Katherine Jefferts Schori, 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Katherine Jefferts Schori holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography and is an
instrument-rated pilot in her spare time. She also happens to be
the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Upon the June
2006 election, Jefferts Schori assumed the title of the 1st woman
Primate in the worldwide Anglican Communion which makes her the
first woman to hold the top position in the almost 400 years of the
church’s existence.
The election of Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop was and still is controversial amongst her constituency since the full Anglican Communion does not recognize the ordination of women. Many people who disapprove of the ordination of women feel that only a male can adequately symbolize Christ and thus a female leader misrepresents the priesthood. Although the majority of dioceses of the Episcopal Church do ordain women as Priests and Bishops, there are currently three U.S. dioceses that do not ordain women at all. In fact, eight American dioceses have formally rejected Jefferts Schori’s authority and have publicly requested to be assigned another national leader. Yet, those who support Jefferts Schori do so wholeheartedly. The Rev. Margaret Rose, director of women's ministries for the Episcopal Church said, "She [Jefferts Schori] is a woman of depth, a woman of inclusion, a woman of fairness, a woman of prayer…” In an interview with TIME Magazine shortly after the election, Jefferts Schori said “Our [Episcopal Church] focus needs to be on feeding people who go to bed hungry, on providing primary education to girls and boys, on healing people with AIDS, on addressing tuberculosis and malaria, on sustainable development.” Furthermore, Jefferts Schori is working to achieve unity at both a national and global level within the Anglican Communion. She continues to push for full equality of gay men and lesbians; the Episcopal Church’s liberal stance on gay clergy has caused much internal controversy.
After being elected to become the Church’s 26th Presiding Bishop, The Rev. Margaret Rose praised the church’s acceptance of a woman as a top leader: “Around the Communion this is statement that we in fact can have more women in those positions and that will be true for women in Asia, in Africa, Latin American, and all around the world." Since the election in 2006, she has continuously proven herself as the first female Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church giving hope to other female religious leaders around the world—especially within the Anglican Communion.
The election of Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop was and still is controversial amongst her constituency since the full Anglican Communion does not recognize the ordination of women. Many people who disapprove of the ordination of women feel that only a male can adequately symbolize Christ and thus a female leader misrepresents the priesthood. Although the majority of dioceses of the Episcopal Church do ordain women as Priests and Bishops, there are currently three U.S. dioceses that do not ordain women at all. In fact, eight American dioceses have formally rejected Jefferts Schori’s authority and have publicly requested to be assigned another national leader. Yet, those who support Jefferts Schori do so wholeheartedly. The Rev. Margaret Rose, director of women's ministries for the Episcopal Church said, "She [Jefferts Schori] is a woman of depth, a woman of inclusion, a woman of fairness, a woman of prayer…” In an interview with TIME Magazine shortly after the election, Jefferts Schori said “Our [Episcopal Church] focus needs to be on feeding people who go to bed hungry, on providing primary education to girls and boys, on healing people with AIDS, on addressing tuberculosis and malaria, on sustainable development.” Furthermore, Jefferts Schori is working to achieve unity at both a national and global level within the Anglican Communion. She continues to push for full equality of gay men and lesbians; the Episcopal Church’s liberal stance on gay clergy has caused much internal controversy.
After being elected to become the Church’s 26th Presiding Bishop, The Rev. Margaret Rose praised the church’s acceptance of a woman as a top leader: “Around the Communion this is statement that we in fact can have more women in those positions and that will be true for women in Asia, in Africa, Latin American, and all around the world." Since the election in 2006, she has continuously proven herself as the first female Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church giving hope to other female religious leaders around the world—especially within the Anglican Communion.
© 2012 Created by The White House Project.
Powered by 
.
