North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry, who will be installed next month as the new head of the Episcopal Church in the United States, offered a possible preview Sunday of his agenda. Topping the list: Promoting a form of evangelism that calls on members to listen to others\u2019 faith stories and then share their own.<\/p>\n
He also wants to stress the love of Jesus, foster social justice, work for reconciliation \u201d\u201c racial and otherwise \u201d\u201c and preside over a church that\u2019s open to all, including both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n
Curry, an outgoing preacher and author of \u201cCrazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus,\u201d\u009d will be the national church\u2019s first African-American presiding bishop. In a Q&A with parishioners at St. Peter\u2019s Episcopal Church in uptown Charlotte, he said that Episcopalians have been so shy about advertising what their tradition has to offer \u201d\u201c including its liturgy, its sacraments and its commitment to social justice \u201d\u201c that many people don\u2019t know the denomination exists.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to get to the day when the average Episcopalian is in touch with their own faith story and faith journey and is able to share that appropriately and authentically,\u201d\u009d Curry said. \u201cThat may be the game-changer. \u201d\u00a6 We\u2019re good about doing. We\u2019re nervous about talking.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n