Top Episcopalian returns to Oregon to listen, learn, hang out

by Nancy Haught, The Oregonian
Tuesday June 09, 2009

The national leader of 2.4 million Episcopalians -- including 20,600 in Oregon -- hung out Sunday at a Northeast Portland church, participating in what she defines as old-school conversation.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who's been at the center of an often-tense conversation about the ordination of gay clergy, told a full house on Sunday at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church that the word "conversation" slipped into English usage in the 1300s.

"From the Latin, conversatio, it meant 'to turn about with,'" she said, "'to live with, to spend time with.' We'd say, 'to hang out with.' It didn't mean to talk." And so the first woman elected presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States shared some impressions of the church in the 21st century and then hung out as audience members reflected on interfaith partnerships, support for the military and the role of religious schools. the rest