The procession began with a wild liturgical dance, gyrating Chinese dragon-like creatures, the banging of drums and the beating of noisemakers

In what many Anglicans will view as an inflammatory act in the already shaky Anglican Communions’ house of cards, two women, one a lesbian, were consecrated the 16th and 17th female bishops in The Episcopal Church at the Long Beach Arena in Los Angeles last night.

According to a report in the Long Beach Press Telegram, a “Gay Pride” festival was being held in the same complex at the same time, prompting one observer to note that Bishop Jon Bruno and Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori got a bigger crowd that way enticing some to “come and see.”

Diane Bruce and Mary Glasspool were declared bishops in “the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church” by Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori in a three-hour ceremony that was briefly disrupted by protestors both outside and inside the arena.

The procession began with a wild liturgical dance, gyrating Chinese dragon-like creatures, the banging of drums and the beating of noisemakers. Bright colors, muted hues and vivid shades combined to provide a river of motion, action, and movement while the ears were assaulted with sounds, clatter and noise.

It took more than half an hour for the various mini processions to get all the visiting bishops, clergy, and dignitaries in and seated before the entrance of the bishops-elect.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori began the liturgy with the Easter Proclamation “Alleluia. Christ is Risen.” followed by the recitation of the Collect for Purity. A hush fell over the 3,000 who had gathered to witness the making of Bishop 1044 and Bishop 1045 in The Episcopal Church.

Then a cry from within the cavernous room went up, “Repent.” A second male voice cried out, “Repent of the sin of the homosexual.”

As the Presiding Bishop sought to maintain order, the sign-carrying protestor was escorted out of the Long Beach Arena by ushers, but not before a similar shout was heard from a young boy waving a Bible high in the air.

“There will be an opportunity later in the service to make yourselves known,” the Presiding Bishop said in a measured voice as the assembled crowd started to agitate.

One of the assembled bishops called for patience and tolerance as ushers cleared the makeshift sanctuary of the shouting demonstrators.

After the dissenters were ejected, the crowd broke into applause.

Los Angeles Bishop Jon Bruno referred to the protestors saying, “They don’t understand the inclusive nature of the Episcopal Church.” The Episcopal News service described the event as a “joyous celebration”, a view shared by the mostly liberal audience attending the event. The theme of the event was “rejoice”. There was live streaming video.

Some 30 hard line revisionist Episcopal bishops attended the consecration lending credence to the bellicose view that TEC has hardened its stance to the point of no return on pansexual behavior and has no intention of heeding either the call of the Archbishop of Canterbury or orthodox Global South Anglican leaders to refrain from such ordinations.

Two separate groups of clergy and laity from the Diocese of Los Angeles each presented one of the candidates for consecration as bishop asking the Presiding Bishop to lay hands on their bishop-elect and “consecrate her a bishop in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.”

The Diocesan Standing Committee and Convention also attested that the bishops had been duly elected by the diocesan convention, and were of sufficient schooling, and of sound faith and godly character as to exercise the office of bishop, the honor of God and the edification of the church as well as a wholesome example to the flock of Christ.

It was revealed that Bishop-elect Bruce received 93 confirming standing committee votes and 80 jurisdictional bishop nods; while Bishop-elect Glasspool garnered approval from 69 standing committees and 55 House of Bishop consents. A total of 56 consenting standing committee votes were needed.

The Presiding Bishop then asked if anyone present had any reason why the consecration service should not proceed. There were none.

Following a period of silence, the Presiding Bishop asked the assembly if it was their will that Diane and Mary be ordained bishops.

“That is our will,” was the reply.

She again asked if the assembly would uphold Diane and Mary as bishops.

“We will.” roared back the crowd.

The Liturgy of the Word was presented in numerous languages — English, Korean, chanted Spanish and Tagalog, a Filipino language.

The Gospel acclamation was an African chant done to the beat of an African drum.

Bruno shed his cope and mitre and paced the stage as he spun his homey yarn in English.

“I made the ridiculous request in my diocese that I might have one woman suffragan in my time here,” the bishop noted. “Look what happens.”

His comment was met with laughter and applause.

“It is important that we understand these women were called by the community of God. They were called by the people of God to take a place that no other women have taken in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

“They are called to be Apostles of the Church,” he taught. “They are called to carry on the ministry of Jesus in this place in such a way that the world will be transformed and made fuller and richer and more vital.”

Bishop Bruno admitted that he was one of those who held his breath when the issue of objection to the planned consecrations was raised.

“I don’t think there was one person in this place who was more nervous than I was about objections,” he said. “But we didn’t have an objection today from anybody who was an Episcopalian.”

His statement was met with laughter and applause.

He explained that there were people in attendance who did not understand the inclusive nature of The Episcopal Church.

“How much more inclusive can you get when you have a decorated Marine or two sitting in the audience in their dress blues and you have Malcolm Boyd sitting with my wife – a peace activist, but a great and holy man.

