What's with those Episcopalians? First it's the "openly" gay Bishop and now a woman leader? WTWCT? Wow! Could it be that we are moving more toward equality than we once thought? Could it be that people will now embrace diversity and open hearts will abound? Not quite, but one hopes so.

          Despite the backlash of the election of the openly gay Bishop and the falling out of many churches who no longer want to affiliate with the US Episcopal Church, I am so impressed with the courage of this US denomination. The election couldn't have been easy knowing that the church was being closely examined. Perhaps there were those who thought the gay Bishop was a "one time mistake" that could soon be rectified. But now, with Bishop Jefferts Schori, it seems very clear that these US Episcopalians are moving into yet uncharted territory. Despite the fact that woman are the majority when it comes to attending religious services and there are more GLBTQ people in the "don't ask, don't tell" pews, there are far fewer women and GLBTQ pastors than men.

          As a female pastor, it sometimes (I've gotten beyond always) amazes me that there are women and GLBTQ people who do not believe that women should be in the ministry. Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Southern Baptists, Mormons, Muslims and Orthodox Jews, do not believe women should lead worship, some statistics indicate that as many as 112 million Americans belong to denominations that do not ordain women, and clearly many more that don't ordain GLBTQ people. So you can imagine the collective disbelief of millions when the US Episcopalians did the unthinkable!

          I think we should give them two snaps (I've been watching "In Living Color" reruns) for their audacity! They deserve applause. WTWCT? A world where people, not just God, "do not show favoritism." Acts 10:34 NIV. A place of equality and diversity. A place that is more like home.