"Pro Gay" Female Anglican bishop challenged
Pastor Dale Morgan
"Pro Gay" Anglican bishop challenged on her resume*
School of theology, priestly experience questioned, but same-sex
marriage advocate will lead U.S. church
Posted: August 1, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern
Katharine Jefferts Schori
The newly elected presiding bishop of the U.S. Anglican/Episcopal Church
lists as her major qualifications for office positions at two
institutions shrouded in mystery and without any formal accreditation –
if they exist at all.
That's the finding of an investigation of the rise of Katharine Jefferts
Schori, 52, a pilot and oceanographer and strong advocate for same-sex
marriage and homosexual ordination by Virtue Online, which describes
itself as "the voice for global orthodox Anglicanism."
Schori and the nominating committee for the election that took place in
June list as Schori's major qualifications the following positions she
reportedly held:
* pastoral associate and dean of the Good Samaritan School of Theology,
Corvallis, Ore., from 1994-2000;
* priest in charge of El Buen Samaritano, Corvallis, Ore.
Terry Ward, a writer for Virtue Online, says he could find no record of
the existence of the Good Samaritan School of Theology in his
examination of the web pages and church newsletters of the Good
Samaritan Church of Corvallis, Ore., the web pages of the Episcopal
Church USA and the Oregon and Nevada Dioceses, the web pages of the
Association of Theological School, which lists all accredited and
affiliated institutions in the U.S. and Canada.
"None of these sources showed any evidence that the 'Good Samaritan
School of Theology' existed as an independent organization with staff or
facilities," Ward wrote. "There was no mention of the school or of the
titles or positions (dean, pastoral associate) associated with the school."
But there is now.
Just do a search for the school and you will find dozens of references
to it, in USA Today, Washington Post and other major papers – all
involving the election of Schori and her reliance on that major
qualification.
There is no trace of the Good Samaritan School of Theology in the city
phone directories of Corvallis or Benton County, Ore.
Asked in writing to explain her reference to this presumably phantom
school of theology in her resume, Schori responded: "The Good Samaritan
School of Theology was the then-rector's term for all adult education
programs, both internally and externally focused. They included
initiation of such programs as Education for Ministry; 'popcorn
theology' (movies and discussion); a weeknight meal and education
offerings for all ages; Lenten and Advent series; satellite downlink
programs with discussion (begun in the days when ECTN and Trinity were
doing so many effective ones); invited speakers; Sunday adult forums;
inquirers' classes; confirmation classes; and so on. At one point, the
School offered a set of historical liturgies, about seven or eight from
the time of the church father Hippolytus through the 1928 Book of Common
Prayer; the series featured instructed Eucharists."
Asked to explain "El Buen Samaritano," and her priestly duties there,
Schori explained: "El Buen Samaritano was the Spanish-language
congregation based at Good Samaritan, essentially a parochial mission. I
acted as vicar with primary liturgical and pastoral responsibility."
Schori won election in June at the church's General Convention in
Columbus, Ohio. Episcopal bishops elected her on the fifth ballot. She
was the only woman among seven candidates.
The Church of England does not yet allow women bishops and is not
expected to until at least 2012. But the Episcopal Church – the American
version of the Anglicans – began accepting women priests and bishops 30
years ago. However, churches in California, Illinois and Texas still bar
women clergy.
In her state, the Episcopal Church blesses same-sex unions and Schori is
an advocate for such ceremonies. In 2003, she supported the election of
a homosexual bishop, Gene Robinson, in New Hampshire.
At the General Convention that elected her, Schori gave a sermon that
included a reference to "Our Mother Jesus." She said: "That sweaty,
bloody, tear-stained cross bears life. Our Mother Jesus gives birth to a
new creation, and we are his children."