c. 1997 Religion News Service

PHILADELPHIA _ The Episcopal Church turned Monday (July 21) to a sharp-witted 59-year-old centrist from Chicago to be its presiding bishop for the next nine years.

Bishop Frank Tracy Griswold III of the Diocese of Chicago was elected by his fellow bishops in a closed-door meeting in an historic church where George Washington, Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross once worshiped. The voting came during the church’s triennial General Convention.

In accepting election, Griswold _ tall, thin and gray-haired _ pledged to represent all factions of the church. He quoted Brazilian Roman Catholic liberation theologian Dom Helder Camera, saying”The bishop belongs to all.” Griswold _ educated at Harvard and Oxford and known for his quick wit and sense of humor _ will take office Jan. 1. His official installation will come Jan. 10 at Washington National Cathedral in the nation’s capital.

Griswold has served the 2.4 million-member Episcopal Church in Chicago since 1984. Prior to that he was a priest in Philadelphia, Yardley, Pa., and Bryn Mawr, Pa.

During the balloting, Griswold trailed the conservative candidate, Bishop Herbert Thompson of the Diocese of Southern Ohio, on the first ballot. However, Thompson’s 89 to 86 lead soon eroded as supporters of other candidates switched votes.

One-hundred-eight votes were needed to gain a majority of the 214 bishops present. 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.

Three hours later, the election was ratified overwhelmingly by the convention’s lower House of Deputies. A total of 18 lay and 9 clergy diocesan delegations in the House of Deputies voted against ratification. Ninety-four 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 post-election news conference, Griswold reflected the basic Episcopal concept of tolerance toward differences of opinion. He stressed that the 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.” Griswold noted the splits within the church over the divisive issues of church sanctioned-rites for same-sex couples and the ordination of women.”What is important is that the conversation be continued,”he said.

Griswold also faces a changing House of Bishops.

Based on the first approval Saturday of a measure to end the voting rights of retired bishops, the church may see a more liberal house after the next General Convention in 2000. Retired bishops tend to be conservative in their voting patterns.

The measure had been a long-time church issue, but had never been approved at a General Convention.

Retired bishops will still be permitted to vote for the presiding bishop, as they did during Monday’s election, but will no longer vote on other matters.

Griswold was one of five candidates on a slate that included both liberal and conservative bishops.

He acknowledged in a questionnaire required of all nominees that the Episcopal Church has become fractious and that he is eager to “deepen the conversation, helping people encounter others of different perspectives to grow in the truth … ”

Griswold said he is ready to enforce the church’s laws on the ordination of women _ something this General Convention required Saturday with the enactment of a new law binding bishops to allow women priests in their dioceses.

In answering the questionnaire, Griswold said 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.”

Griswold was elected following weekend 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, Calif.; Eau Clair, Wisc.; and Quincy, Ill.

The law tells bishops they may not block transfers into their dioceses of women priests or prevent women from pursuing ordination. However, complicating the issue was a companion resolution also passed Saturday that would protect conservative priests or would-be priests who oppose women’s ordination from being blocked in their ministries by liberal bishops.

Several specialists on canon law acknowledged that bishops and priests cannot be brought up for trial on the basis of violating a resolution, as opposed to violating a church law.

Charles Crump, chairman of the convention’s Committee on Canons, said the issue may take a test case to be resolved.

Bishop Robert J. Hargrove and Canon Gay C. Jennings _ also members of the canons committee _ said it is unknown whether all bishops will abide by the non-binding power of the resolution.

A proposal for development of a rite for same-sex unions failed by a one-vote margin during a Saturday 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, tied in the lay delegations at 56-56, but died 57-56 among the clergy delegations.

MJP END BRIGGS