Episcopal bishop preaches to hundreds

From Northern Michigan-

Hundreds of Upper Peninsula residents of all ages and walks of life gathered in the Northern Center Ballroom Sunday for “Revival-The Way of Love UP North,” led by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church.

Curry, who was installed as bishop in 2015, has authored four books and is known for his dynamic preaching style.

The event, held at Northern Michigan University, was organized by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan in partnership with the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

It began with a welcome from Bradley Nadeau of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and featured charismatic preaching, performances by the Queen City Dancers, the American Choral Directors Association Student Chapter Singers and a story from Hebrew scripture.

More here-

https://www.miningjournal.net/news/front-page-news/2019/10/episcopal-bishop-preaches-to-hundreds/

NORTHERN MICHIGAN: Rayford Jeffrey Ray consecrated as 11th bishop

From ENS-

The Rt. Rev. Rayford Jeffrey Ray was consecrated the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan during a May 21 celebration of baptismal ministry held on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

"It was an exciting time and I am humbled by it all," Ray said May 23 of the celebration at the university's Vandament Arena attended by about 450 Episcopalians and interfaith and ecumenical guests.

"The whole focus on baptismal ministry is a very important part of who and what we are in the diocese," added Ray, 54, who has served in Northern Michigan for more than 20 years, working as a ministry development coordinator in the south central region of the diocese.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was chief consecrator during the ceremony, centered around a "huge" baptismal font with flowing waters from the three Great Lakes, Michigan, Superior and Huron, which surround the Upper Peninsula, he said.

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_128440_ENG_HTM.htm

New Episcopalian bishop ordained

From Northern Michigan-

It was a celebration of faith in the area, allowing members of different religions to come together in support of a new bishop.

The Episopalian Diocese of Northern Michigan ordained its 11th bishop at Vandament Arena in Marquette Saturday morning.

Reverend Rayford Jeffrey Ray has been serving Episcopal churches in the southern U.P. for more than 20 years.

Ray was elected in December.

The Diocese has been without a bishop for almost four years, since Reverend James Kelsey died in a car accident.

Saturday's ceremonies were all about recognizing the attributes of the Episcopal faith.

"It's really a celebration of baptismal ministry, that God calls us in our baptism when we become a Christian to share our gifts with others," says diocesan ministry developer Rise Thew Forrester. "And then as part of the ceremony they'll be pouring water from the three lakes that surround the Upper Peninsula."

A reception followed the ordination ceremony.

More here-

http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~%5Chome%5Clists%5Csearch&id=620789

Northern Michigan bishop-elect receives church's consent

From ENS-

Diocese of Northern Michigan Bishop-Elect Rayford Ray has received the required consent of the wider Episcopal Church for his ordination and consecration.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has notified the diocese that Ray has received the required majority of consents in the canonical consent process, according to a press release from the Office of Public Affairs.

Ray was elected on December 4. His ordination and consecration service is slated for May 21 with Jefferts Schori as the chief consecrator.

Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4), a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to a bishop-elect's ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of the election.

As outlined under Canon III.11.4 (a), for every bishop election the presiding bishop confirms the receipt of consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction, and reviews the evidence of consents from diocesan standing committees sent to her by the standing committee of the electing diocese.

In Canon III.11.4 (b), standing committees, in consenting to ordination and consecration, attest they are "fully sensible of how important it is that the Sacred Order and Office of a Bishop should not be unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to bear testimony on this solemn occasion without partiality, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify that we know of no impediment on account of which the Reverend A.B. ought not to be ordained to that Holy Office. We do, moreover, jointly and severally declare that we believe the Reverend A.B. to have been duly and lawfully elected and to be of such sufficiency in learning, of such soundness in the Faith, and of such godly character as to be able to exercise the Office of a Bishop to the honor of God and the edifying of the Church, and to be a wholesome example to the flock of Christ."

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_127391_ENG_HTM.htm

Diocese of Northern Michigan elects Rayford Ray as 11th bishop

From ELO-

The Rev. Rayford Ray was elected Dec. 4 as the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, pending required consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction and standing committees of the Episcopal Church.

Ray, 54, a member of the Episcopal Ministry Support Team in the Diocese of Northern Michigan, was elected on the second ballot of a special convention from a field of three nominees. A fourth nominee, the Rev. Nigel Taber-Hamilton, rector of St. Augustine's in-the-Woods Episcopal Church, Freeland, Washington, had earlier asked that his name be withdrawn from consideration.

