I’m not really sure we need to post yet another news story about Katharine Jefferts Schori. At least to this elf, they all begin to sound alike. But in the “For the Record” category, here’s an excerpt from the Houston Chronicle’s article on the Presiding Bishop’s recent visit there.<\/i><\/p>\n
From the Houston Chronicle:<\/p>\n
Episcopal leader urges teamwork in repairing the world<\/p>\n
[…]<\/p>\n
“The reality is that reconciliation and freedom go hand in hand,” she told Houstonians and members of the Union of Black Episcopalians in a morning service at downtown’s Christ Church Cathedral. “The irony is that freedom, reconciliation and the reign of God are all around us, and yet none of them is fully known or experienced \u201d\u201d not yet.”<\/p>\n
Jefferts Schori, who was elected the first female leader of the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church in June 2006, is on her first official visit to Houston. Her sermon was a highlight of the 39th annual meeting of the Union of Black Episcopalians, many participants said. She will lead a forum today at the conference, which concludes Friday.<\/p>\n
“We live in a world that is not yet whole, and we understand our vocation to be its healing or repair,” she said in a sanctuary filled with both black and white Episcopalians. “Our Jewish brothers and sisters call it ‘Tikkun Alam,’ the repair of the world.”<\/p>\n
A healed world is an ancient dream, the presiding bishop said during her sermon. Telling stories of both joy and grief is part of the healing process.<\/p>\n
“Over and over and over again, the prophets railed against those who brought greater divisions to the world, those who bring more injustice, those whose deeds sow destruction,” she said.<\/p>\n
Jefferts Schori said there are many kinds of reconciliations \u201d\u201d “between individuals, within families, among nations, between politicians and, yes, even theological factions.”<\/p>\n
The last was a subtle reference to the struggle between the Episcopal Church and the global Anglican Communion over the role of gays in the church. The 77 million-member worldwide church has been in turmoil since 2003, when the Americans consecrated an openly gay bishop.<\/p>\n
“Why is loving our neighbors such hard work?” she asked, as the standing-room-only congregation laughed.<\/p>\n
Here’s the full article.<\/a><\/p>\n ========<\/p>\n Also of note on the Katharine Jefferts Schori beat:<\/p>\n A reader sent us links to the podcast of her recent radio appearance in Virginia. This elf has been too busy to listen and normally doesn’t like to post things without verifying them herself. However, the reader noted that the call-in section of the show was quite interesting in places. The easiest place to find all the links is the Lead blog<\/a> (part of the Episcopal Cafe site).<\/p>\n If any readers have listened to the podcast and have specific suggestions as to short segments you recommend, we’d welcome that information. Thanks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’m not really sure we need to post yet another news story about Katharine Jefferts Schori. At least to this elf, they all begin to sound alike. But in the “For the Record” category, here’s an excerpt from the Houston…<\/span><\/p>\n