“We as bishops of the church are called to be the exemplar of Jesus’ Presence in this world.”

Bruno admitted that at one point in his episcopacy he was opposed to women’s ordination to the priesthood, but that his heart and his mind were touched by women who were able to draw him closer to the love of God.

“They [women] taught me how to intertwine my life in such a way that it could not be rent asunder,” the bishop revealed. “They taught me how to interlace my heart and mind with God’s so I could not be pulled away.”

Bruno said that it was historic that the House of Deputies president is a woman, as is the Presiding Bishop. Two new female suffragan bishops and the first woman bishop in the Anglican Communion were also in their presence.

Massachusetts Suffragan Barbara Harris, attired in a vivid turquoise blue cope and mitre, received a loud extended standing ovation from the crowd.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek nor slave nor free. There is neither man nor woman, gay or straight in The Episcopal Church,” said Bruno quoting former Presiding Bishop Ed Browning. “There are no outcasts.”

“Come to this altar,” Bruno invited. “Be refreshed be the ‘presence of inclusion’.

“I give thanks that the most capable of the candidates were elected, regardless of what anybody thought. Diane and Mary and I will become the episcopal team in this place.”

The Presiding Bishop then reminded the ordinands that they are called to guard the faith, unity and discipline of the church; to celebrate the sacraments, to ordain deacons and priests and be faithful pastors and wholesome examples for Christ’s flock.

She then asked if the other co-consecrating bishops if they would be faithful to pray and boldly proclaim the Gospel, encourage and support the laity, guard the faith, share in the administration of the church and defend the poor.

Each time the new bishops-to-be were queried, they answered individually, “I will.”

“Diane and Mary, through these promised you have committed yourself to God to serve His Church in the Office of Bishop,” the Presiding Bishop intoned. “We therefore call upon you to be guardians of the church’s faith to lead us in confessing that faith…”

“We believe in one God.” the twin voices said jointly.

The two women then silently knelt before the Presiding Bishop as Veni Sancte Spiritus was chanted as a mantra in Latin.

The Presiding Bishop’s voice dropped. With intensity she started the Prayer of Consecration: “Therefore, Father make Diane a bishop in your church …”

All the bishops present circled the two women reaching out to touch each head joining their voices in the rest of the consecration prayer “…Pour upon her the power of your princely Spirit…”

It was a kaleidoscope of color — reds, whites, blues, golds with an occasional accent of black. On their wrists were bright pink wristbands.

Diane Bruce’s head was touched first, thus making her an Episcopal bishop, the 16th female bishop in the church.

The same ritual and words were uses a few seconds later for Mary Glasspool thus making her the 17th female bishop in The Episcopal Church.

Other female bishops who joined in the consecration were Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Barbara Harris, retired suffragan Massachusetts; Carolyn Tanner Irish, Utah; Jane Holmes-Dixon, retired Washington, DC; and Nedi Revera, provisional Eastern Oregon.

Co-consecrating bishops included: Frederick H. Borsch, retired Los Angeles; Lawrence Provenzano, Long Island; John Rabb, Suffragan of Maryland; Eugene Sutton, Maryland; Robert Ilhoff, retired Maryland; and Mark Hollingsworth, Ohio.

The Diocese of Los Angeles bishops were on hand including Bishop Jon Bruno, Suffragan Bishop Chester L. Talton, Assistant Bishop Sergio Carranza, and retired Bishop Robert Anderson.

Other bishops present and extending their hands in ordination were: Chilton Knudsen, retired Maine; Vicky Gene Robinson, New Hampshire; Gregory Rickel, Olympia; Michael Hanley, Oregon; James Mathes, San Diego; John Chane, Washington, DC; Wilfredo Ramos-Orench, Central Equator; Bob Jones, retired Wyoming; Kirk Smith, Arizona; Martin DeJesus Barahona, El Salvador; Christopher Senyonjo, retired, W. Buganda, Uganda.

Ecumenical Lutheran bishops present included: Dean Nelson, Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and Murray D. Finck Pacifica Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Tears flowed as the newly consecrated bishops were greeted with hugs by their fellow bishops.

Greetings of “Welcome, Bishop” and “Hi, Bishop” were heard as the newly minted bishops embraced their fellow members of their order.

Stoles were placed around the necks of both women; then they were draped with a cope and matching mitres. Each was handed a crozier as a bishop’s ring was slipped on their ring fingers and a pectoral cross was place around their necks.

With the presentation of the symbol of their office completed, cheers, the crowd chanted and whistled.

The new bishops then concelebrated the Eucharist in a number of languages that included English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, reflecting the diversity of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the myriad languages spoken in California. Bishop Glasspool spoke in Spanish while Bishop Bruce spoke in Chinese.

Following their joint final blessing, cheers greeted the new bishops as they processed out of the arena to the sound of a Mariachi band.

International protests from the Anglican Communion to this consecration came quickly and their views can be found here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=12583

—-Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline

Source: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=12587