Grandmere Mimi reminds us that another Bishop was elected this week: Bishop Morris Thompson, the new bishop of Louisiana.
Bishop-Elect Thompson was Mimi's pick; an inclusive, kind man who listens, much needed in those parts. The Times-Picayune comments:
Several delegates said Thompson made a strong impression with his pastoral skills, a special need in the storm-battered diocese of 55 congregations and about 18,000 members.....Mimi's enthusiasm for her new Bishop-Elect earned her the label "raving revisionsist" from one of those Other Sites. Which proves to ME that both Mimi and Bp-Elect Thompson are worth knowing!
What people in New Orleans should know about him, he said, "is that I'm passionate about ministry, about people having a relationship with Christ. And we all have a place at the table, no matter who we are."
10 comments:
Cross-posted at Mimi's Wounded Bird
Mimi,
As soon as you first posted the election results, I went to the pdf document you linked and found wonderful answers Morris Thompson gave to some of the questions posed -- which I posted on FB and went on to email to a parish prayer group I've recently been asked to join. My email correspondents were mightily impressed.
Some of my favorite parts were:
"In all of my spiritual disciplines I measure my learning by one question, do I love more? If my spiritual practice becomes a goal in itself, that is, if checking prayer off my daily list of “to do’s” is a goal, then I’m not loving more, just practicing a discipline. God calls us into relationships of joy, not duty. When I was growing up my maternal grandfather’s love for me was so tangible that I could feel his desire for me to be around him. He looked forward to my arrival and enjoyed my going to work or church with him, tagging along as if his life wasn’t complete without me. This degree of affection is how I understand God’s desire to know the world and me. I continue to discover this love through my life of prayer, silence, and the love of others." from
http://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/533/Thompson.pdf
and
"In William C. Martin’s book The Art of Pastoring he writes, “The congregation does not need great visions or dreams. Of much more value is the pastor who calls attention to the gentle breeze caressing the flowers by the front door; who calms the troubled waters of grief and fear; who speaks a word that heals. You are not called to bring inspiration to people. Rather loosen the tightness in their chest that restricts their breathing, and their lungs will gratefully expand of their own accord and they will inspire themselves.”
So much is already going on in the Diocese of Louisiana and yet there seems to be a need to do more as if there is some kind of magic program. Read scripture, learn how to pray and pay attention to the hurts and sorrows of our neighbor and we will be amazed at the stirring of the Holy Spirit.""
What an extraordinary pastor and biped to be called to be bishop of your diocese. Thanks so much for making sure we all paid attention.
IT, thanks for posting about our bishop-elect. The delegates elected a good man. He will not have an easy time of it, so he will need our prayers and support. He's still being trashed at the Other Site now, with folks from the Diocese Of Louisiana beginning to weigh in with bitter comments.
Good.
Prayers from here!
I agree wholeheartdedly with you last comment! And I can vouch for Mimi, since I met her in Leeds ;=)
Göran, to say that you vouch for me, is a dangerous statement to make. You never know what I will do next. ;-)
If he's OK by Mimi, then he's OK by me :)
Rave on, Mimi!
Isn´t it something? I love and admire emotionally and spiritually healthy Heterosexuals...that would include Grandmere Mimi and her new friend the Bishop Elect of Louisiana!
Congratulations you two!
You're all too sweet for words.
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