Episcopalians transformed a Galt House ballroom into a sanctuary with icons, banners and majestic sacred music Saturday for the consecration of Bishop Terry Allen White as the new leader of the Diocese of Kentucky.
“Rejoice, people of Kentucky ”” you have called a listener,” the Rev. Canon Susan L. Sommer told hundreds of worshippers in her sermon, including rows of clergy and bishops, a brass ensemble and a large choir.
“He has an enormous capacity to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit both within the community that he leads and as well as within his own heart,” said Sommer, the priest-in-charge of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, Mo., who worked with White when he was dean of the cathedral there.
My favorite part of the article: [blockquote]”The Episcopal Church has been losing members both nationally and in Kentucky.
White said he plans to convene a meeting of clergy and lay leaders to talk about ways to spread word of the church more widely.
He cited a recent survey by the Barna Group, which conducts research on religion, that found many teens and young adults think of Christians as being anti-gay and judgmental.[/blockquote]
Yes — that’s it. The Diocese of Kentucky has lost attendance and membership since 2003 — because it’s perceived as not inclusive enough and “anti-gay.”
Heh. Continued denial. It’s like a CEO coming up with *completely the wrong reasons* why people aren’t buying his product — and building his “strategy” on those completely wrong reasons.
We can thus confidently assert that the Diocese of Kentucky will continue its gradual decline. But hey — out of some 8000 members, “hundreds” attended his consecration.
I never ceased to be amazed at the Episcopal love for the verb “listen” and its variants. In the world of TEC ecclesiology, this or that bishop is only good if he “listens” carefully to “what the Spirit is saying in our day.” It is never, ever because a bishop takes the Ordinal seriously and vows to defend the distinctive doctrines of Anglicanism.
Sorry, Bishop White, but if you think people are going to listen as you think they should, you’re wrong……DEAD wrong. TEC isn’t just in decline; you’re in a nose dive.
Why is having episcopal consecrations in hotels, etc., such a fad? They could well have fit those few hundred into the cathedral in L’ville. Bp Gulick’s was in an arena, but there was a much bigger crowd for that. Such is the rate of decline. I grieve for the diocese where I grew up. It’s been on that track since the days of Bp Reed.
Ian+, I can’t speak for Kentucky, but in most of these they have these mistaken impressions that vast throngs will show up. They still haven’t gotten used to what has happened to TEC.
Two examples of this delusory world they live in:
Los Angeles [the comments on this are priceless]: http://www.getreligion.org/2010/05/episcopal-numbers-games-in-greater-la/
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/sf/page/26078/
And Upper South Carolina
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/sf/page/26105/
The denial is deep. The Barna report mentioned provides conclusive evidence– over and over again, and observed in a variety of different denominations– that a conservative biblicism, vibrant expository preaching, and strong male leadership are what makes parishes grow. The TEC parishes in decline that hate Reformed theology and wish to be inclusive might be better off joining up with the Unitarian Universalists, who better reflect the current commitments of TEC.
Hope the new guy is less of a disaster than Stacy Sauls. NW Bob’s wife, Dallas Alice, was born and raised in eastern Kentucky. I can guarantee you the “new thing” will continue to flop. What packs ’em in there is that “old time religion”! Billy Graham~si: VGR ~ non.
IHSV,
NW Bob
Bishop White should have plenty of time to listen. Since 1984, there has been only one new church founded in the diocese. Bishop Saul has a similar situation in Lexington with only two new churches since 1987. For the entire State of Kentucky over 50 percent of all TEC churches were founded prior to 1900. Statmann
[blockquote]Rejoice, people of Kentucky — you have called a listener [/blockquote]
So Frasier Crane is now an Episcopal Church bishop?