News

November 12, 2009

Bishop: Episcopalians should get involved

She urges church members to reach out to younger folks, non-church members.

WILKES-BARRE – Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the Episcopal Church says the church needs to figure out ways to attract younger people, non-church members and a growing Hispanic population.

Those were some of the topics discussed during an open forum at St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral on Wednesday.

Jefferts Schori was elected for a nine-year term in 2006 and has served as chief pastor to the church’s 2.4 million members in 110 dioceses in 16 countries.

The presiding bishop will meet with the clergy of the Diocese of Bethlehem this morning at Good Shepherd in Scranton.

One woman during the evening’s question-and-answer session asked what to do about the influx of Spanish-speaking immigrants. Luzerne County has the fastest growing Hispanic population in terms of percentage in the nation.

“We are all immigrants or the descendants of immigrants,” Jefferts Schori said. “We have to be willing to share our gifted tradition, share our space, invite and go out into the community.”

One of the church’s disciplines is to pray the words in Spanish – to learn to pray God’s word in a different language, she said.

“We have to figure out how to reach out to them,” said Jefferts Schori, who is the first woman presiding bishop in the 220 years the position has existed.

Jefferts Schori also pointed out the struggles of ministry among younger people and the non-churchgoers.

A woman who is a member of St. Stephen’s asked what can be done about a shrinking number of members and a drop in attendance at the local place of worship.

The Episcopal Church loses about 19,000 members a year because more of them die than are baptized into the church, Jefferts Schori said. The average Episcopalian is about 57 years old. The average age American is 37, she said.

“Fifty-seven-year-olds don’t produce a lot of children,” Jefferts Schori said. “But, there are lots and lots of communities and populations among us that are growing.”

Younger generations don’t know what the church has to offer, she said, adding that it’s going to take Episcopalians to become more passionate about ministry to attract new people.

“How are they going to find out if we don’t tell them?” she asked.

The presiding bishop did not talk about issues threatening to divide the Episcopal Church, such as appointing an openly gay bishop, allowing priests to bless same-sex unions or the ordination of women as priests.

Jefferts Schori also spoke about her career before as a marine scientist and how science and faith can work together.

Charles R. Coslett, an attorney who practices law in Kingston and a longtime member of St. Stephen’s, said the politics of the church is going “far, far to the left.”

“The Episcopal Church of the United States has forgotten that we conservatives still should play a role in this church,” said Coslett after the evening’s program. “Scripture, I believe, is being forgotten.”

Coslett shared his frustrations with the ordination of a gay bishop and the potential for blessing of civil unions.

“I respect the dignity of every human being, but that doesn’t mean they should play a leadership role in the church,” he said. “The Episcopal Church seems to think of us conservatives as Neanderthal.”

Despite some of the issues, Coslett said he is not thinking about leaving the church.

“I was baptized in this church. I love this church,” said Coslett emotionally. “But I’m heartbroken where it’s going.”

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