Bonnie Anderson challenges laity to live into baptismal covenant

By Richelle Thompson, August 25, 2008

[Episcopal News Service] Taking seriously the unique promise of the baptismal covenant set the foundation for a series of appearances August 22-24 by Bonnie Anderson, president of the House of Deputies, in the Diocese of Southern Ohio.

Anderson challenged different groups from throughout the diocese to live out their baptismal covenant, both within their church communities and in the world. At the invitation of the Episcopal Community Services Foundation, Anderson served as the keynote speaker at a conference for social justice advocates and grant seekers. Anderson also met with youth of the diocese in Columbus and preached at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati.

Within the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church is the only province with a baptismal covenant, said Anderson. "Our baptismal covenant brings us to an understanding of the gifts of laity that isn't really understood in the same way by the rest of the communion … [In the Book of Common Prayer] the catechism says that the ministers of the church are lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons -- in that order. And so we are called by God to do the work we are given." the rest