ALL IS WELL #3

Well she did it. Katherine Jefferts Schori the Bishop of Nevada got the 95 votes she needed on the fifth ballot to become the 26th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. It was a suprise but only because few expected the House of Bishops to pick a progressive female candidate to head our church, but that makes her election all the more special. I have never seen a room fill with so much joy as her name was announced. Most of that joy was evidenced by the women present who saw this as a sign that all things are possible for them in their ministries. With Bonnie Anderson's election as President of the House of Deputies two outstanding women will hold the highest offices in the Church for the next six years.
On Monday morning I walked into the hall housing the morning Eucharist. Each day about 2,200 participate. This year the music has been varied and outstanding. As I walked to my prayer table I noticed that instead of a choir or a band there was a young attractive blond women with a twelve string quitar standing off to the side with a man playing a cello seated next to her. The service began and she began to sing. The vast hall was suddenly filled with the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. She was so good that when she led the hymns it appeared as if we all lowered our voices so we would not miss one of her notes. When the service ended those assembled gave her a standing ovation and some us stayed around when she agreed to play a little while longer. I turned to one off my table mates, Ross Doeblin a youth pastor from Wisconsin and asked who she was. He looked quizically at me and said " where have you been, that's Elisabeth von Trapp". Well the Bishop heard her and managed to meet her and if we are lucky she may be appearing at this falls Annual Council. Keep your fingers crossed. All is well. Woody