More on the Presiding Bishop

Two “takeaways” from Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s visit yesterday:

First, she accurately points out that the Episcopal Church is itself an international body. There are Episcopal Church dioceses in sixteen foreign countries, from Taiwan and Micronesia to Central America and Europe. She also notes that God’s work is being done in these places in marvelous ways, and that outreach and mission, in Africa and elsewhere, are alive and well.

Second, she offers a challenge. Speaking softly, she reminds us that angry people are angry because they are hurting in some way, and that though it seems counterintuitive, these people present an opening for engagement. Call it listening or something else; our opportunity is in offering response and involvement, not rejection. That’s hard work, but it’s work worth doing.