Thoughts on The Letter

I think by now just about every sentient Episcopalian blogger [except me; I was busy last night working for The Episcopal Majority] has posted Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori's letter to San Joaquin Bishop Schofield. In fact, over the past 24 hours, I've been involved in several conversations (real and virtual) where one or the other of us asked, "Have you read The Letter?" or "Don't you just love The Letter?" I think we can now dispense with all that long-windedness, like referring to "Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori's letter to San Joaquin Bishop Schofield," and simply term it "The Letter."

Like so many others, I was gushing in my gratitude for the fact that she wrote it – that someone in our church's national leadership finally said "This far and no further" to those fomenting strife and dissent. And I was immensely impressed with the way she said it – i.e., with kindness, firmness, reason, plain-spoken clarity, and a reaching-out for reconciliation even at this stage.

The ever-perceptive Jim Naughton had a somewhat poignant insight about reactions to The Letter. He writes:

In this letter, Bishop Jefferts Schori makes a single, unremarkable point: The Episcopal Church intends to adhere to its constitution and canons. That this statement produced such relief on the left and anger on the right (see the appropriate blogs for a sampling) indicates that the Church had previously done a poor job of communicating its resolve.

Indeed, Jim. Many of us have been hungering and thirsting for this kind of leadership and clarity on behalf of our beloved church.

Of course, MadPriest posted The Letter too, but – to no surprise for those of us who have become his doting readers – with a perfect fillip. No trenchant analysis, no long-winded commentary. No, he simply posted the letter, then ended his post with this photograph

and the caption: "She's not a tame lion, you know."

I'm grateful to have this graceful and strong lion on our side. [Note to nit-pickers: No, neither MadPriest nor I is saying ++Katharine is Christ – any more than Aslan was Christ. So don't get your knickers in a twist.]

Reactions from "the [so-called] right" of TEC have been predictable. I'm not linking to those blogs; you know where they are. Some are merely engaging in name-calling – at least one referring to her as a "witch" [Sheesh!] and many referring to her as "Mrs. Jefferts Schori." [Get it? A woman is ontologically incapable of being ordained. Sheesh again!] And a great many foaming at the virtual mouth that she would be so autocratic. Ya know what strikes me as funny? It seems to me that many of those who are in open revolt or disdain are the ones who continue to ponder the lure of "swimming the Tiber" or who want to ally themselves with provinces such as Uganda or Nigeria. Frankly, I would love to see those guys [and, yes, they are mostly men] operate under the authority of a Pope Benedict or Pope Akinola. Be careful what you wish for, my friends on the "right" of the Episcopal Church. You think ++Katharine's exercising authority?

I, for one, am profoundly grateful that ++Katharine seems to have signaled that our long, passive nightmare is drawing to a close. Thank you, my Presiding Bishop and Primate!