Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop Elect: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Melanchthon

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Since I'm a part-time organist for a small Episcopal church, I hope it is okay to post this celebrative news over here. I can't see it has been mentioned in this forum and ELCA Lutheran sub-forum has been so quite for such a long time (Lutheran "wantabees" from the German based _CMS and WE_S sects scare away all of the Scandinavians from the north lands where Lutheranism really took root). At any rate Bishop Eaton's husband is an Episcopal priest! :thumbsup:

After having seen far too many of our terrific Lutheran female pastors, in spite of leading exemplary and dedicated Christian lives, relegated off to the leaky roof circuit of rural churches, and watching with sadness those in other faith groups calling themselves Christians deny women the opportunity to stand in the pulpit and proclaim their faith, the news of the surprise election last week of the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton of Cleveland, Ohio, to be the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a historic landmark to celebrate. :clap:

I'll admit to having been very jealous of my friends in the Episcopal Church since 2006 when Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected the first female Presiding Bishop in the history of the Episcopal Church in the United States and also the first female primate in the Anglican Communion. Prior to seeing the new on the internet and in the newspaper I had simply assumed Mark Hanson would be re-elected for another six year term. :groupray:
 
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Sean611

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A leader should be elected based on their ability to lead a church, not based on physical characteristics, like gender. Electing a female leader just to say we did it first (or second) is very short sighted and is costing The Episcopal Church dearly. Most of our leaders, laity, and priests can't wait to have her gone in 2015. That said, I wish the ELCA and new Presiding Bishop all the best.
 
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Izdaari Eristikon

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A leader should be elected based on their ability to lead a church, not based on physical characteristics, like gender. Electing a female leader just to say we did it first (or second) is very short sighted and is costing The Episcopal Church dearly. Most of our leaders, laity, and priests can't wait to have her gone in 2015. That said, I wish the ELCA and new Presiding Bishop all the best.

Indeed, and I wish Bishop Eaton the very best as well. :thumbsup:

It's cool that TEC broke that glass ceiling, and cool that ELCA has now also done so. But the important thing about a presiding bishop is how good they are at the job, not their gender. Though I myself am on the liberal side on the social issues, I agree with Sean in looking forward to a new TEC leader.
 
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Cjwinnit

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It's cool that TEC broke that glass ceiling, and cool that ELCA has now also done so. But the important thing about a presiding bishop is how good they are at the job...

The most important thing about a presiding bishop is that they preach Christ rather than themselves (2 Cor 4:5). Given that ordained Christians have vocations not jobs it's irrelevant. Besides, Jesus broke the glass ceiling when He died on the cross and rose again. Talk of careers, ceilings and jobs is completely irrelevant to salvation.

That said, I hope the ELCA proclaim Christ's love and forgiveness to the world - people need to hear it.
 
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Izdaari Eristikon

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The most important thing about a presiding bishop is that they preach Christ rather than themselves (2 Cor 4:5). Given that ordained Christians have vocations not jobs it's irrelevant. Besides, Jesus broke the glass ceiling when He died on the cross and rose again. Talk of careers, ceilings and jobs is completely irrelevant to salvation.

That said, I hope the ELCA proclaim Christ's love and forgiveness to the world - people need to hear it.
Preaching Christ rather than themselves is a large part of what I mean by being good at the job.
 
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AlexBP

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At any rate Bishop Eaton's husband is an Episcopal priest! :thumbsup:
As it happens my wife is a minister in the ELCA, so Bishop Eaton is not the only Lutheran minister with an episcopal husband. Everyone I know in that church was happy about her election and looking forward to the changes she'll bring.
 
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