I Am Learning To Be a Bishop
Part IV
The picture above shows the blessing of the children at Christ the Savior Anglican
Church in Jackson, Mississippi, Sunday, September 10th upon my Episcopal visit to
the parish. The children came from near and far, the congregation was most patient
to wait while all the children were blessed individually. A few year ago I would have
gathered all the children around, worried about time and blessed them all together,
but I'm learning now in my tenth year what it means to the children and to me as a
bishop. The fact that these lives could be impacted for years seeing themselves
being blessed by an Archbishop. Personally, I pray that I was worthy of the charge.
In my continuing education, I have also begun to learn how to handle the wiles of
some of those who came to the faith late and are an authority on almost all that we
do. It was once that I bragged in this column that I am a cradle Anglican, but that I
have learned means nothing unless I show the tools of humility in the charge. Back
in the
70s when once I bragged of my 4700 member church, I was asked within the same
conversation, "But do you have 47 souls for Christ?" My answer at that time never
came.
This past week as our intention was given to open a new door in a city in Missouri,
a letter came from a Anglican bishop in that area, telling us we should not. He gave
a number of reasons. This bishop whom I have never heard of or met, was most
disingenuous to the proposed leader of the parish that we are to plant. Of our
brother priest, he used words such as fraud, bad clergy, flake, renegade, Episcopi
Vagantes (I do not know what that means), to describe the gentleman, to describe
me a person he never met or spoken to, he called me arrogant, spiteful, ignorant
and one whose miter has fallen over his eyes.
A few year ago I would have responded to this writing with a letter that was as
accommodating as his, but what purpose would it serve? Our only task now as we
move forward is to open a parish in his area and to place this bishop on our prayer
list, If he seeks a hand of friendship, offer it.
Our visit to Mississippi with the children was about the growth of the church.
Seven (7) young children were baptized, mothers brought their young children who
were already baptized to be blessed again. It was an untold joy for me to render to
the youth that blessing of God, and hopefully one that will make an impact on their
lives for years to come.
The path of success to the church is the children. Nowhere in this walk should it be
about the long robes we wear, or the titles that we secure. To many of our
traditional clergy are concerned with whom our predecessors are, and not who our
successor will be, dare I say the children are the future.
This week I shall be receiving a new priest who is from Democratic Republic of the
Congo (formerly Zaire). My Charge to him is to send him home to expand on his
mission and see ways to help him expand on other missions in this French speaking
country in Africa. It is here that I have also begun to learn more and more of the
statement we so boldly put out "˜Reaching out to the World."
So you may be asking what is the great transformation of learning to be a bishop all
about? After all, I have been a bishop for 10 years. Like a doctor it takes 7- 10 years
to perfect his craft. For me it took this time because I too found myself more
involved in being a bishop than being a servant. I thank God for the chance he has
given me of learning how to serve, for it is him who gave me the charge.
Part IV
The picture above shows the blessing of the children at Christ the Savior Anglican
Church in Jackson, Mississippi, Sunday, September 10th upon my Episcopal visit to
the parish. The children came from near and far, the congregation was most patient
to wait while all the children were blessed individually. A few year ago I would have
gathered all the children around, worried about time and blessed them all together,
but I'm learning now in my tenth year what it means to the children and to me as a
bishop. The fact that these lives could be impacted for years seeing themselves
being blessed by an Archbishop. Personally, I pray that I was worthy of the charge.
In my continuing education, I have also begun to learn how to handle the wiles of
some of those who came to the faith late and are an authority on almost all that we
do. It was once that I bragged in this column that I am a cradle Anglican, but that I
have learned means nothing unless I show the tools of humility in the charge. Back
in the
70s when once I bragged of my 4700 member church, I was asked within the same
conversation, "But do you have 47 souls for Christ?" My answer at that time never
came.
This past week as our intention was given to open a new door in a city in Missouri,
a letter came from a Anglican bishop in that area, telling us we should not. He gave
a number of reasons. This bishop whom I have never heard of or met, was most
disingenuous to the proposed leader of the parish that we are to plant. Of our
brother priest, he used words such as fraud, bad clergy, flake, renegade, Episcopi
Vagantes (I do not know what that means), to describe the gentleman, to describe
me a person he never met or spoken to, he called me arrogant, spiteful, ignorant
and one whose miter has fallen over his eyes.
A few year ago I would have responded to this writing with a letter that was as
accommodating as his, but what purpose would it serve? Our only task now as we
move forward is to open a parish in his area and to place this bishop on our prayer
list, If he seeks a hand of friendship, offer it.
Our visit to Mississippi with the children was about the growth of the church.
Seven (7) young children were baptized, mothers brought their young children who
were already baptized to be blessed again. It was an untold joy for me to render to
the youth that blessing of God, and hopefully one that will make an impact on their
lives for years to come.
The path of success to the church is the children. Nowhere in this walk should it be
about the long robes we wear, or the titles that we secure. To many of our
traditional clergy are concerned with whom our predecessors are, and not who our
successor will be, dare I say the children are the future.
This week I shall be receiving a new priest who is from Democratic Republic of the
Congo (formerly Zaire). My Charge to him is to send him home to expand on his
mission and see ways to help him expand on other missions in this French speaking
country in Africa. It is here that I have also begun to learn more and more of the
statement we so boldly put out "˜Reaching out to the World."
So you may be asking what is the great transformation of learning to be a bishop all
about? After all, I have been a bishop for 10 years. Like a doctor it takes 7- 10 years
to perfect his craft. For me it took this time because I too found myself more
involved in being a bishop than being a servant. I thank God for the chance he has
given me of learning how to serve, for it is him who gave me the charge.
