National Episcopal leader makes Vermont visit

From the Burlington Free Press (if you can bear to read Katharine Jefferts Schori's direct quotes - not only a tin ear, a condescending attitude, and a litigious mind, but now add "lying" to the list when she says "a handful of our church leaders. . .would like to see the church never ordain and never baptize a gay or lesbian person") [boldface mine]:

The leader of the Episcopal Church of the United States said Friday that church dissidents unhappy with the ordination of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire should refocus their energy on more pressing world problems.

"Obviously a handful of our church leaders are still upset and would like to see the church never ordain and never baptize a gay or lesbian person," said Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in Burlington to attend the annual convention of the state's 175-year-old Episcopal diocese.

"We need to refocus on more life-and-death issues like starvation, education, medical care."

The Rev. Eugene Robinson was elected bishop of the New Hampshire diocese in 2004, prompting at least four church dioceses to threaten to break away from the church. On Friday, members of the Pittsburgh Episcopal diocese voted heavily in favor of taking a first step toward splitting from the church. The Fort Worth, Texas, diocese is scheduling a similar vote later this month.

Jefferts Schori, who spoke Friday at a forum at the University of Vermont's Ira Allen Chapel, said she had written a letter warning Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan she would discipline him if he continues to support measures that would lead to Pittsburgh's departure from the church.

"It is an unfortunate thing to have to do, but it is a necessary thing to do," she said.

Jefferts Schori said she is also trying to address schisms in the church over her own election in 2006 as the first woman to head the American Episcopal church. Episcopalians are part of the worldwide Anglican community, much of which opposes the ordination of women.

"There are still noises about that," she said. "We're not through with that conversation yet.". . .

Sounds so very soviet unionish - "we're not through with that conversation yet" and all who disagree with her agenda are just "noises." Guess we haven't been to the reeducation camps yet - bah! And, I don't know, salvation of souls sounds pretty life and death to me, but I guess ECUSA is now just a social service agency with a singularly unpleasant director. Read it all.