From here:
The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada has given the election of the United Church of Canada’s (UCC) first openly gay moderator a resounding two thumbs up.
[…..]
Although Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, could not be reached for comment, the Anglican Church of Canada was represented at the Ottawa meeting by Archdeacon Bruce Myers of the diocese of Quebec. Myers said he spoke with Dr. Paterson following his installation, informally extending the hand of fellowship and congratulations on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada. The primate will offer more formal greetings when he returns from his travels, said Myers.
Having been beaten to the punch by a Lutheran, Fred Hiltz privately expressed his regret at not being Canada’s first homosexual Anglican Primate; Hiltz has promised to work harder on his inner gayness.
For those who actually care, here are Johnson’s actually words to the new moderator… I am sure David (or at least I am hoping) will have some fun with it.
To the General Council
of the United Church of Canada
Meeting in Ottawa
Grace and peace to you.
I greet you in the name of your sisters and brothers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Canada.
As I write, I am gathered with over 800 Anglican and Lutheran young people and their leaders in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. We send you our greetings! Can you hear us?
I wish to congratulate your community upon the election of The Rev. Dr. Gary Paterson as
Moderator by the 41st General Council of the United Church of Canada. Together with you, we
look forward to his installation tomorrow.
I was struck by the reference to “partnership” in the Moderator-elect’s first few words to your
assembly: “… partnering with you as Moderator in doing the work of the Body of Christ in our
midst and in our world.”
The image of partnership is important to me and to our church. It is also profoundly important to
our time in history. Together with you, we seek the visible unity of Christ’s church as a credible
witness to our time. The world beyond our own churches craves signals of partnership and
unity!
I was also touched by Dr. Paterson’s reading of the pulse of the Canadian Christian community.
“I’ve heard from so many … that they’re worried or they’re feeling a lack of hope. The role of
Moderator is someone who can bring inspiration and hope. We will find our way through. We will
be changed and we will be faithful.”
Lutherans harbour a sense that the church is ever in need of reform, ever changing (Ecclesia
semper reformanda est.) in response to the changing needs of God’s people and changing
realities in God’s world. Moreover, we honour deeply the courage of all who seek to be hopefilled
and faithful when it might be easy to be otherwise.
I look forward to our continued partnership in ministry in reflection of God’s mission in the world.
Gary, I look forward to greeting you, at the earliest opportunity, as the 41st Moderator of the
United Church of Canada and as a leader among God’s people in our time.
Mardi, I wish you well as your ministry continues to unfold –also, and still, as a leader among
God’s people in our time.
All blessings on your General Council.
All joy in the installation and celebration tomorrow.
May grace abound; may joy abound; may celebration abound!
.
The Rev. Susan C. Johnson,
National Bishop,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
Thank you.
As I read the speech I was, as I craved signals of partnership and unity, deeply moved by the ever changing realities of the hope-filled reflection of mission and image of partnership in visible unity in the turbulent waters of the self-flushing toilet that once was the United Church of Canada; as its ministry continues to unfold; in our time; as we find our way through as a credible witness to our time. In our time.
Thank you David…
That woman is so full of manure, we could plant her in the ground and grow another just like her.
I think that Bishop Johnson is merely trying to get along and wish him well.
Rev Dr Gary Patterson has quite a high formal education as both a minister with a Doctor’s Degree and a University of British Columbia English Teacher as well.
That is quite a lot of talent to be in one person.
Canadian Lutherans (and all other Christians) would be better served hearing nothing from Susan Johnson other than “I choose to exercise my constitutional right to remain silent. I will not answer any of your questions. I would like to speak to a lawyer now.”