From the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina:
The Rev. W. Andrew Waldo elected on the third ballot.More good news in my humble opinion.
The Rev. W. Andrew Waldo has been rector of Trinity Church, Excelsior, Minnesota, since 1994. He was born in Douglas, Georgia, and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, the second of six children in an Episcopal clergy family. He received his M.Div. from Sewanee, M. Mus. from the New England Conservatory of Music, and B.A. from Whittier College, and is a graduate of Indian Springs Preparatory School, Helena, Alabama.
Thanks to Lapin and Ann for the news.
Lapin was present at the electing convention, and he says:
Take back what I said a week back about the Holy Spirit being a flighty bird. We both got the candidates we wanted. Upper SC has just, to my amazement, elected Andrew Waldo, the most progressive of the six candidates, on the third ballot. He led in total votes in all three, and in both groups, clergy and lay, on the second and third ballots. John B Burwell, the biggie from the diocese of SC, head of all its GC delegations for the last 10 years, polled least (4:20 first ballot; 2:3 second; dropped out in third but collected just one, clergy, vote in that round - 59 clergy, 118 lay needed for election). Waldo, who has described Gene Robinson as "my old friend and mentor" attracted particular venom from the Right. Much good it did them.I am now deleted and banned at Stand Firm, where the folks are quite unhappy about the election. Here's the message I left:
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at [him].’Surely, beyond the pale. Can I truly blame them?
When I stand before the judgment seat, I am grateful that I will face a loving God and not certain of the posters and commenters at Stand Firm.
Yes, it's the "known raving revisionist" once again.
There was a conservative core group through all three ballots of about 25 clergy and 80 lay delegates, but with 59 clergy and 188 laity needed for election, they stood no chance of success.
ReplyDeleteThere was one an excellent "feelgood" moment, when those assembled sang "Happy Birthday" for Fr Hop Weston, 89 today, ordained priest 65 years ago on his 24th birthday.
He has great eyes! I truly believe that the eyes are the window to the soul, and his are wide open.
ReplyDeleteThis is really encouraging news! The Holy Spirit is unleashing all manner of exciting things in LA and USC. Super. Perhaps people are tired of the stridency that comes from the far right. Perhaps they want to hear a message of joy rather than fear, of moving forward rather than retrenching. Whatever, this news is good to hear.
ReplyDeletewv: sublne: just add in the missing 'i' and you've got a reaction to this news.
Two SF bannings thus far. She Who Must Be Obeyed is clearly not happy. Correction - my comment above should read "118 laity needed for election".
ReplyDeleteThe vote makes it clear that great majority of the Upper SC clergy and a substantial majority of the laity are not prepared to risk the imposition of a one party state in the mold of the neighboring diocese of SC.
Before attending seminary, Waldo was director of the Early Music Program at the Longy School of Music, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Look for excellent music in the future.
Wow! This does sound like excellent news, indeed. And congratulations, you 'raving revisionist'. You know that you're doing well when the strident right starts to call you names and ban your comments!
ReplyDeleteComment Policy: We pride ourselves on having some of the most open, honest debate anywhere about the crisis in our church. However, we do have a few rules that we enforce strictly. They are: No over-the-top profanity, no racial or ethnic slurs, and no threats real or implied of physical violence. Please see this post for more. Although we rarely do so, we reserve the right to remove or edit comments, as well as suspend users' accounts, solely at the discretion of site administrators. Since we try to err on the side of open debate, you may sometimes see comments that you believe strain the boundaries of our rules. Comments are the opinions of visitors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of [That Other Site], its board of directors, or its site administrators.
ReplyDeleteI guess I fall in the category of "discretion of site administrators".
GREAT! (I took certain liberties with this news/photo and used them to jump around with at my blog--and I took a poke at the ABC--bad boy)
ReplyDeleteDearest Mimi,
I saw your empty comment slot/box at Stand Limp...I noticed you are now considered a ¨troll¨ and have been BANNED by the wicked little stone witch from wherever it is she collects her simpering, yet malicious, religious hate material and paycheck. Lucky she ain´t in Nigeria or Uganda (or here for that matter) as vigilantes burn witches and/or evildoers! YIKES! Better watch out, Santa Claus is coming to towne (by the way there is a holiday parade passing my door as I type...I´m certain God coordinated the festivities for Bishop-elect Waldo).
