To Sr. Angela and Sr.Patty

Dear experts,your comments please...thanks in advance....   Profile: Katharine Jefferts Schori

Bishop Jefferts Schori gave up marine work to become a priest She was raised a Roman Catholic, is a qualified pilot and graduated in marine biology with a doctorate specialisation in squids and oysters. Now Katharine Jefferts Schori has become the first female head of an Anglican denomination anywhere in the world. The 52-year-old Bishop of Nevada narrowly beat six candidates to become head of the US Episcopal Church in a move already causing concern among traditionalists in Anglican denominations around the world. Apart from the US, only Canada and New Zealand, among 38 Anglican provinces, have female bishops, although others do allow for their appointment. I will bend over backward to build relationships with people who disagree with me Katharine Jefferts Schori Bishop Jefferts Schori responded to the threat of opposition by recalling similar difficulties in her earlier marine biology days. She said the captain of a science research cruise she was on had initially pledged not to speak to her but after 15 minutes on board "he got over it". "I will bend over backward to build relationships with people who disagree with me," she said. Hispanic links Katharine Jefferts Schori graduated in biology at Stanford University before taking a master's and doctorate in oceanography at Oregon State. She worked with the National Marine Fisheries Service but after funding for her work dried up, was ordained as a priest in 1994 and filled in as a preacher in a local church. She said the preaching "led me to realise it was something I wanted to do". She rose to bishop and leader of the Nevada diocese in 2001. Married with one daughter, Bishop Jefferts Schori is fluent in Spanish and is known for reaching out to the Hispanic community. She is also a liberal, having voted three years ago for the ordination of gay US bishop Gene Robinson, a move that sparked fury in some other Anglican denominations, particularly in Africa. As Church leader, one of her challenges will be to try to heal such divisions.

I heard her on CNN yesterday.  I think one reason people have problems with her is that she is quite liberal and finds scripture a set guidelines rather than the word of God. 

Another reason is that she has not been a cleric for very long - only about 12 years.

Well, considering I do not believe in a priesthood for women.  I would disagree with her nomination.

She is also a liberal, having voted three years ago for the ordination of gay US bishop Gene Robinson, a move that sparked fury in some other Anglican denominations, particularly in Africa.

This right here in my mind shows she is not fit to lead and entire congregation.  Sex outside of marriage is a sin, homosexuality is a sin and since Gene Robinson cannot be married to a man, he's committing a double sin.  Therefore, she was not following the teachings of God and moving towards popular opinion of liberals.

So, Brother Suleyman, if you're asking what I think....I think that women have no place in a priesthood.  We are the bearers of life and responsible for the home, our children and bringing peace and faith into our families.  Men are the spiritual and physical center of the family.  They are to be leaders in faith.  The Priesthood in my church gives them responsibility and molds them from the age of 12. 

What would you think of female Imams taking over Mosques?  I'm just curious.

Seems there are MANY Anglicans (Episcopalians) who are definitely NOT in favor of her election as a Bishop, nor with the election of the gay Anglican bishop.  Could cause a big division amongst this church:

COLUMBUS, OH: Anglicans 'are close to anarchy' in dispute over female bishop

By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent and James Bone in Columbus, Ohio
THE TIMES
June 20, 2006

THE Anglican Church descended into "ecclesiastical anarchy" last night as American traditionalists refused to accept the authority of a woman and asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to lead them instead.

Liberals celebrated the election of Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church while the traditionalist Fort Worth Diocese appealed to Dr Rowan Williams for "alternative primatial oversight".

The appeal, being mulled over at Lambeth Palace, is expected to be the first of several. It represents the first formal step towards a schism that evangelicals say began with the consecration of the openly gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.

The crisis was heightened as resolutions being debated over gays fell short of the "repentance" and "moratoria" demanded by the Windsor Report set up by Dr Williams. One well-placed conservative source said: "We are in uncharted waters. The Church is descending into anarchy."

Last night representatives of the Episcopal Church rejected suggestions that they broke with the worldwide Anglican Communion when they elected Bishop Robinson. In its first action, the 843-member House of Deputies rejected language expressing regret for "breaching the proper constraints of the bonds of affection" by his election. Instead, the deputies approved wording expressing regret merely for "straining" the bonds of affection with the Anglican Communion.

Dr Williams issued a guarded welcome to the new Presiding Bishop, referring to the difficulties the election represents for Anglicans. "I send my greetings to Bishop Katharine and she has my prayers and good wishes as she takes up a deeply demanding position at a critical time," he said. Bishop Schori will be instituted in November.

Bishop Schori told CNN yesterday that she did not believe homosexuality was a sin, adding: "I believe that God creates us with different gifts."

Fort Worth is one of three US dioceses not to accept women priests. These and a further seven evangelical dioceses belong to a network of orthodox parishes and dioceses that represent 10 per cent of the US Episcopal Church.

If Dr Williams agreed to provide alternative oversight and the entire American Anglican Network followed, there would be two Anglican Churches within the US. Both would be in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury, although not with each other.

The crunch point would come at the 2008 Lambeth Conference, when both would be asked to sign up to a unifying "covenant" designed to prevent splits and actions in the future.

Officials at the US Episcopal Church have requested that it be known by its legal name of the Episcopal Church rather than the acronym ECUSA, as it represents 16 nations, not only the US. Speaking to The Times, Bishop Jack Iker, of Fort Worth, said: "We would like to be accountable to a bishop of the orthodox faith who shares our theology and perspective."

There was heated debate at the convention as resolutions on gay bishops came up for vote. The House of Deputies was due to take up a revised proposal that came close to calling for a moratorium on the consecration of gay bishops. Gay activists called that proposal "unacceptable".

THE SPLIT

1998 Lambeth Conference rejects homosexual practice as "incompatible with scripture" and advises against the "legitimising or blessing of same-sex unions" and of "ordaining those involved in same-gender unions"

2003 Vicky Imogene "Gene" Robinson, an openly gay father of two, is consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire. Archbishop of Canterbury sets up Lambeth Commission

2004 Commission publishes Windsor Report, which calls for repentance from US church and moratoria on future gay consecrations and same-sex blessings

2006 ECUSA, at its General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, decides that it will in future be known as the Episcopal Church, prompting theories that it is preparing to become an alternative, liberal Anglican Communion. Episcopal Church elects first woman, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, as Presiding Bishop, equal in status to an archbishop. Delegates come close to fighting as they debate how far to go in complying with Windsor

2007 Archbishop of Canterbury will issue invitations to Lambeth Conference. He must decide whether or not to invite Bishop Robinson and any of the bishops who were consecrated. Bishop Schori voted for the election of Robinson but did not take part in his consecration

2008 Lambeth Conference will meet in the summer, when bishops and archbishops will agree either to "walk apart" or find a way of remaining in communion

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php? storyid=4301

God's Peace.