It's a long way to tippet from seminary

UPDATE: Statement from Bishop Mark Sisk, Diocese of New York

"The General Theological Seminary  has confirmed that Mr. Jim McGreevey  has been accepted to the Seminary's three-year Master of Divinity program and will begin taking courses this coming September. Mr. McGreevey was received into the Episcopal Church on Sunday, April 29th at St. Bartholomew, Manhattan.  He has not yet entered into the parish phase of the discernment process for ordination,  and therefore the Diocese has no direct knowledge of him or his interests."

FATHER McGREEVEY?
Reports: Ex-N.J. guv converting, going to seminary
By GLORIA CAMPISI
Thursday, May 3, 2007

A CHURCH IN turmoil faces a new controversy with word that James McGreevey, who made headlines as the nation's first openly gay governor, may become an Episcopal priest.

Sharp divisions already have arisen within the Episcopal Church amid its worldwide parent body, the Anglican Communion, after its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, was elected four years ago to preside in New Hampshire.

McGreevey, 49, who resigned as governor of New Jersey in 2004, after announcing he was a "gay American," couldn't be reached yesterday to respond to news reports that he had converted to the Episcopal religion and will begin seminary study in the fall.

It’s all here …

McGreevey to Enter Episcopal Seminary
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 3, 2007

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The nation's first openly gay governor has become an Episcopalian and been accepted into a seminary, according to a published report.

Former Gov. James E. McGreevey, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, was officially received into the Episcopal religion on Sunday at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York, said the Rev. Kevin Bean, vicar at the church.

McGreevey has entered the church's ''discernment'' phase, which usually precedes seminary work, Bean told The Star-Ledger of Newark in a report posted Wednesday on its Web site.

It’s all here …

HEAVEN HELP US! MCG TO BE PRIEST
SWITCHES CHURCH ALLEGIANCE
By JEANE MacINTOSH and MARIANNE GARVEY
The New York Post
May 3, 2007

Call him Father Jim.

Gay former Gov. Jim McGreevey is becoming an Episcopal priest and has been accepted to study at a seminary school in Chelsea.

The lapsed Catholic will enter a three-year master of divinity program at the General Theological Seminary in September, while undergoing the long process of ordination at St. Bartholomew's Church on Park Avenue.

It’s all here …along with a stunning, Olympic leap to conclusions by the Post here ...

The ‘Scope’s blood pressure is normally just above that of a hibernating bear, due to our excessive coolness under fire. But this is the kind of story that sends a frisson of irritation through our system: to wit, it makes of a mere meadow muffin a towering mound of ripe fertilizer.

Here are the facts, reporters--read, mark, learn and inwardly digest:

1. Governor McGreevey has become a member of the Episcopal Church.

2. He has applied for admission to the General Theological Seminary. He has apparently been accepted as a student.

3. Many people apply to and attend seminaries to acquire a theological education, with no intention of pursuing ordination.

4. Many people also enter the discernment process with their parish rector and are not eventually ordained, for a variety of reasons, including the discernment that they are not called to ordained ministry.

5. If everything goes according to schedule, it usually takes about five years to complete the entire ordination process, from aspirant to priesthood.

6. Nothing in the Church goes according to schedule.

7. Don't you have a ribbon-cutting to cover, or something?

Comments

[Marshall Scott]

An interesting observation from the Inquirer. Moyer's relationship to the Episcopal Church, especially inasmuch as his episcopate is not within the Episcopal Church (as I recall, it's in the Anglican Province of America, but that may be incorrect). The bishop with responsibility for the Armed Forces in the Episcopal Church is the Rt. Rev. George Packard, Suffragan Bishop for Chaplaincies for the Episcopal Church.

[Mary Beth]

8. It is a seminary, not a "seminary school" - please correct usage, or be reported to the Department of Repetitive Redundancy Bureau.