From Nashville-
The smile on Katharine Jefferts Schori's face was a mile wide.
A group of Sudanese women had just finished singing, opening a service honoring the 150th anniversary of St. Ann's Episcopal Church in East Nashville. And now a string ensemble and nearly 300 worshippers had joined in a familiar hymn, as St. Ann's choir, pastor and other clergy began entering in processional.
Near the end of the line was the Most Rev. Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, in all her vestments, clearly enjoying the moment. All this despite the heat, which was already close to 90 degrees, even at 9 in the morning.
"It was God's people gathered to give thanks," she said after the service was over. "What could be better than that?"
Jefferts Schori's visit to Nashville comes at an uneasy time in the Episcopal Church.
The church faces shrinking membership, aging demographics, and ongoing disputes over sexuality and theology. Earlier this week a rival denomination, made up mostly of conservative former Episcopalians, launched in Texas. And in a few weeks, the Episcopal Church holds its general convention in Anaheim, Calif., which probably will be contentious.
More here-
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090628/NEWS06/906280365/1023/NEWS01/Episcopal+Church+disputes+don+t+shake+bishop
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