Try the Other Q
Did you hear those radical Episcopalians just called a queer, female priest to lead one of the world's largest cathedrals?
She's Winnie Vargese, at St. John the Divine in New York.
So why did they do it?
A) They're desperate - nobody's going to church anymore and they're trying to grab headlines.
B) They're just being politically correct - you know those progressive, liberal churches, they don't read the Bible anymore, just the polls.
Or C) Instead of Queer, let's try that other Q word: maybe she's Qualified.
I'll take C for $100 Alex - or Ken.
Have you seen Winnie's resume?
She's got major degrees from important places, she's served big churches in substantial capacities, and she can preach and teach better than practically anyone. Both Bishop Gibbs and Bishop Bonnie have brought her into our diocese in recent years to do this.
And I always like to consider the possibility floated by the Hebrew prophet Joel and quoted by St. Luke, that God may be doing a 'new thing' - that the Holy Spirit is behind all this. After all, isn't this what we look for in Advent - to keep awake for the unexpected?
Ya, she's queer, ya, she's Qualified, ya she's called.
When society stops judging people by who they sleep with, and starts judging people by their ability to do the job, we'll all be better off.
And we will also be better poised to see that our magnificent and mighty God who so loves this world, regularly sends us prophets, priests, and pastors to most importantly, walk in that love, so that you and I can better do our jobs of spreading it.
