Members of Utah’s Episcopal Diocese got acquainted Tuesday with a diverse group of candidates from which to select their next bishop, asking about everything from budgeting expertise to views on same-sex marriage and ordination.
The latter question is especially pertinent because one of the candidates ”” the Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe of California ”” married his longtime partner in 2008, before Proposition 8 banned gay marriage in that state.
Barlowe and three other finalists spoke during rotating question and answer sessions at St. Mark’s Cathedral Tuesday night. He and two of the three other candidates said they would support and allow the church’s blessing of same-sex unions and that they would ordain gay clergy in the Beehive State.
When reading the article, I also took a look at the photos attached. Judging by the lack of people interested enough to participate in the Q&A, the person elected better be skilled at motivating and energizing the flock.
[blockquote]He also said he would seek to cultivate a relationship with top LDS leaders, including President Thomas S. Monson.
“I’m not shy and I wouldn’t have a problem calling any one of you and saying, ‘I’m coming for coffee.’ I certainly would do that with the president of the Mormon church,” he said, to laughter from the audience.[/blockquote]
Hmmm. I’d have laughed also, because that remark reminds me of how the Bishop of New Hampshire has offered to assist the Bishop of Rome in handling the clergy abuse crisis. I guess the remark about “coming for coffee” was meant to be funny, but I don’t know how my LDS friends would take it.
I suspect next he’ll invite the rabbis and imams of the region over for BBQ Pork.
Funny – I’m in Park City, and a participant in our Interfaith Council. We next meet at the LDS stakehouse in June, and the host offered that we bring our own coffee, because he won’t be making any. Now that’s funny. And we all laughed.
I don’t think the laughter at this gathering came from the same place…
Fr. Darin Lovelace+
St. John’s Anglican
Park City UT
Yeah, Darin, Barlowe’s comment strikes me as downright arrogant and obnoxious since good Mormons don’t drink coffee.
Alas, Canon Mary Sulerud was once a fine, Christ-centered priest. She was formerly (in the early 1990s) quite active in Cursillo in VA. But the Diocese of Washington is a very sick environment, and serving on that highly compromised diocesan staff seems to have corrupted her. Very sad to see how she’s fallen for the lies of our Mortal Foe.
BTW, Darin, as a personal aside, I see that Park City has recently been recognized as one of “the most livable cities” in the country, with low unemployment, low crime rate, close to Salt Lake City amenities, etc. Very precocious of you to relocate there before everyone learned it. Isn’t your wife a cleric too? How did you both get churches out there in Mormon country?
David Handy+