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July 21, 2006

Something New

Ed. note: since the beginning of Beloved's existence, we have prayed weekly for "Frank, our Presiding Bishop." Last month his successor, Katharine Jefferts Schori, was elected to succeed him beginning in November. This account is a firsthand witness of the election from the Bishop of Western North Carolina (The Rt. Rev'd G Porter Taylor, who taught Clifford English in high school!), whose diocesan boundary begins on the western shore of the Catawba River.

(We gathered that Sunday) for the Holy Eucharist. The Presiding Bishop preached. He called us to ask ourselves, "Do I genuinely want what God wants?" The bishops then exited and boarded buses to go to Trinity Episcopal Church (in Columbus, Ohio) several blocks away.

Trinity is not a large church. 188 Bishops were present and we filled the nave (the main seating area of the church building). First, we sang some hymns, prayed and then voted the first ballot. Because I am one of the five newest bishops...I was one of the tellers. We gathered the ballots and went to a room on the second floor. Each of us felt the import of the moment. One person read the name; one confirmed this; one stacked the ballots by name; two marked tally sheets. The first ballot went slowly because it's not really our profession.

I was shocked that Katharine Jefferts Schori was in the lead on the first ballot. I respect her and admire her razor-sharp intellect and gifts for organization but, frankly, I didn't think she had a chance of winning. Ballot 2 and 3 went more quickly. It became apparent that the election was between Henry Parsley of Alabama (a former rector of Christ Church, Charlotte) and Katharine Jefferts Schori. After ballot 4, everyone knew what the future held. We were meticulous in counting ballot 5. We counted and recounted. 95 ballots were needed to be elected (half the total plus one). On the fifth ballot, Bishop Schori received 95 votes.

When we walked into the church, I kept my expression neutral. I gave the Presiding Bishop the results and sat down. He said, "We have an election," said her name and the hall erupted. Almost everyone jumped to their feet and began clapping and shouting. I was sitting in front of Bishops Cathy Roscum, Carol Gallagher, and Carol Irish. They were weeping uncontrollably. The twelve women bishops spontaneously gathered together in the aisle and formed a circle with their arms over one another's shoulders. And they just laughed and cried together. It was a magical moment because the impossible was possible. The new creation that Paul writes about in 2^nd Corinthians had come in our midst.

Trinity Church had given each bishop a book of the history of the parish called Be it Remembered. As we were waiting for (a confirmation from) the House of Deputies (the legislative body made up of lay persons, priests and deacons), the women bishops gathered around a table and signed the title page under the words Be it Remembered of one another's books. Then, of course, the men lined up in front of Katharine to get her signature.

I was not in the House of Deputies when the election was announced, but I have heard that the speaker only got the word "Katharine" out and the hall erupted much as the bishops had.

It was a day I will never forget. Sometimes it feels as if we are so stuck on the same conversations and arguments that nothing new will ever happen, and then the Holy Spirit blows and reminds us that we are not in charge and that God is not done with renewing creation. June 18 2006 was such a day. I know everyone who was there will tell their children and their grandchildren, "I was there in Columbus, Ohio that day. It was a new creation."

G. Porter Taylor, Bishop of Western North Carolina

Around Beloved...The Prayer Team is experimenting with a new meeting location and time: Sunday afternoons at 4:45pm in Borders Café at the Stonecrest Shopping Center. This group would love to have you there...Summer Evening Worship continues this Sunday at 6pm instead of 9:30am. This is "come as you are" summer worship, wearing the clothing of your afternoon adventures. Hospitality will be before worship at 5:30pm, with light refreshments and lemonade. Our 9:30am worship will resume in August...Check out the Media Page on Beloved's website, thanks to the hard work of Dan Hood. There you will find each week's sermon in MP3 format (and, hopefully, soon to be available as a podcast). To visit, click here...Mark your calendars now; this year's Simon Evening of Giving will be held at South Park Mall on November 19^th. More information will follow this fall.

Serving at God's Altar this Sunday...Angel Army Team 4 (Captain: Fred Mellon; Administrator: Claire Kraft; Pastor: this ministry is available; Convener: Linda Mellon); Acolytes: Carson King, Raquanza Miller, Caley Scheppegrell, Nykeria Thomas; Reader: Betsy Fox; Presenters: Sherrill & Bonnie Lowder; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Anna Moore & Mary Reid; Offertory Basket Passers: Holly Burnett, Katie Kraft, Madelyn Ricket, Carter Ricket; PowerPoint: Mitchell Harbin

In our Prayers...for those who have died or have been traumatized by the escalating violence in the Middle East and the Tsunami in Asia...for those who received Beloved's postcard mailing that God will use us to assist them on their spiritual journey...for Greg, Sherrill Lowder's brother, who has colon cancer...for Jacqui, niece of Deb and Dan Blackwood who has been diagnosed with cancer in both breasts and is recovering from surgery...for Harriett, Kathy Raynor‘s mother who has cancer...for Richard, Ginger Leppert‘s father...for Jessie Powell and Janie Lownes...for those serving in Iraq, especially Scott, Dan Hood's brother...for Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter, Emily...for Dorothy, Mary Reid's sister who is fighting lung cancer...for Ed and Jean, Dick Reif's parents who are in declining health in Oklahoma... for Bucky, Sherrill Lowder's neighbor, who has lung cancer...for Jeremy Lamb who is recovering from surgery....for Cyteria Knight as she seeks employment...for Kara Snowman Wulff's husband, Mike, who is employed by Springs Industries and is seeking other employment...for Forrest Boylston who is traveling in England...for Machelle Yearwood who is traveling with her daughter, Nicole Yearwood as she plays soccer in England...for Marie Charbonneau as she completes her immigration interview in Canada to return permanently to the United States...for those who travel during this time of summer respite from school.

Upcoming Calendar...click here