If the deeply, politically conservative Piedmont of South Carolina can't be whipped into a froth by Hay Sarah and her cohorts to elect another +Liar Lawrence, then herself may finally realize the futility of her struggles. Surely, two bannings within minutes demonstrates a pot boiled-over. Congratulations to my neighbors in Upper SC, and I'll bet even the conservatives who are willing to give their new bishop a fair chance will be well-served.
ReplyDeletePeace.
I believe that Sarah will stick around. She's determinedly Episcopalian and I respect her for it.
ReplyDeleteVerification getting iffy - shaggra
Obviously, Mimi, there can be only one raver at 'That Place," and it is Herself.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Susan. I should have realized that. I think Herself don't like me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Upper South Carolina! And to you, Mimi, for achieving an honorable new status.
ReplyDeletePaul, I'm reveling in my new troll status.
ReplyDeleteLaissez les bons temps rouler!
What an honor to be banned by that site! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI'd wear that banning like a medal if were Mimi.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Upper South Carolina is feeling the winds of demographic and generational change. I'm pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the election.
The folks in USC have seen up close the words and actions of the bishop to the south. That's enough to scare anyone into voting right.
ReplyDeleteAs John D said upthread, "I'll bet even the conservatives who are willing to give their new bishop a fair chance will be well-served."
I agree. Whereas the progressives in Bp. Lawrence's diocese don't have a shepherd.
I am truly amazed at the number of more progressive bishops that have been elected in the past few months. That includes the Diocese of Georgia in which we live. The Holy Spirit seems to be breathing new life here.
ReplyDeleteI tried to hang out at Frigid in Faith for the purpose of discussion, but they are only interested in agreeing with themselves. But I like to think that if I stuck around, they would have banned me. Something you should wear as a badge of honor, Mimi, if you were into such earthly treasure.
ReplyDeleteKJ, even if I had not been banned, I had decided that the site is toxic and that I would stay away.
ReplyDeleteTwo Auntees, I have to keep pinching myself to believe that such wonderful bishops were elected in Georgia, Louisiana, Los Angeles, and Upper South Carolina. At That Other Site, there's much talk about TEC losing members and money because of the elections. I don't know if that will happen or not, but the focus should not be on money and numbers, but on doing the right thing, whatever consequences follow.
ReplyDeleteImmediately above the "submit" button at the foot of every Stand Firm thread is the exhortation Before you post, please remember Matthew 5:43-45: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
ReplyDeleteRe the "Love your enemies" statement just posted, one SF regular ("Carl") penned this response to Andrew Waldo's election:
ReplyDelete"Conservatives should therefore reject accomodation. They should slap away the hand that offers it. Publicly, and without ambuiguity. Opposition, attrition, rebellion - these are the watchwords. Starve them. Bleed them. Burn the fields before them. Make them pay for every inch of ground. Winter will come soon enough. Then they will shiver in the open and curse their empty stomachs, and lament their comrades who fell dead by the side if the road."
Which Gospel is this from?
This is wonderful news --and Grandmere, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI am still hoping the election of a so-called revisionist in our diocese makes a difference.... I am not so sure that our new bishop (moved from co-adjutor to diocesan in October) won't vote along exceedingly conservative lines for the sake of the so-called communion in the Glasspool election. And I say that with a very sad heart....
Mimi banned? Oh you wicked woman! In a single posting you went from famous to notorious and labeled a troll to boot. I'm quite impressed.
ReplyDeleteKeep up thte good work.
Cheers
Congratulations Grandmère Mimi, being banned from Viagraville, I understand, is rather like being banned in Boston.
ReplyDeleteWonderful news from Upper SC as well.
I seems to me that if TEC finally becomes the Church I think most Episcopalians want it to be, and stops straddling the fence (which results an a choir that can only sing soprano...) on issues of inclusion it will grow quickly. There are literally MILLIONS of disgusted Roman Catholics out there who need the church that we could be.
