More information on Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry
Gramps49
Shipmate
Since All Saints is the place for announcements, and I misplaced the announcement of Bishop Curry, I will try once again. Here is a brief article on the Bishop's background. I had mentioned the church the bishop started out in and the Catholic Parish where Bishop Leo was raised ate in the same neighborhood. I mentioned the water, but I would argue there might be something about the neighborhood where great men are being raised up for the good of the church. Leo and Curry are both known for their mission work, btw.
Note to the hosts. If this is still the wrong place, kindly transfer it over to the more appropriate board. Thank you.
Note to the hosts. If this is still the wrong place, kindly transfer it over to the more appropriate board. Thank you.
Comments
Hosts, perhaps the title can be revised so as to be clear about which Bishop Curry in which denomination?
I hope what I've done makes it clear.
Nenya - All Saints Host
How many Popes have there been?
A 'universal Pontiff' or claim thereto is rather different in scale to becoming bishop of a particular section of US Lutheranism.
But that aside, Bishop Curry does seem to have a strong skill set - social work, teaching and sales.
I'm sure he'll make a good ECLA bishop and I wish him well in the role.
Other than that, I'm not sure there's a great deal to say on this one.
But thanks for clarifying things, even though I think the links you are making with Pope Leo are overdone. He's not been in the job long enough for any of us to assess how 'missional' or effective he is or is going to be.
The only things they have in common is that they are both Christians, both Americans and happen to have links with the same part of the States.
Consider me underwhelmed.
A couple of comments, though about the connections between the new ELCA Presiding Bishop, Yehiel Curry and Pope Leo.
The neighborhood Leo grew up is hardly a picturesque part of the city. It is gritty, industrial, and bordered by railroads and highways. One could say it is as close to a third world neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
The faith community Currey started in is similar to Leo's parish.
Leo was trained to do mission work in the Augustinian order which emphasized pastoral care and theological depth.
Currey started as a lay mission developer and was ordained through ELCA's Theological Education for Emerging Ministries program focusing on ethnic specific, multicultural and inner city contexts.
Lutherans have Augustinian roots in that Luther started out in the Augustinian order, just like Leo. Leo also developed a close friendship with a Lutheran seminarian while both were in a three month Clinical Chaplaincy Training program. They still call each other by their first names.
I think the significance of both men being called to their respective ministries is that God continues to raise up leaders from the margins of society to serve the whole church. I see them both having prophetic roles in a time of transition for the church. And I think the Augustinian commonality will go a long way in fostering closer connections between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation of which the ELCA is a member. (The Roman Catholic and Lutheran Dialogue is through the LWF).
Thing us, though, nice though those connections are, not all of us are Augustinian to the same extent.
But I'm all for ecumenical dialogue and for the Lutherans and RCs (and everyone else) finding common ground.
Oh, and, both Leo and Curry have been directly involved in Outdoor Ministries in their respective faith groups.
Sorry @Gramps49. I find this completely ridiculous.
So Pope Leo and a new presiding bishop within one section of US Lutheranism happen to have a connection with a particular part of Chicago and may (or may not) support the same baseball team.
Big deal.
I really don't understand why you are making such a big thing of this.
The ELCA appears to have appointed a very gifted and capable presiding bishop. Great. Good for them. Congratulations to him.
The Roman Catholic Church appears to have appointed a good Pope. Great. Good for them. Congratulations to him.
They both happen to have connections with the same part of Chicago. Cool.
But that's about as far as if goes.
Pope Leo speaks for all Roman Catholics (other than schismatic ones).
Bishop Yuriel Curry speaks for the ELCA not all Lutherans.
If they ever met they'd have a lot in common and a lot to talk about and that's great.
Beyond that, there's nothing of earth-shattering importance.
Apologies for raining on your parade @Gramps49.
I hope you find a few takers willing to engage with your thread.
But hey...
I s'pose what I'm getting at, albeit clumsily, is that if a future Pope were to be British, Scandinavian, Indonesian or whatever else and happened to have grown up in the same suburb of Croydon, Copenhagen or Jakarta (sorry, I don't know any Indonesian cities beginning with C) and was a cricket, hockey or soccer fan like a local bishop of whatever denomination from the same area I wouldn't assign the same level of significance to it as our friend @Gramps49 appears to be doing in this instance.
But our respective mileages may vary, as they say.
I wouldn't make an 'announcement' about the appointment of an Orthodox bishop or an Anglican bishop here in the UK or the president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland or whoever else and link that to the appointment of whatever Pope happened to be in the Vatican at the time unless there was something more striking about it such as it being the Pope's twin brother (or sister), son, daughter, second cousin, former boss or something equally and genuinely extraordinary.
Sorry. But there it is.