"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Paul to the persecuted at Philippi (2:5-11)

15 January 2012

A quick fisk of the candidate slate for the new TEC bishop of Pittsburgh

And I do mean quick... this was just released tonight, and I've just done a cursory internet snoop on each of them.
The Rev. Canon Michael N. Ambler, Jr.: seems to have run for bishop before, though I'm not sure that means he makes it a habit. Western New York had him in the final four. He's a graduate of Episcopal Divinity School and an environmentalist. Can't say any of that rules him out in itself, but that MDiv from EDS sure makes him awfully suspect for any of my friends who are trying to maintain a conservative position in TEC-PGH!
The Rev. Dorsey W. M. McConnell: Ironically, the dude from Mass. is the only one I couldn't raise anything suspect on. The parish website says specifically that marriage is for one man and one woman, a sacrament and a little snooping revealed him to be a theological dissenter on the appointment of a gay dean when he was in Seattle. Could I seriously find myself hoping that a priest from MA becomes the next bishop of Pittsburgh? If its all true, he must be able to play nice with both sides.
The Rev. R. Stanley Runnels: Is on record as early as 2000 saying that rites for gay marriage are a sort of social justice issue. 'Nuff said.
The Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley: I almost choked on my own breath over this one! She leaves a liberal paper trail a mile long including a ton of homosexual agenda all over her parish website (she's the rector) and an ordained unitarian husband. Seriously Pittsburgh? Seriously?
I know who I'd suggest if I still had voice in the process. Someone still in TEC who loves Jesus and can work with all sides, solid as the day is long and generous too, who has worked with ultra liberals and ultra conservatives (and treated both impostors with kindness...) but nobody's asking me. (Unless, Bruce has an interest in starting a petition... if so I'll email you a name!)

Anyway, for the morbidly curious, or those like myself who just want to see a good bishop leading a diocese largely populated by friends and former colleagues. Love ya, Pittsburgh... obviously more prayers are required as the big day approaches. God be with you.

1 comment:

  1. The key paragraph in the announcement was the disclaimer that numerous Pgh clergy didn't want to touch the job with a barge pole.

    And I think two of the three men were formerly lawyers --waz that tell ya!

    ReplyDelete