Wednesday, May 2, 2007

The Great ++Katherine- Awesome!

For the last couple of weeks I've been on my own 'fast' from much of what's been passing as news within the church.
Being Anglican and gay man of faith can be pretty exhausting in times like these, and yet there have also been many grounds for gratitude, not the least my Zen sitting practice and the witness and community of so many brothers and sisters of faith.
And then there's ++Katherine's letter of April 30th, when so many of us were shaking our heads over the act of contempt announced for this week-end by ++Peter Akinola & + Martyn Mins.
Thank God for ++Katherine, and the grace and skill she has shown in these times.

And now you can read her skillful letter to ++ Peter Akinola

Was there ever a time more in need of our prayers for the future of our church?


The Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola
Primate of All Nigeria & Bishop of Abuja
Archbishop's PalacePO Box 212 ADCP
Abuja
NIGERIA

My dear Archbishop Akinola:
I am writing this letter with my prayers for you and for the entire worldwide Anglican Communion from a fellow child of Christ.
I understand from press reports you are planning to come to the United States to install Martyn Minns as a bishop in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. I strongly urge you not to do so.
First, such action would violate the ancient customs of the church which limits the episcopal activity of a bishop to only the jurisdiction to which the bishop has been entrusted, unless canonical permission has been given. Second, such action would not help the efforts of reconciliation that are taking place in the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion as a whole. Third, such action would display to the world division and disunity that are not part of the mind of Christ, which we must strive to display to all.
I would carefully ask that you reconsider your plans to come to this country for this purpose. This request stems from the hope and vision of reconciliation which was the mind of the primates as we met in Tanzania.
Your servant in Christ,
Katharine Jefferts Schori

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