"We are a life-giving people here in this diocese," said Ray, who visited the convention after his election. "It is an exciting time as we will partner together as we look at the possibilities that stand before us. We have much to do, but we will do it together as we proclaim the Gospel as we know in Jesus Christ."

Ray received 59 delegate votes and 16 congregational votes. With 88 delegates from 25 congregations present, 59 delegate votes and 13 congregational votes were required to elect at the special convention held at St. Stephen's Church in Escanaba in the state's Upper Peninsula.

According to the bylaws of the Marquette-based diocese, a nominee must receive two-thirds of the delegate vote and a simple majority of the congregational vote to be elected. To achieve a congregational vote, delegates from a congregation meet and caucus--a simple majority of those delegates is considered a congregational vote.

Ray, a four-time deputy to General Convention, has served in Northern Michigan for more than 20 years, working as ministry development coordinator, and collaborated with parishes across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He was recently an adjunct instructor at Episcopal Divinity School.

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_126024_ENG_HTM.htm

N. Michigan Names Four Nominees

From The Living Church-

The Diocese of Northern Michigan has nominated three men and one woman in the search for its 11th bishop.

The nominees are:

The Rev. Dr. Susanna E. Metz, a former Roman Catholic religious and executive director of the Center for Ministry in Small Churches at the University of the South.

The Rev. Rayford J. Ray, a 20-year veteran of ministry in Northern Michigan and a member of the diocese’s Episcopal Ministry Support Team.

The Rev. Nigel J. Taber-Hamilton, a native of England and rector of St. Augustine’s-in-the-Woods Church, Freeland, Wash.

The Rev. Jos C. Tharakan, a native of India and rector of All Saints Church in Russellville, Ark.
The diocese’s ninth bishop, the Rt. Rev. James A. Kelsey, died in a car crash in June 2007. The diocese elected a sole nominee, the Rev. Dr. Kevin Thew Forrester, in February 2009, but he did not receive consents from a majority of bishops or standing committees.

The diocese is accepting nominees by petition. Instructions for such nominees are posted on the dioecese’s website [PDF]. The diocese will elect its next bishop Dec. 4 in Escanaba.

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/10/1/n-michigan-names-four-nominees

Northern Michigan Welcomes Nominees

From The Living Church-

The Diocese of Northern Michigan has released a profile and called for nominations as it seeks an 11th bishop.

The profile repeatedly affirms mutual ministry as central to the diocese’s identity, and it identifies a recurring theme of loss and struggle, including financial stresses during the early 20th century and the death of the Rt. Rev. James A. Kelsey in an automobile accident in 2007.

The profile devotes an eight-page appendix to Kelsey’s last annual address as a bishop, which he delivered in October 2006. Another appendix is a nine-page essay, “Creating a Hospitable Environment for Mutual Ministry,” by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Ray, the diocese’s ninth bishop, and Kelsey. Ray is serving as an assisting bishop until the new bishop begins ministry.

Kelsey’s legacy of a “Christ-centered diocese based on Mutual Ministry had greatly increased the quality of the relationships within the diocese,” the profile said. “Undoubtedly, these caring relationships helped ameliorate the grief we experienced with the sudden loss of our bishop. It also, in retrospect, gave us the courage and dedication to cope with the problems the diocese would encounter in 2009 during the unsuccessful consent process of our newly elected bishop, Kevin Thew Forrester.”

Unlike the diocese’s previous search, this process will result in a slate of more than one nominee, and it provides a two-week period for nominations by petition.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/5/20/northern-michigan-welcomes-nominees

NORTHERN MICHIGAN: Diocese forms bishop search committee

From Episcopal Life Online-

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan has chosen an 11-member committee to guide the search for its next bishop, and laid out a timeline for the search.

"The Standing Committee was committed to having a search committee that is representative of our diocese's geography and diversity," said Linda Piper, chair of the Standing Committee. "With this committee, we have achieved that goal. We are grateful to all of its members for agreeing to serve."

The diocese's previous search for a bishop ended in July 2009, when the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester, a priest of the diocese, did not receive the necessary consents from the wider church. The diocese has been without a bishop since Bishop James Kelsey died in an automobile accident in June 2007. Bishop Tom Ray, who preceded Kelsey, now serves as assisting bishop.

Diocesan Convention met in October 2009 and set out the framework for conducting a second search for the diocese's next bishop.

The Search Committee's regional representatives were chosen after each congregation discussed potential candidates with their congregational representatives, and identified up to two candidates per congregation. Congregational representatives then met by region to discuss and vote on the names brought forth.

The Diocesan Council and Standing Committee followed a similar process, discussing potential candidates at an initial meeting and then later electing a representative. Diocesan Convention gave the Standing Committee the authority to appoint additional members to the committee to insure that it was representative of the diocese.

The members of the search committee are: Mary Sullivan and Gladys Dompierre from the North Central region; Carol Clark and Kim Moote from the South Central region; Warren Maki and Leonard DeWitt from the Western region; Pam Finkel and Phil Schaffer from the Eastern region; Pat Micklow, representing the Diocesan Council; Arlene Gordanier, representing the Standing Committee; and the Rev. Charlie Piper, representing the diocese's ministry developers, or its five seminary-trained priests.

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_119574_ENG_HTM.htm

NORTHERN MICHIGAN: Convention agrees on search process outline

From ENS-

Participants in the Diocese of Northern Michigan's 114th annual convention Oct. 30-31 set out the framework for conducting another search for the diocese's next bishop.
The convention, which met at St. Stephen's Church in Escanaba, passed a resolution saying that the process would form a search committee engaged in discernment that will build on the work done by the previous search committee (known as the Episcopal Ministry Discernment Team), be open to working with a search consultant, use a broad process of collecting potential candidates, intend to present multiple candidates to the electing convention, use a petition process for adding names to the slate, and communicate effectively with the wider church.

Agreement on a new process, which a diocesan news release said came after "lengthy discussions," was necessitated by the failure of the diocese's previous attempt to call a successor to Bishop James Kelsey who died in June 2007.

The Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester, chosen during a special convention on Feb. 21, 2009 to succeed Kelsey, came under intense scrutiny after his election.

Initially, concern centered on his status as the only candidate at the convention and the question of whether his practice of Zen Buddhist meditation has diluted his commitment to the Christian faith, making him unsuitable to serve as a bishop. That attention led to the internet publication of some of Thew Forrester's sermons and writings along with a revision he made to the Episcopal Church's baptismal liturgy, raising further concern among some about his theology.

Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4 (a)) that apply for all episcopal elections, a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees had to consent to Thew Forrester's ordination as bishop within 120 days from the day after notice of his election was sent to them. On July 27, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori notified the diocesan Standing Committee that the necessary consents had not been received within the prescribed time period and therefore his election was "null and void."

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_116290_ENG_HTM.htm

Losing Forrester

From Get Religion-

So — why did the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester not get the required consents from Episcopal bishops and diocesan standing committees to become bishop of the Diocese of Northern Michigan?

Answer — it’s not exactly clear.

Covering news in the Anglican Communion — and I, obviously, speak as an ordained member of that body (even that statement isn’t so “obvious” to those, including many Anglicans who don’t believe that women can be priests) — can make you crazy.

See? I’m in trouble already. It’s little wonder that you find some reporters, like the rest of us, striving to get a grip on terra firma, like comedians balancing on a banana peel.

Polity? Subject to debate, interpretation and extreme hyperbole. Theology? Depends who you ask. Who’s on first? Ask a bishop — or a judge.

We return to the latest episode from the just-cancelled miniseries featuring bishop-elect Kevin Thew Forrester, a Buddhist practitioner as well as an Episcopal priest. Actually, this isn’t quite the latest episode (see gay bishop nominees.). I’m reasonably sure we’ll get around to that.

Over at Bible Belt Blogger, religion editor Frank Lockwood posted the official Episcopal News Service statement and his own unofficial vote tally. The large number either voting against or taking some kind of evasive action indicates…well, it indicates something. The problem is, it’s not clear what. Lockwood has lots of links that will help readers who for some reason haven’t been keeping up with the Forrester saga.

More here-

http://www.getreligion.org/?p=15892

Northern Michigan episcopal election fails to receive required consents

From Episcopal Life-

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on July 27 notified the standing committee of the Diocese of Northern Michigan that the necessary consents to the ordination and consecration of the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester as bishop were not received within the prescribed time period and therefore his election was "null and void."
In Thew Forrester's case, standing committees had until July 19 and bishops with jurisdiction had until July 25.

"I have been extraordinarily blessed and honored to walk with my friends from the Diocese of Northern Michigan over these past months as their bishop-elect. I treasure the support they have extended me and my family, as well as that I have received from Hong Kong to Holland and from Great Britain to New Zealand, and indeed from so many throughout The Episcopal Church. As we live and move and have our being in Christ, there is truly a Holy Wisdom in all that is unfolding, and as St. John of the Cross affirms, a grace in 'all that happens,'" said Thew Forrester in a statement.

Members of the standing committee couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Thew Forrester, chosen during a special convention on February 21 to succeed James Kelsey who died in June, 2007, had come under intense scrutiny since his election.

Initially, concern centered on Thew Forrester's status as the only candidate at the convention and the question of whether his practice of Zen Buddhist meditation diluted his commitment to the Christian faith, making him unsuitable to serve as a bishop. That attention led to the internet publication of some of Thew Forrester's sermons and writings along with a revision he made to the Episcopal Church's baptismal liturgy, raising further concern among some about his theology.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112903_ENG_HTM.htm

Too Unorthodox Even for the Episcopal Church?

From Christianity Today-

Barring a last minute change of heart by opponents, it appears certain that Episcopal Church leaders have rejected the consecration of a bishop-elect who denies traditional Christian teachings about sin, salvation, and Christ's atoning death at Calvary.

Evangelicals inside and outside the Episcopal Church say they would have been concerned if Kevin Thew Forrester had been given a ceremonial shepherd's staff and a sacred charge to "feed and tend the flock of Christ" in the Diocese of Northern Michigan, where he was elected on February 21. But few are seeing the rejection as a cause to celebrate.

According to church rules, elections of bishops must be confirmed by a majority of the church's House of Bishops (though not all members are allowed to vote) and a majority of its 111 diocesan governing boards, known as standing committees. While the results will not be official until mid-July, a majority of standing committees have voted to withhold consent, according to a survey by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Unofficial surveys show the bishop-elect trailing badly among bishops as well.

The rest is here-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/juneweb-only/123-11.0.html

Episcopal bishop appears headed for defeat

The election of an Episcopal bishop in Michigan who has practiced Buddhist meditation and changed traditional church prayers appears headed for defeat, according to an unofficial tally kept by a newspaper reporter.

The Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester was elected bishop of the sparsely populated Diocese of Northern Michigan in February. Under Episcopal Church rules, a majority of bishops and 111 regional standing committees must vote to ratify his election before it is valid.

On Friday (June 5), the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which has kept an unofficial running tally of the voting, reported that 56 standing committees—a majority—have voted to withhold their “consents.”

The official tally will not be known until at least late July, when all of the ballots are due.

Linda Piper, president of the Diocese of Northern Michigan’s standing committee, which keeps the official tally, would not confirm the report. But, she said, “Do I think this is probably the way it’s going to go? Unfortunately, I would not be surprised.”

Piper acknowledged it would be an “uphill climb,” for Thew Forrester to get the consents he needs.

Thew Forrester said, “My understanding is that the standing committees and diocesan bishops have 120 days to give consent, which means the process continues to unfold until the third week of July. Along with the Diocese of Northern Michigan, I recognize the integrity and wisdom of the consent process and wait until its conclusion.”

Thew Forrester is rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marquette, Mich. Soon after his election by the diocese, conservative church bloggers from across the country discovered that he practices Zen meditation and received “lay ordination” from a Buddhist community.

The rest is here-

http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnstext/the_election_of_an_episcopal_bishop_who_has_practiced_zen_buddhism060509/

Majority of standing committees oppose bishop-elect

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Bethlehem decided today to withhold consent to the election of the Rev. Kevin G. Thew Forrester as bishop-elect of Northern Michigan.

The vote was confirmed this evening (June 4, 2009) by committee president Canon Robert Wilkins. The committee is preparing a statement explaining the vote and hopes to have it ready tomorrow.

Fifty-six standing committees have now decided to withhold consent, while 29 have given consent, according to a survey by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock. Roughly 16 committees, including seven based outside the United States, are still in the discernment process. Another 10 or so committees have voted, but are currently declining to reveal their vote.

Barring last-minute vote-switching by dioceses across the country, Thew Forrester will not be seated by the House of Bishops. He would be the first bishop-elect to be vetoed by a majority of the Episcopal Church’s 111 standing committees since at least the 1930s.

(The election of the bishop-elect of South Carolina, the Rev. Mark Lawrence, was declared “null-and void” in 2007 because of paperwork-related “canonical deficiencies” after Lawrence reportedly had received consent from a very narrow majority of the standing committees. Lawrence was elected on the second go-round.)

Thew Forrester, the rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marquette, Mich., was overwhelmingly elected bishop by representatives of the Diocese of Northern Michigan on Feb. 21. Since then, he has been heavily criticized on theological and liturgical grounds. Critics said Thew Forrester altered the denomination’s baptismal covenant to make it more closely reflect his own personal theological views. He likewise rewrote the church’s Easter Vigil and reworked the Apostles’ Creed. Critics said the changes removed or obscured key Christian teachings about the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, the problem of sin, the will of God and the identity of Jesus as the eternally divine and only-begotten Son of God.

More here-

http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/majority-of-standing-committees-oppose-bishop-elect

Northern Michigan diocese, bishop-elect will 'respect' consent process

While some unofficial tallies show that Kevin Thew Forrester will not receive the canonically required consents to his ordination as bishop of the Diocese of Northern Michigan, he said June 5 that he and the diocese will "respect" the entire 120-day consent period.

"I continue to respect that 120 days," Thew Forrester told ENS. "The process has a wisdom and integrity of its own. The diocese and I have respected that all the way through and will continue to do that. When the process concludes, I will have something more to say."

Thew Forrester, chosen during a special convention on February 21 to succeed James Kelsey who died in June, 2007, has come under intense scrutiny since his election.

Initially, concern centered on Thew Forrester's status as the only candidate at the convention and the question of whether his practice of Zen Buddhist meditation has diluted his commitment to the Christian faith, making him unsuitable to serve as a bishop. That attention led to the internet publication of some of Thew Forrester's sermons and writings along with a revision he made to the Episcopal Church's baptismal liturgy, raising further concern among some about his theology.

Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4 (a)) that apply for all episcopal elections, a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to Thew Forrester's ordination as bishop within 120 days from the day after notice of his election was sent to them. In Thew Forrester's case, standing committees have until July 19 and bishops with jurisdiction have until July 25.

The Rev. Canon Charles Robertson, canon to the Presiding Bishop, told ENS that the consent process for a bishop-elect lasts the full 120 days as prescribed by the canons of the church, unless that person receives the required majority of consents before the period is over, at which time an announcement can be made. Until the required number of consents is received, or the 120 day period ends, bishops and standing committees are able to change their vote, he said.

Fifty-six diocesan standing committees and 52 bishops with jurisdiction must give their consents for Thew Forrester to be ordained. The lesser number of bishops is due to the fact that some diocesan sees are vacant or currently filled by assisting bishops who are not eligible to vote.

There are at least three unofficial running tallies of consent votes being updated on the internet. One is being compiled by Frank Lockwood, the religion editor of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, on his BibleBeltBlogger website. Another is on the Stand Firm in Faith website. Another, tallied by writer David Virtue is here.

more here-

http://www.episcopal-life.org/79901_109244_ENG_HTM.htm

Forrester vote count

If you're wondering how the vote by Bishops and Standing Committees is going on the Kevin Thew Forrester election in Northern Michigan, Stand Firm is keeping a tally which you can find here-

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/22575/

Pittsburgh: Consent Withheld On Northern Michigan Bishop-Elect

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has unanimously withheld its consent of a candidate for Bishop in Michigan because of his questionable theology.

The Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester is Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Northern Michigan. But before he can be installed, a majority of Standing Committees and diocesan Bishops in the Episcopal Church must consent.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Standing Committee found fault primarily with Forrester’s liturgical innovations which deviate from the Book of Common Prayer.

Especially troubling were changes in the language for baptisms performed at Forrester’s parish. The prayers used at those services removed references to the sacrament as being a cleansing from sin and renunciation of evil. Throughout, the service appears to put an emphasis on human actions as opposed to divine redemption.

“To change such a fundamental understanding of the sacrament, in which we share by water in the saving death of Jesus Christ and confess our belief in a Triune God, makes Father Forrester unacceptable as a Bishop in the Episcopal Church,” said the Rev. Dr. James Simons, reflecting the Standing Committee’s position.

The Committee’s decision will be the only vote on record for the Pittsburgh Diocese, since it currently does not have a Diocesan Bishop in office. Assisting Bishop Robert H. Johnson, who retired as Bishop of Western North Carolina in 2004, cannot vote. Still, Forrester’s case gives him pause.

”Generally I believe a diocesan election of a bishop should be honored unless there are serious obstacles,” said Bishop Johnson.

Pittsburgh joins a number of other dioceses who have withheld consent on Forrester, although an official tally has not been made public. Dioceses have until late in June to weigh in. If a major of Bishops and Standing Committees consent, the new Bishop of Northern Michigan is scheduled to be installed on October 17 of this year.

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/consent-withheld-northern-michigan/

"Buddhist" Bishop-Elect Revises Liturgy for Baptism

Holy Revisionist Batman !

Presider: The Candidate for Holy Baptism will now be presented.

Parents and Godparents: I present N. to receive the Sacrament of Baptism

Presider: Will you be responsible for seeing that N. is brought up in the Christian faith and life?

Parents and Godparents: I will, with God’s help.

Presider: Will you, by your prayers and witness, help N. to grow into the full stature of Christ?

Parents and Godparents: I will, with God’s help.

Presider: Do you seek to awaken to the eternal presence of God, who is your very heart and soul?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

The Renunciations

Presider: God forever invites you to let go of self deceit to dwell in the house of honesty, where eternal Hope reigns. Will you accept this invitation?

Parents and Godparents: I will, with God’s help.

Presider: God forever invites you to let go of all fear to dwell in the house of courage, where eternal Faith reigns. Will you accept this invitation?

Parents and Godparents: I will, with God’s help.

Presider: God forever invites you to let go of all anger to dwell in the house of serenity, where Love reigns. Will you accept this invitation?

Parents and Godparents: I will, with God’s help.

The Act of Adherence
Presider: Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as the way of Life and Hope?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

Presider: Do you put your whole trust in Christ’s grace and love?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

Presider: Do you promise to follow Christ as the way of life?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

We stand as we are able.

Presider: Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support N. in her life in Christ?

Assembly: We will.

More (much more)-

http://creedalchristian.blogspot.com/2009/04/buddhist-bishop-elect-revises-liturgy.html

Faith and the Zen bishop-elect (updated)

If you search the World Wide Web for the name of Father Kevin G. Thew Forrester and the word “bishop,” you will find that an ocean of digital ink has been spilled in coverage of the bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. However, once again, you will find that this is apparently a “conservative” news story, with most of the “news” reports running in alternative, conservative publications and stirring up responses in advocacy media on the left.

Alas, if you look for the story in the mainstream press, you will find next to nothing. This is strange, because there are several interesting and newsworthy angles to this election in a tiny liberal diocese, which has a total membership about the size, or smaller, of a single evangelical megachurch.

The headline grabber is that Thew Forrester is both an Episcopal priest and an ordained — whatever that means — teacher of Zen Buddhism. However, it is also interesting that, when he was elected, Thew Forrester was the only nominee. In an attempt to derail the election, conservatives are asking, “Who anointed him in this manner and why?”

The bishop-elect has avoided mainstream coverage, in part, by declining interviews from publications such as the respected Anglican periodical The Living Church. The lack of info has allowed his supporters to simply say he is being attacked by people who have no interest in understand the complex nature of his approach to these faiths.

However, Frank “Bible Belt Blogger” Lockwood of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has marched into the gap, landing an interview that may be just as hot as his famous — on the record, nicely recorded — interview with former President Carter in which he called the George W. Bush administration the “worst in history.”

More here-

http://www.getreligion.org/?p=10940

NORTHERN MICHIGAN: Bishop-elect, election process scrutinized

The process used to elect a bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan and the bishop-elect's meditation practice have come under scrutiny as diocesan bishops and standing committees are being asked to consent to the election.

Blogs, emails, open letters and news articles -- including one in the London Times -- are taking issue with the fact that the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester, Northern Michigan's bishop-elect, was the single candidate presented to a special diocesan convention and that he devoutly practices Zen Buddhist meditation.

Delegates on February 21 overwhelmingly elected Thew Forrester as bishop on the first ballot. The delegates also created what is being called an Episcopal Ministry Support Team of up to 10-12 people, including the bishop. Team members will share responsibility for oversight of the diocese.

Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.16.4 (a)), a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to Thew Forrester's ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of his election.

The Northern Michigan convention concluded more than a year of discernment based on the Mutual Ministry model in use in congregations in Northern Michigan for more than 20 years. Other dioceses, including Nevada, South Dakota and Wyoming among others, use the model.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_105800_ENG_HTM.htm