Peripatetikos

It is a custom for the college of presbyters (aka the clericus) of a diocese to present a new bishop a gift at the time of ordination. This is often a piece of episcopal hardware or haberdashery. It was thence altogether refreshing for the Tennessee clergy to make, instead, a contribution in the bishop-elect's honor to the Episcopal Relief and Development Jericho Project for rebuilding Katrina-demolished homes in New Orleans. Louisiana was the home diocese of the new bishop.

This gift is significant in other ways, as well. Intentionally or not, it symbolizes a possibly nascent unity of purpose among a clericus that has been increasingly sorely divided over the past thirteen years of our previous episcopate. This has provoked an additional uncertainty of leadership that many say has confused the laity, divided parishes, and diminished energies for support. Hence, for the clergy additionally to invite their congregations to join them in this gift many believe may have moved us all further toward a possible reconciliation of sorts.

When the Canon to the retiring Ordinary learned of this plan, she admonished her colleagues for "tapping" the laity and possibly compromising the offering at the new bishop's ordination, an offering customarily designated for the ordinand's discretionary fund. Let alone that the remainder of the retiring bishop's discretionary fund should be expected automatically to transfer to his successor.

In the manner of irony's frequent capacity for refreshment, however, what did the new bishop do but request at his ordination that the offering therein be for the Katrina rebuilding programs, and that we -- laity and clergy -- give generously. We did. After all, what are discretionary funds for but discretion, perhaps, as some might have it, even indiscretion.

[The Covenant Journal, Number 24, March 2007]

about the author

Ed note: