A great row is taking place this week in the Church of England. Their equivalent to our General Convention, which meets every three years, is the General Synod, and it gathers twice a year. How ghastly is that!! The big issue for them is women bishops. One side, apparently the majority, is ready to authorize this step. The other threatens to become Roman Catholics if this takes place without assurance that the female bishop will never have any authority or interaction with them whatsoever.
On top of this Dean Jeffrey John, Dean of St. Alban, has been chosen the new bishop of Southwark, a part of London. Dean John was chosen bishop of Reading in 2003, but was talked out of accepting the appointment by the Archbishop of Canterbury because he is gay. It was announced yesterday that the Crown Commission has overruled the Diocese of Southwark and Dean John will not be allowed to become a bishop. What makes a good bishop? I have been asking myself that question quite frequently the past two years as a member of our own search committee. Dean John is widely regarded as one of the most effective priests in the UK. He is gay, but has taken the vow of celibacy and has been in a committed relationship with the same man for almost 25 years. Likewise, I have a friend who is Dean of Salisbury Cathedral who is one of the finest priests I know. I would consider it an honor to serve with her as my bishop.
A bishop’s lifestyle does matter. So does pastoral and ministerial effectiveness. We, as opposed to our Lutheran cousins, hold up a large pastoral role for the episcopate. We claim that the first job for the bishop is to be a pastor to the clergy, but we all know that is no longer possible. A bishop residing in Casper can never be a significant part of our parish life here some 300 miles away. We shouldn’t ask it of him either. Between now and the July 31 consecration of John Smylie as the IX Bishop of Wyoming, I invite you to read the Ordination and Consecration of a Bishop Service in the Book of Common Prayer, pp. 512-23. It contains what we as a church consider to be the attributes of a bishop, but I would love you to write and let me know, after reading the BCP, your own hopes and dreams for the leadership of our next bishop.
We have prayed and worked and studied, listening to the Holy Spirit as we selected John. The consecration service will be a glorious event for Wyoming. Carmina Oaks and Wallace Ulrich will have prominent roles in it; perhaps others from this parish will as well.
With all that has gone into this process, we ought to reflect on how we hope to be blessed through it in the years ahead. I would love to hear your thoughts. Beloved, God’s peace.
