Episcopalians elect presiding bishop

Christian Century, July 30, 1997

The Episcopal Church on July 21 elected Bishop Frank Tracy Griswold III, 59, of the Diocese of Chicago to be its presiding bishop for the next nine years. Griswold was elected by his fellow bishops in a closed-door meeting in an historic Philadelphia church where George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross once worshiped. The voting came during the church's triennial General Convention.

In accepting election, Griswold, considered a moderate by many observers, pledged to represent all factions of the 2.4-million-member church. He quoted Brazilian Roman Catholic liberation theologian Dom Helder Camara, saying, "The bishop belongs to all." Educated at Harvard and Oxford, Griswold is known for his quick wit and sense of humor. He will take office January 1, and his official installation will be January 10 at Washington National Cathedral in the nation's capital.

Griswold has served the Episcopal Church in Chicago since 1984. Prior to that he was a priest in three sites in Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Yardley and Bryn Mawr.

On the first ballot Griswold trailed the conservative candidate, Bishop Herbert Thompson of the Diocese of Southern Ohio. However, Thompson's 89-86 lead soon eroded as supporters of other candidates switched votes. To gain a majority of the 214 bishops present, 108 votes were needed. The remaining votes were divided among three other candidates for the post. By the third ballot Griswold gained a majority, defeating Thompson 110-96. The remaining votes were again split among the other candidates. The election was ratified overwhelming by the convention's lower House of Deputies. A total of 18 lay and nine clergy diocesan delegations in the House of Deputies voted against ratification; 94 lay and 104 clergy delegations voted for ratification.

The new prelate takes the helm of a church that has seen its liberal and conservative wings fight unresolved battles over sex and gender issues for more than 20 years, resulting at times in public shouting matches between bishops. At a postelection news conference, Griswold reflected the basic Episcopal concept of tolerance toward differences of opinion. He stressed that the Episcopal Church -- like the diversity of opinions among Jesus' apostles -- reflects wide, sometimes opposing beliefs. He called for those with differences to "discern truth together through conversation and conversion." Taking note of the splits within the church over the divisive issues of church-sanctioned rites for same-sex couples and the ordination of women, Griswold said: "What is important is that the conversation be continued."

Griswold was elected following weekened legislative meetings in which the church's law permitting women to be ordained was made mandatory on all bishops and a same-sex union proposal was narrowly defeated. Immediately affected by the women's-ordination issue were the dioceses of Fort Worth, Texas; San Joaquin, California; Eau Clair, Wisconsin; and Quincy, Illinois, Griswold has said he is ready to enforce church law concerning the ordination of women.

The law instructs bishops that they may not block transfer into their dioceses of women priests or prevent women from pursuing ordination. However, complicating the issue was a resolution, also passed July 19, that would protect conservative priest or would-be priest who oppose women's ordination from being blocked in their ministries by liberal bishops. Several specialists on canon law acknowledged that bishops and priest cannot be brought up for trial on the basis of violating a resolution, as opposed to violating a church law.

A proposal for development of a rite for same-sex unions failed by a one-vote margin during a July 19 session of the House of Delegates. The proposal, which would have called on the church's liturgical commission to develop a rite for inclusion in the lesser-used Book of Alternative Services, produced a tie vote among the lay delegations at 56-56 but died 57-56 among the clergy delegations. The new presiding bishop has said that the crux of the same-sex ceremony issue for him is whether homosexuals living in relationship can be faithful to the gospel and whether "grace happens in the lives of homosexuals."