In an interview before the sermon, Curry underscored the point that we’re all in this together.
He said the church is emphasizing its commitment to its anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals to reflect the Christian ideal of helping people on society’s margins.
“That’s who Jesus is,” he said.
Curry downplayed his role as the first African-American to head an Episcopal diocese in the South, a position he attained in 2000.
“A lot of the hurdles were overcome before I ever came along,” he said.
Curry was joined by Western Washington Bishop-Elect Greg Rickel and the Rev. Nedi Rivera, bishop suffragan for Western Washington and the first Hispanic bishop in the United States.
Rivera, in fact, was ordained only two years after the first Episcopal woman was ordained to the priesthood in 1977. All three bishops emphasized that the church will continue to grow by becoming more inclusive.
Rickel noted that the church is moving forward after a rift over approving the ordination of gays into the priesthood.
“I’d rather err on the side of love,” Rickel said.
Rivera said the church leaders want to nurture a yearning for shared spirituality and community, even in the “none zone” of the Pacific Northwest. She noted that even though many area residents are not churchgoers ”” denoted by checking “none” on hospital sign-in forms ”” polls show an overwhelming majority still consider themselves spiritual.
“People are learning that they can’t just do spirituality by themselves,” she said.
Curry agreed.
“The Lord made us here together, and we’re going to discover him together,” he said.
What a puff piece from that newspaper.
Of course, Curry has lost congregations in his diocese.
I remember Bishop Rivera of San Joaquin. If I remember, the Bishop Suffragan is his daughter. That would make her at least the second Hispanic bishop in the US.
One line I remember from Bishop Rivera was “Sermonettes are for Christianettes.” I also remember him wearing purple overalls at Camp San Joaquin.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
“All three bishops emphasized that the church will continue to grow by becoming more inclusive.”
Continue?? Uh, have they looked at the “growth” trends recently? Maybe they need to turn that graph right-side-up.
Certainly Bishop Curry’s tenure has seen Orange County NC go from three strong Episcopal congregations to four.
Orange County = Chapel Hill, where Spong would feel right at home (UNC alum I’m most sorry to say).
Bishop Duncan also spent a few years in Chapel Hill.
^So did I, but my views would be in the minority there.
I have to admit: Bishop Curry is GOOD! He IS a good preacher–and entertaining. And it was no “sermonette!” And yes, it was a puff piece in the “Columbian” but at least they covered it–had to with over 500 in attendance at the Air Museum.
Bishop Nedi is indeed Bishop Rivera’s daughter and is the first female Hispanic bishop.
But at the last, I couldn’t really figure out why we had this event. Yes, they collected for the MDG’s but for three local “charities” too. Yes, it was fun to get together but it was sort of an extension of Church. Yes, we heard a great preacher–but I’m not sure what the POINT of the preaching was except “we’re here to do God’s work.” (not that that’s a bad message, of course.)
I guess it was a time for schmoozing!
RE: “Certainly Bishop Curry’s tenure has seen Orange County NC go from three strong Episcopal congregations to four.”
Yes . . . and under Bishop Curry’s tenure, the Raleigh area has seen three [additional] strong non-Episcopal congregations developed.
He is certainly growing the Anglican church in his diocese . . . only it’s not all in ECUSA.
He said the church is emphasizing its commitment to its anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals to reflect the Christian ideal of helping people on society’s margins.
“That’s who Jesus is,†he said.
Funny, I thought Jesus is God incarnate, who became human from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and came to save us from our sins by His atoning death on the cross and rose on the third day.
#10, “I thought Jesus is God incarnate, who became human from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and came to save us from our sins by His atoning death on the cross and rose on the third day.”
Obviously, according to most reappraisers, including “Bishops” Robinson, Curry, KJS, etc., you’d be wrong. Jesus was just a guy who was nice to people, and never held them to any standard…
Curry is a very good preacher. He’s so good, and so likable, that it took his diocese a while to discover that he’s not an evangelical, but rather a revisionist. Left-wing theology, left-wing politics, all the way. It’s a pity; he could have been such a great bishop.
Yes, and that’s the whole idea of a worldwide Anglican Communion – the very one that people like you are tearing apart.
Zechariah
Katherine #12 has nailed it concerning Curry. In terms of personal disappointments in all this stuff, he and Peter James Lee are at the top of the list.
Idolatry and the worship of false gods:
However, he’s not alone in substituting the United Nations MDG’s in place of Jesus.
Here’s the VBS announcement for my former parish, from which I thank God I pulled my children long ago:
And the reappraisers represent the “side of love” and the reasserters don’t? How does that work?
Curry delivers sermons very well. But a distinct difference exists between good delivery and good preaching. I have heard dozens of his sermons and never did I hear good preaching – I did however hear excellent delivery. His excitement, his cadence are perfect. However, he generally ignores the readings of the day and often says very little beyond his message of radical inclusivity. His powers of persuasion are great though and I have seen many, often older, cradle Episcopalians convinced of the correctness of the current direction of TEC based on the power of his delivery (and I would also believe a great deal of societal pressure and general liberal guilt).
The direction Curry has taken his diocese has resulted in a period of contraction – a fact that would be very hard to argue against. That said, that period seems to be drawing to a close and I believe that we can expect to see the Diocese of North Carolina remain strong, though possibly somewhat smaller. The growth will likely center around the state’s predominately liberal – modernist urban areas however. Orange County, mentioned above, is an excellent example. Curry does have four congregations in the county. Three of them however are in the urbanized southern half of the county. The rural northern half of the county does have one parish that dates to colonial times but it should also be noted that Orange County is also served by three Continuing Anglican parishes, small though they may be.
The Triangle area (Raleigh – Durham – Chapel Hill) overall has been a spawning ground for non-TEC Anglican parishes with multiple congregations – some small, some quite large – being planted across the area, representing nearly every possible Anglican option and worship style. If the groups present can every come together to work for mission in the area, Curry’s strength will be easily countered.
Mark Newsome, you are correct about Curry’s preaching — when I said he’s “good,” that’s what I meant, and of course that’s not objectively good. His excitement, delivery, personality, and scriptural references cover the lack of genuine Christian content.
One of those Orange County parishes has a significant number of dissenters from the liberal line. Whether they will do anything about it is another question.
Jim/Puritian,
Your parish CHARGED for VBS??? Aside from the bad theology, I would not have had my children attend, for cost reasons alone, even with scholarships. That’s just criminal. That’s what our parish used the Christian Ed money for, to under write the VBS program.
{shaking head in disgust}
Jim Elliott