When Bishop Gene Robinson spoke at The Cathedral in Portland the place was FILLED with young people who seemed pleasantly surprised to hear several prominent Churchmen, (The Bishops of Maine and New Hampshire, the Cathedral's Dean and Dr. Marvin Ellison from Bangor Theological Seminary) made clear their belief that gay Christians were every bit as human and deserving of Christs love as anybody else.
We'll be a unified and successful Church LONG after the "God Hates Fags" crowd is forgotten. Though that is probably the least compelling reason for continuing to do what is right.
{HUG}
--Wade
You've won the Olympic Gold! Being banned from SFIF is a great honor. Mimi, you rock!
ReplyDeleteSuch good news coming from all over TEC. Mimi, I think it's marvelous that you've been banned. Congratulations on your honor.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I hope that you're wrong in your speculation about your bishop's vote. The "Anglican Communion" seems a shaky structure on which to take a stand about much of anything.
ReplyDeleteLapin, thanks for the two quotes lined up one after another. Some of the folks who comment at That Other Site are quite creative in their interpretation of "love your enemies".
Mimi noted: "At That Other Site, there's much talk about TEC losing members and money because of the elections."
ReplyDeleteSo if the election had gone to, say, Burwell, are they claiming that new people would be flocking to Episcopal Churches and doubling their pledges?
Just like in the rest of South Carolina, perhaps?
In their (sad) dreams.
It's nice to see the open-mindedness and loving spirit of the progressive episcopalian on display-I'm not sure how any of you are different than the conservatives. You're both loving and open-minded....towards the people who agree with you
ReplyDeleteDifference, Anon? Try, " Starve them. Bleed them .... Then they will shiver in the open and curse their empty stomachs, and lament their comrades who fell dead by the side of the road" for starters.
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt that's completely unacceptable language-however, allow me to gently posit that the 5pm entry speculating on sarah hey being burned at the stake for being a witch doesn't exactly fall far from "starve them, bleed them, burn them.."-agreed? My point/concern is that the overflowing of the mouths of BOTH sides lack any semblance of Christ like response.
ReplyDeletelet me also apologize for the anonymous postings above-my bad
ReplyDeleteMy point/concern is that the overflowing of the mouths of BOTH sides lack any semblance of Christ like response.
ReplyDeleteNick, you have a point. The rhetoric on both sides is perhaps too often less than Christ-like.
The very first time I ever left a comment at SF, when the bishop-elect from Louisiana was chosen, Sarah called me a "known raving revisionist". She was flinging the labels "heretic" and "revisionist" around as though she was the new pope of the Episcopal Church calling down anathemas.
Some of the folks who visit and comment here have been verbally attacked by conservatives in the church, damaged by ugly name-calling, and convinced or coerced to take part in "counseling" programs to change their sexual orientation, which damaged them badly and sometimes led them to the brink of taking their own lives. I'll just say that I give them leeway, from time to time, to vent their quite understandable residual anger.
No, not everyone here is always Christ-like, including me. We are human and every one of us falls short in one way or another, which should lead us all to walk humbly before our God and our brothers and sisters.
I have just stumbled upon this site and I must say "thanks be to God" for you all. Looking for the real poop on our new bishop, I am heartened to hear the good news that he is who he is. How this vote emerged from our dear little conservative piedmont region is a true Christmas miracle. There may be hope for us after all. Bless you and Bishop Waldo too. -posted by Lordy Lou.
ReplyDeleteLordy Lou, welcome. I see several Christmas miracles in bishop elections. Perhaps, quite a few Episcopalians are tiring of the negative rhetoric and the name-calling and truly want to move on from the endless discussions of sexuality and "heresy" in the Episcopal Church.
ReplyDeleteAs I said elsewhere, that's R Gran!
ReplyDeleteAnd, Nick, here's one big difference you didn't (choose to?) notice:
Leonardo talked about what roving Nigerian vigilantes - religious conservatives who consider people like SFiFers as allies - would do.
Carl talked about what they themselves should do to us.