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U.S. NEWSMonday 2 November 2015

U.S. Episcopal Church installs first black leader

JULIET LINDERMAN Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry gives thumbs up as he arrives at the hopes to raise visibility of
Associated Press Washington National Cathedral, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Washington. the church in “positive and
Presiding Bishop Michael genuine ways” and focus
Curry, installed Sunday as Associated Press on recruiting newcomers
the first black leader of to the order.
the U.S. Episcopal Church, with shrinking membership its halls, both physical and and hardship for many. A Curry also takes over at a
urged Episcopalians to and ongoing tensions with metaphorical. Jefferts Sch- time of goodness and joy time of increased focus
evangelize by crossing di- fellow Anglicans around ori passed her staff to Curry, for others. And a time when on racial issues in America
vides of race, education the world over the Episco- transferring the responsibil- we must even find ways to and the Episcopal Church.
and wealth. pal support for gay mar- ity of leadership. Those as- save the Mother Earth, who In 2008, Jefferts Schori held
Curry used the example of riage. Curry will represent sembled in the cathedral is the mother of us all.” a national service of repen-
his own mother being giv- the U.S. church in January, erupted in cheers. Curry’s historic installation tance to apologize for the
en Communion at a white at a meeting of national “It is an understatement comes at a time when few- church’s complicity with
Episcopal parish before Anglican leaders address- to say we live in a deeply er Americans than ever are slavery, segregation and
desegregation, and how ing the splits in their fellow- complex and difficult time affiliating with a religious racism. Curry has said that
that act persuaded his fa- ship. in the life of the world,” Cur- group, and the Episcopal he will continue to grapple
ther to join the denomina- As the ceremony began ry said. “This is a time when Church and other liberal with the church’s past.
tion, and eventually be- Sunday, Curry rapped on again it is an understate- Protestant groups, along Curry told those in the ca-
come a priest. the cathedral door with a ment to say there are chal- with some conservative thedral that, “evangelism
“God has not given up on wooden staff — a custom lenges before the church churches, have been strug- is sharing the faith that’s
the world and God is not that symbolizes the usher- and communities of faith. gling with dwindling mem- in you, and listening and
finished with the Episcopal ing of a new leader into This is a time of difficulty bership. Curry has said he learning from the faith
Church yet,” Curry said, that’s in someone else,” he
during a joyous ceremony said.
in the Washington National “It’s about listening and
Cathedral. sharing, it’s a relationship
Curry, 62, succeeds Katha- where God can get in the
rine Jefferts Schori, who mix,” he said.
was the first woman in the He described how his fa-
job and is ending her nine- ther reacted when he
year term. He served about and his mother had been
15 years as leader of the allowed to drink from
Diocese of North Carolina the same chalice being
before he was overwhelm- passed among white pa-
ingly elected last summer rishioners.
to the top church post. He “He was dumbfounded,”
grew up in Buffalo, New Curry said. “Years later
York, and earned degrees he would say he joined
from Hobart College in Ge- the Episcopal Church be-
neva, New York, and Yale cause he really hadn’t
Divinity School. imagined that could hap-
The New York-based de- pen in America, He said,
nomination was the church any church where blacks
of many Founding Fathers and whites drink out of the
and now has about 1.9 same cup knows some-
million members. Episco- thing about the Gospel I
palians now are struggling want to be a part of.”q