2008
I’m making a new label in celebration of this post. My hero of the day is: Bishop Katherine Jefferts Shori of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Shori states that making sexuality the main focus of the Episcopalian mission is to turn it into an idol and that “some parts of the Anglican communion have responded to it like an idol.”
When asked at a National Press Club speech “whether the biblical institutions for marriage apply to same-sex couples,” Bishop Shori responded sarcastically:
“Oh, which biblical institution for marriage? Solomon’s many, many, many wives? The concubines? the slaves who bore children for their male masters? There are some very odd images of family life in the Bible. And when people talk about family values, i want to know which ones.”
Source: Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, page 1C. December 20, 2008.
Second that!
Thanks for commenting, Celestite. I love a Christian with common sense. And by the way, I stopped by your blog and it’s beautiful. Love the images.
What an awesome reply! Such a breath of fresh air to hear that. I honestly don’t understand how some groups think homosexuality is like *the* threat of our day. It’s strange. Hail and gods bless this wise bishop!
++Katharine is absolutley awesome.
There are many unsung heroes like this in TEC – individual people and priests and deacons who are putting love and compassion ahead of bickering and poking noses into people’s bedrooms, etc.
She takes a lot of heat for the things she’s had to do since taking office, but she always bears herself with dignity and soft-spokenness and is always willing to reach out to those who somehow feel disaffected with very sincere Christian charity.
She’s also a former oceanographer, which I think is awesome too. A scientist gone bishop!
Thank you for commenting, Silver Heron. I hadn’t realized she was a former oceanographer. That scientific background might explain her common sense approach. And I can well imagine she’s taken some heat!