August 17, 2004
Perspicacity
I recently ran across the announcement published by the Diocese of Newark a few years ago when they started out looking for a new bishop. In the light of the present obscurity of the gospel characteristic of so much ecclesiastic navel-gazing, I find their concept altogether refreshing. Any diocese out there on the make these days, might give it good space in their search.
Newark announced: “Women and men of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, of all sexual orientations, and of all four orders of ministry are encouraged to apply. We seek someone with grace, maturity, a sense of humor, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, compassion, leadership, empathy with the poor and the dispossessed, liturgical perspicacity, and a good mind.”
Giving up on a “sense of humor” and a “good mind,” I wondered what might be a perspicacious liturgy, then I remembered what I thought might have been one. It was a presbyterial ordination I attended a while back. The mitered, bejeweled, and becoped Episcopal Presence preached, crosier in hand throughout. In the center choir aisle stood his two six-foot-four matched canons, a side-by-side arsenal, complementarily bevested, arms crossed punjabily, expressionless eyes sweeping and secret-servicing the congregation (we were not in or of his diocese). I thought, he probably did not even consider applying to Newark.
“Perspicacity” is not of my common parlance, so I looked it up and found “acute mental vision or discernment.” I really hate to admit it when I’m wrong.