wfn.org | Episcopal Church's New Leader Vows to Unite Church Members

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

28-July-1997 
97296 
 
    Episcopal Church's New Leader Vows 
    to Unite Church Members 
 
    by Ecumenical News International 
 
PHILADELPHIA--Bishop Frank Tracy Griswold III of Chicago was elected as the 
new presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church July 21. 
 
    Bishop Griswold, who will take office on Jan. 1 and hold the post for a 
nine-year term, holds progressive views in some key areas, including 
homosexuality, and overcame a strong conservative challenge to win the 
election. 
 
    Griswold, 59, was elected as the church's 25th presiding bishop by 214 
bishops meeting at Christ Church in Philadelphia. He succeeds Presiding 
Bishop Edmond Browning. Though relatively small in United States terms (its 
membership is 2.4 million), the Episcopal Church has a strong voice in 
public affairs. Within the worldwide Anglican Communion, the U.S. church is 
also highly influential. 
 
    The new presiding bishop will take up the leadership as his church 
undergoes a period of recovery from several severely damaging 
controversies, including the embezzlement of $2 million of church funds by 
its former treasurer, attempts by conservatives to bring a retired 
Episcopal bishop to a church heresy trial for ordaining a homosexual and a 
report, published in "Penthouse" magazine, about various homosexual 
activities of an ordained Episcopal priest in New York. Scandal over the 
magazine article had widespread ramifications for the church, including 
claims by more than 30 bishops that it was the result of the failure of 
church leaders to uphold the "historic biblical standard" regarding 
marriage. The scandal was used by some conservatives to attack liberals, in 
particular over their views on homosexuality. 
 
    Apparently seeking to avoid further division in the church, Griswold 
promised immediately after his election to be "a presiding bishop who 
belongs to all" as he leads the Episcopal Church into the 21st century. 
 
    Asked about his perspective on his new post, Griswold told journalists 
that he was mindful of the fact that Jesus, in calling a small group 
"around him," chose one named "Matthew, who was a tax collector, and one 
named Simon the Zealot." 
 
    "Matthew, as a tax collector, accommodated himself to the Roman 
government. Simon was at the opposite end; he dedicated himself to the end 
of Roman rule. As friends and collaborators, Jesus chose two who stood at 
opposite ends," he noted. 
 
    "I have to say that the church is destined always to contain within 
itself different perspectives and different points of view that are often 
diametrically opposed. We discover this truth through the process of 
conversation," Griswold continued. 
 
    Seeking further to reassure conservative elements in the church, 
Griswold also described himself as "an orthodox theologian."  He was one of 
four white bishops proposed by the nominating committee to the church's 
general convention, during which the election took place.  But his 
principal opposition  turned out to be a black bishop, Herbert Thompson Jr. 
of southern Ohio, who was generally understood to be the candidate of 
conservatives. He led on the first ballot, with 89 votes to Griswold's 86, 
with the other three candidates receiving 14, 13 and 12 votes. 
 
    But Griswold pulled ahead on the second ballot, and on the third ballot 
won with 110 votes, a slender majority of the 214 active and retired 
bishops who voted. 
 
    Homosexuality is perhaps the most divisive issue in the  Episcopal 
Church.  Griswold, like Bishop Browning, is considered generally 
sympathetic to the homosexual point of  view.  At the last General 
Convention he signed a statement approving "faithful, monogamous, 
committed" relationships of homosexuals. At a press conference following 
his election, he declined to propose an agenda for the church on this 
topic, but indicated his openness to change.  He said the church had not 
reached consensus, and it was  important that "the conversation be 
continued." 
 
    Just two days earlier, the House of Deputies at the General Convention 
very narrowly failed to  approve adoption of  "a rite or rites for the 
blessing of committed relationships between persons of the same sex." 
 
    Integrity, an organization representing gay Episcopalians, was one of 
the first church groups to welcome Griswold's election, describing him as a 
longtime "supporter of the full participation of gay and lesbian persons in 
the life of the church." 
 
    Griswold dealt with the questions of reporters briskly at the press 
conference and was cautious about making commitments. He also brought his 
wife, two daughters and son-in-law  to the platform and introduced them. 
 
    On some topics, such as urban ministry and the environment, he said the 
issues were important, but he was not ready to say what he could do about 
them.  When he was asked what he would do about the declining membership of 
the denomination, he replied, "I do not have an answer at this time." 
 
    However, he seems committed to ecumenism at a time when his church is 
making major advances in its relations with other mainstream churches, 
particularly Lutherans. Griswold has served as Episcopal chairman of the 
U.S. Episcopal-Roman Catholic Dialogue Committee. 
 
    According to Episcopal News Service, the response to Griswold's 
election was "largely enthusiastic."  Bishop John Howe of the Diocese of 
Central Florida said Griswold "is an extremely gracious leader within the 
church and an accomplished bishop, and I wish him well." 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--