Keeping the Faith: Michael Curry as we know him
If it's discussion about God and Church doctrine you want, then the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church is your man. In fact, this son of an Episcopal priest, this graduate of Yale Divinity School who continued his studies at The College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary, and the Institute of Christian Jewish Studies, would most likely engage with you for hours.
And he, ever the extrovert, would enjoy it. However, as the people of the Diocese of North Carolina learned during the 15 years he served as their bishop, academic credentials and debate aren’t necessary for understanding his theology and ecclesiology. It all comes down to two words: Jesus and inclusion. Jesus. Inclusion. Therein lies the story of how 63-year old Bishop Curry shaped and was shaped by the Diocese of NC. And therein also are indications about the direction he will take The Episcopal Church. North Carolina, home to 10 million people and the ninth most populous of America’s 50 states, is divided into three dioceses. The Diocese of North Carolina is the largest of the three, with 48,000 people gathered into 112 congregations and nine campus ministries throughout the sprawling central part of the state. Cities, suburbs, and rural areas are part of the mix as are large, financially well-endowed churches and small churches struggling to stay alive. Congregations range from all white to historically black to Hispanic; some are deeply rooted in Episcopal tradition while others are newcomers to the Church.* Full article available in printed copies.