Open Our Eyes - General Convention Day Seven

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!’ Jesus stood still and called them, saying, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34

Today we recognized the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of women in the House of Bishops. The roll of women bishops was read and those of us present stood and spoke our ordination number. Mine is 977. There are quite a few present who came before me, and many more who followed. I then had the honor of leading the House a litany I wrote for this momentous anniversary. May the lord open our eyes to see those who have been ignored and left out, those who are crying along the road. I have attached the litany and share it with you now. Please feel free use the litany.

A Litany for the 50^th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women

Wondrous Creator, you made us in all diversity

And you have put your voice in all living beings

We hear your songs on the tender winds

And your roar in the storms of our lives.

 We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people.

Throughout history women have told your goodness

The first to proclaim the resurrection were your daughters

And all the disciples who had been trembling in fear

Found an empty tomb and a brand new hope.

We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people.

 Eleven stood bravely before you and the people

In defiance of the exclusive rules of our church

They kneeled and were made priests forever

Despite the scorn and hatred they all received.

 We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people.

 The road was rough and full of angry dismissals

Some leaders turned their backs on our church

Establishing new denominations and new sects

Yet you smiled on your whole church in that time.

 We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people.

In 1989, Barbara Harris was made bishop

And despite the cruel words and the isolation

She stood firm in her faith for us all

And taught us all how to sing in hard times.

 We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people.

 We thank you for the bravery of the first ordained and those ordaining

For Merrill Bittner, Alla Bozarth, Allison Cheek, Emily Hewitt,

Carter Heyward, Suzanne Hiatt, Marie Fleisher, Jeanette Picard,

 Betty Schuss, Katrina Swanson and Nancy Wittig as well as

 Bishops Daniel Corrigan, Robert Dewitt and Edward Welles.

We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people.

 Our church has stumbled and often struggled

Too often a place of privilege and exclusion

Yet you change us and you open our hearts

And continue to renew us despite ourselves.

We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people.

 Wondrous Creator, open our hearts to your voice

So we might hear your call at the very margins

Let us make room for new and different leaders

So we might reflect humanity’s wholeness and creation’s beauty.

 We thank you for putting your heart and call on all people. Amen.