Episcopal News Service February 13, 2007
Jefferts Schori honors Absalom Jones for his friendship with God
By Jerry Hames
[ENS] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, preaching in Philadelphia on February 11, held up the life of Absalom Jones, the first African American Episcopal priest, as a remarkable example of a man whose love for God was so great that he made friends with enemies and gave his life in the service of others.
"He was a friend with God," she said. "The friends of God are those whose own hearts and minds and spirits have been transformed and who begin to transform their world around them."
As congregations across the country gave thanks for the life of Jones in prayer, Jefferts Schori spent the day before she traveled to Tanzania for a meeting of the Primates Anglican Communion worshiping with and greeting members of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (http://www.aecst.org/index.html). Jones founded the Free African church and later it affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. His ashes are enshrined there and a memorial stained glass window commemorates his life and work.
"Absalom Jones was born into a life not just of servanthood, but slavery, yet his friendship with God led him to larger friendship with an entire community in this city," Jefferts Schori said. She urged members of the congregation to "befriend the world, especially the friendless."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_82412_ENG_HTM.htm
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