These comments by Bishop Guernsey struck me as particularly important, and I hope that we take them to heart:

My witness is not so much about Anglicanism as it is about the Lord Jesus Christ, and to tell them the Good News and what Jesus does in changing people’s lives…

I challenge churches all the time to learn how to describe their church without reference to the Episcopal Church, that their identity is as servants of Jesus who love the Lord and believe and follow the Scriptures—it’s not about the conflict with the church we used to be a part of—that’s not how we should present ourselves to this culture…

It’s because he seems such a capable leader that his response to the question about women’s ordination is all the more saddening. The same arguments about “two integrities” are made every day by advocates of same-sex blessings. Make no mistake: we sweep this issue under the rug at our peril.

I watched this video and I see the same man of integrity, honesty, goodness, and Christian maturity that I met a few months back. 

Leadership such as B. Guernsey’s will lead Anglicans in America to a new wholeness and great future leading people to Christ.

In short, “My bishop ROCKS!”

+John Guernsey is quite simply the finest ordained leader and man of God I’ve ever known, bar none.  But he is by no means alone.  +Bill Atwood and +Martyn Minns etc. are also outstanding.

But even so, the real heroes in this movment are largely invisible outside their own parishes, i.e., the lay leaders who do the bulk of the work of ministry.

Two of the things I loved about this interview.  One was the part at the beginning about how this coalition has emerged in Southern Cal that isn’t based in any one dominant jurisdiction in the area (unlike the “Anglican District of Virginia” which is predominantly CANA based, with others invited to join in alongside).  It shows how the CCP is actually starting to take practical shape even now, which is encouraging.

But even better was the part toward the end about how youth ministry in the Ugandan churches in the U.S. is based not on a “defensive” strategy (retain our youth, keep them out of trouble etc.), but on actively deploying them in ministry to their own generation, i.e., taking the offense.  What a wonderful change from the stale old EYC model all too familiar to many of us from TEC’s usual practice.

Eclipse, you are SO right!  Our bishop rocks!!

David Handy+

[1] R.N.

I have known Bp. Guernsey since 1987 and I assure you that he does not “...sweep this issue [of WO] under the rug....” as you say.  While I emphatically don’t presume to speak for him, I am sure he knows the seriousness of the issue and that it must be dealt with.

It is the difference in facing the most urgent problems first, regardless of which side of the issues you may fall on.  The image that comes to mind is of a Civil War era cartoon concerning the election of 1864 showing Democratic candidate MG George McClellan on horseback in the middle of the Potomac trying to go from one horse to another.