Eating My Words … Happily!

It is time for me to eat my words. I guessed that the bishops of our church would not consent to the election of Mary Glasspool (pictured at right) until the House of Bishops meeting (which will convene on March 19), at which they would hear reports from Parsley’s secret theology committee. I thought they would use the committee report for cover. Now I must eat those words.

Today, we received this news from ENS that “Bishop-elect Mary Douglas Glasspool has received the required number of consents from diocesan standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction to her ordination and consecration as a bishop.”

Even before the House of Bishops meeting, we already have enough consents to the Rev. Glasspool’s consecration. I give deep thanks to those bishops who gave their consent already.

This being Lent, I dare not shout “Alleluia.” But I certainly am happy that we already have a majority of consents from standing committees and bishops. The Rev. Glasspool will be consecrated a bishop in our church. Thanks be to God!

I don’t know Gene Robinson, but I’m glad he’s no longer going to be singled-out as the only honestly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion.

At the same time, my prayers go up for Mary Glasspool, knowing that she’s going to suffer the same kind of slings and arrows that Bishop Robinson has suffered. My heart goes out to her.

The blogosphere has been all aflutter today, from the moment this news broke. Among all those, I especially commend two reflections to you.

Mark Harris saw this coming, and he says this isn’t the earthquake that some would try to pretend it is. Read Mark’s essay here. He rightly observes that this is not the end of the Anglican Communion As We Knew It. In fact, a commenter observes it’s merely the end of the Anglican Communion as Some Imagined It.

Gird yourselves, my friends. Some people are going to shriek to the top of their lungs that this is The End of The Anglican Communion. It is not. Mark says it better than I.

This is merely the beginning of honesty. Gene Robinson and Mary Glasspool are not the first gay bishops in the Anglican Communion. They are only the first who are honest about it. Someday, perhaps, others will come out of their closets.

I also commend Brother Tobias Haller’s reflections at his blog. He writes:

Many will rejoice at this, myself included, but many also will be troubled — and I feel for them as well. Change is often difficult, and I know many will be wounded in their conscience, or concerned for possible consequences, even as others give thanks and celebrate.

By contrast, if you have asbestos armor, some few of you may dare to read the vitriol being spewed over at StandFirm. I read their comments as the dying shrieks of a poisonous snake. I am beginning to feel sorry for the leaders and readers of StandFirm. Our church is bravely moving forward, and some are filled with venom at this change. I would hope we could move forward together, but I recognize that won’t happen with this particular demographic. If I were an Episcopalian on the edge, the hatred spewed at StandFirm would make clear to me that I would not want to be part of their hate-mongers. You won’t find any love of Jesus over there.

If you want to keep tabs on the news about the Rev. Glasspool’s election, I recommend The Episcopal Café to you. It’s a great source of news for us.

So I'll close for the evening. I am profoundly glad to know that the bishops and standing committees have already consented to Mary Glasspool's election. I give humble thanks.