June 21, 2006
GC11
A bishop who literally stood with the Networkers at GC 2003 and later changed his position said he started voting for Nutt Parsley in last Sunday’s PB election, then changed to Jefferts Schori. He realized, he said, that Parsley is a bishop for the present and Jefferts Schori is a bishop for the future.
It would be refreshing, to say the least, for the church to get into the present and out of the past. But for the church to anticipate and reach into the future with the kind of risk faith always includes and demands portends, in my opinion, a far more consistent implementation of the gospel.
Talk about future. One of the more reassuring markers at GC 2006 is the numbers of youth among the deputies who not only were present, but some of whom spoke on the issues with informed clarity. Heaven knows, we’re yet a church far more elder hostel than Woodstock, but any signs to the contrary are not only altogether welcome, but — speaking frankly as an octogenarian — just comfortably somewhat on the frighteningly fun side.
The Windsor resolution bouncing back and forth yesterday that finally got voted down called, I understand, for us to refrain from ordaining as a bishop anyone whose “manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church.” I can almost hear Jesus saying, “Whew!”