The members of the House of Bishops gathered for Eucharist on Sunday morning. The celebrant and preacher was the Rev. Brian Cox, who used today’s lesson from the 11th chapter of the Gospel of John, the raising of Lazarus, to challenge the bishops to see how new life can be raised in the midst of chaos.
The faith-based reconciliation presentation which had begun on Saturday continued this evening, led by the Rev. Canon Brian Cox of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the Hon. Joanne O’Donnell of the Diocese of Los Angeles.
O’Donnell reviewed one of the core values of faith-based reconciliation, which is submission to God, the principle of sovereignty.
Acknowledging God’s sovereignty is the single-most important element of faith-based reconciliation, she noted. The basis of unity in the sovereignty of God is harmony, diversity and community.
“Unity is not uniformity,” O’Donnell said.
Facing the difficulties in the Episcopal Church, she said. “We find unity in the person of Jesus Christ.” Pointing out that she and Cox are quite different – he a conservative priest and she a liberal layperson — she noted, “Despite our differences, Jesus unites us.”
Read the rest at Episcopal Life Online: Daily Account from the House of Bishops for Sunday, March 9
An Open Letter to the House of Bishops from the Rev. Susan Russel, President of Integrity may be found here.
Bishop Epting reflects on Reconciliation and the Transformation of Human Hearts here.