Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia media officer Lloyd Ashton said she was a controversial visitor. “Nobody makes any bones about the fact that she does represent tension. From the outset, her visit has always been intended as low key, informal and unofficial.
“There is not going to be an endorsement of where the…[Episcopal] Church is going. We have got our own process, we are working through that and it will be at least two years before that is complete.
“We are not hiding it, but neither are we exacerbating any tensions by making a statement … It is an acknowledgement that there are sensitivities both ways.”
The PB’s world shopping tour doesn’t seem to be going too well. Maybe she will have better luck in Australia … then again, maybe she won’t.
People are receiving her politely, but so far no one is signing up to her alternative Schori Communion of a couple of chapels in Europe and a few client provinces in Central America and Brazil. I see she claims the Virgin Islands, including the British ones, in that so American way. Nope – they are not signing up – not the Canadians, Scots, English or New Zealanders apparently.
Oh well – what can she be doing wrong?
Her globe-trotting is in its effects rather as though Mr. Heathcliffe’s wife went on a world tour.
Or maybe these trips overseas are boondoggles at the church’s expense. She wouldn’t be the first “CEO” to do that, including POTUS.
Undoubtedly her reputation as the new sheriff in town and her inner circle of lawyers are not precisely the turn-on in other countries that they are in her home-of-the-new-thang-gozpell-komunion “power” base. Or her vestments. Probably both.
I’m on a brief visit to Australia at present (from our home in NZ), and after asking around a few episcopal contacts it seems the visit to Australia is even more low key – no-one seems to know any details of her visit to Aust. The general feedback is that if asked, the answer will be that her visit is not appreciated at this time and not at all helpful for relationships and dialogue internally.
I’ve noted that even Episcopal Life does not seem to be paying much attention to the world tour in the post mitregate era.
A senior priest and (Aussie) friend has told me he is aware of her impending visit but also aware that no-one really knows where she is going exactly … curiouser and curiouser! Happy hunting Tim Harris!
This looks like it:
Itinerary
Friday a.m. Thanksgiving at Brizbane Airport on arrival – luggage carousel 3.
Friday p.m. Blessing of the fishes at marine park followed by ‘conversation’ with cephalopods
Saturday a.m. Melbourne: Address at McDonalds: “Seeing God in the face of Ronald”
Sunday: Visit to farm: ‘preaching to the lost sheep’
Monday a.m. Adelaide: Visit to garden center – ‘growth is not the only thing’
Monday p.m. Silent retreat
Tuesday a.m. Adelaide airport diocesan event: ‘sending bishop Katherine on her way’
PM, a bit overfull, don’t ya think?
Hilarious, btw.
While it is fun to play bat the [misguided leader], don’t belittle the mischief she can do.
Pageantmaster LOL! – now you are freaking me out! On this schedule we would overlap at Adelaide airport on departure, which is the stuff of my worst nightmares (even more so if she was heading cross the Tasman…). Adelaide would be very happy to send her on her way…
Brisbane is the most likely (given her acquaintance with ++Aspinall on the SCoAC/JSC), but there is nothing on the Brisbane website of this nature. The lack of any publicity is certainly curious… perhaps she is hoping for a welcome in Sydney, mitre and all – now that brings a delightful image to mind 😉
true enough, no. 10. she may be there for some nefarious purpose of influencing those who are still undecided.