raising in conjunction with the Episcopal Church Foundation.
‘…150 persons, including 40 delegates.’
that’s almost the entire “diocese”! All chiefs and no ….
I’m surprised to hear that Schori went there. Does she also plan to visit the now closed missions in the Dakotas?
She is a presumptuous human.
Good for them.
Geez, who do they think they are, anyway? The conclave met, the smoke was white, how dare they question Katherine?
Don’t mess with the Diné Bikéyah.
Let God decide who should be their Bishop. They can determine that in their prayer councils. Schori insists that there needs to be time to “raise up” a Navajo bishop. That’s bologny! These Navajo have been in the church for a long time. God probably already has someone raised up, but that someone won’t meet with 815’s approval.
They are wise to reject a Schori plant. Let us pray for a wise choice to come.
Is that right; there needs to be *time* to raise up a certain ethnicity to the episcopate. Like the time that passed between Katherine rocketing up the ladder from assistant rector to PB? About that much? Then don’t blink or you’ll miss it.
Good on them for recognizing the limits of the PB’s authority and the extent of theirs as a diocese.
#1 – in Native culture, it is not unusual to gather as many as possible and let all have a say (that’s what Indaba is suppossed to be, FWIW). A Lakota wake can go on for days, because it is not over until all who want to speak about the deceased have had their say. So the Navajoland convention probably reflects this style of public discussion and action.
I’m happy they’ve rejected anyone who works for the bishop of Utah.
Heh, glad the Navajo told her to “stuff it,” essentially. It would have looked bad for her to dictate to them, what with the Gospel of Inclusiveness and all that. 😀
As the “other” Rev’d. David Bailey in the Episcopal Church, I am saddened that the Canon will not be made a Bishop and that I could have fun with name confusion!
David