The Church Club celebrated its 120th annual dinner by honoring Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori at a black-tie event at the Union League Club in Manhattan. During her speech, she noted that many of the guests at the reception before dinner had said, "You have such a challenging job." "I don't think that's bad thing," she told the audience. "I think we are meant to be challenged in the varieties of work and ministry in which we are engaged and that if we are not challenged we are likely bored, and that's not healthy for anybody."
Speaking about the various high-profile news stories about the conflicts between the American Episcopal Church and other provinces in the Anglican Communion, notably in Africa, she said, "I think this is probably one of the most exciting times in history to be an Episcopalian and an Anglican. The Communion is moving. It's not a dead and dormant thing."
Church Club President Grace Allen introduced the presiding bishop,
calling attention to her varied background as an oceanographer and
licensed pilot. "Perhaps her studies of the marvelous
creatures of the deep, along with her flights among the heavens, will
guide her
in her global ministry," she said.
Bishop Jefferts Schori spoke to nearly 300 Church Club members and guests, including many clergy from New York, Washington, London, Paris, and other places. "I was tickled when somebody told me that clergy could not be members of this club," she said to laughter from the audience. "This in a real sense is the strength of the Episcopal Church--the baptized who know their place. It is at the table, and it is leading the conversation, so I give thanks for your ministry and your witness."
She spoke for about twenty minutes and then took questions from the audience.
Noting that even though the headlines in the New York Times about the Episcopal Church often seem dire, Grace Allen agreed with the Presiding Bishop's positive message: "As Bishop Katharine has said tonight, the hope of reconciliation, the promise of communion, and the desire to move forward together are goals shared by our partners around the world."
Other highlights of the evening included an invocation by the Rev. Canon J. Robert Wright, which touched on the Church Club's history as an intellectual and theological organization, the benediction by the Rev. Kurt von Roeschlaub of St. Stephen's Church in Port Washington, and the singing of "The Church's One Foundation," led by Dr. Anton Armstrong, conductor of the St. Olaf College choir.
Listen to Bishop Jefferts Schori's remarks here (an MP3 file, about 30 mins).
Watch the video here.
See all the pictures of the event here.
See some photo highlights by clicking below:
