Katharine Jefferts Schori is the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church in the United States. Prior to her ordination to the priesthood in 1994, she was a visiting assistant professor in Oregon State University's Department of Religious Studies, a visiting scientist at Oregon State's College of Oceanography, and an oceanographer with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle. She became the Anglican Communion's first female primate in 2006.
In the introduction to this book, Schori states that the Christian tradition must proclaim the ties which bind us to all people — including the poor, the strangers, and the outcasts of society. Furthermore, she contends:
"This ethic of care for the least among us applies to all the major issues facing us everywhere: local, national, and international economic practices; ecological and climactic concerns; and the structure of the global market. . . . We're all in this together."
Schori maintains that Christians are challenged to help bring about the commonweal of God where everyone has a place to live and enough to eat; where no one studies war any more; and where justice is an action and not an abstraction. The author's righteous indignation comes to the fore when she assesses the plight of the poor, those without homes, those with no money to pay their health care costs, and immigrants who are struggling to stay alive in an alien and pitiless place. Schori salutes faith communities across the country that are seeking to address these problems and to model faith, justice, and compassion.
We were glad to see that the author uses the spiritual practice of connections as the organizing principle for the chapters in the book about people at the margins, public life, creation, the heart of God, and healing that which has been broken. We also appreciated her plea for nonviolence:
"In all the ragged places of our lives, wherever there's anger and hurt and violence, we need to think about how to practice peace. Even if we have to bite our tongue, count to ten, or turn away, we shouldn't get sucked into the spiral of violence. We need to be clear about our identity as kin of the prince of peace, celebrate the gifts that differ, and remember that God has called us together to serve our fellow human beings. In serving our neighbors we will find the road to wholeness, unity, and joy once again."
