wfn.org | PRESIDING BISHOP ELECT MEETS PRESS IN HOME DIOCESE

[a.whitefield@quest.org.uk]

Title:PRESIDING BISHOP ELECT MEETS PRESS IN HOME DIOCESE
Aug. 1, 1997
ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE 
Canon James M Rosenthal, Director of Communications
Anglican Communion Office, 
London, UK
Tel: [44] (0)171 620-1110   Fax: [44] (0)171 620-1070

ACC 1302

PRESIDING BISHOP ELECT MEETS PRESS IN HOME DIOCESE

Bishop Frank Griswold tells faithful to "honour the past and be open to
the future"

ACNS (London) by Jim Rosenthal in Chicago

Frank T. Griswold III is not the first Bishop of Chicago to become 
spiritual leader of American Episcopalians. Two others, Philander Chase
and Charles Palmerston Anderson, served as Presiding Bishop of the
Episcopal Church, elected from their posts in the Diocese of Chicago.

A keen liturgist and a man centred in a life of prayer, Bishop Frank T. 
Griswold becomes "the Most Reverend" on January 1, 1998 in succession to 
retiring Primate Edmond L. Browning. The new Presiding Bishop will be 
enthroned in the National Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, Washington,
DC, on January 10, 1998. However, because of the demands of the new
post, a transition team will begin to assist the bishop in preparing for
his new job in September 1997.

Bishop Griswold believes that he was elected by his fellow Bishops in 
Philadelphia on July 21 as they felt he could be "someone who could
connect the pieces to create a greater consensus and mutuality". "The
Presiding Bishop is common property," the primate-elect said, "and must
help articulate the conversation" with the diverse community known as
the Episcopal Church. He wants his post to be "highly interactive" and
wants to guard against too many things being "projected on the
hierarchy". His election was readily ratified by the House of Deputies
(clergy and laity), as is the custom.

The office of the Presiding Bishop is in New York and Bishop Griswold
looks forward to that move as his two grown daughters now live there. He
was quick to say he would miss Chicago and would have fond memories of
his 12 years as diocesan bishop. His wife, Phoebe, is an active
churchperson and is involved in the charitable work of Heifer Project
International.

Bishop Griswold spoke of his commitment to the work of the Anglican 
Communion and said he "fully supported" the Archbishop of Canterbury's
call for an international commission on Human Sexuality, a matter to be
discussed at the Lambeth Conference 1998 in Canterbury. "The Episcopal
Church has a significant role in the Anglican Communion," the prelate
said, while warning American Episcopalians that they are not the
"totality of the Anglican Communion, nor the final word or cutting
edge". He called for the church to listen and be sensitive to the
"cultural realities" that we face as a global church.

Bishop Griswold has been the Anglican Co-Chair of ARCIC, the Anglican
Roman Catholic International Commission USA and intends to see ecumenism
as "one of the main emphases in my ministry". He has had two private
meeting with Pope John Paul II in Rome. He also called for more dialogue
with the Eastern Orthodox and is supportive of the move to unite the
Episcopal Church with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, whose
offices are in the Diocese of Chicago.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd George L. Carey, urged the
new American primate to approach his new post with "joy". Archbishop
Carey and his Eileen had breakfast with the Griswolds during the
Archbishop's brief visit to the General Convention to preach and pay
tribute to the retiring Presiding Bishop. Archbishop Carey visited the
Diocese of Chicago on a four-day pastoral visit and Mrs Carey and Mrs
Griswold were in the same Bible Study group in Lambeth Conference 1988.

In response to a question on what challenges await the church Bishop 
Griswold said, "old securities don't hold, people are filled with
anxiety, bitterness and mistrust". He called on church members to
"honour the past and be open to the future". He sees his ministry as one
of "communion and connection".

PHOTOS AVAILABLE