Bishop Frank Griswold tells faithful to "honour the past and be open to the future"
Frank T. Griswold III is not the first Bishop of Chicago to become spiritual leader of American Episcopalians. Two others, Philander Chase and Charles Palmerston Anderson, served as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, elected from their posts in the Diocese of Chicago.
A keen liturgist and a man centred in a life of prayer, Bishop Frank T. Griswold becomes "the Most Reverend" on January 1, 1998 in succession to retiring Primate Edmond L. Browning. The new Presiding Bishop will be enthroned in the National Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, Washington, DC, on January 10, 1998. However, because of the demands of the new post, a transition team will begin to assist the bishop in preparing for his new job in September 1997.
Bishop Griswold believes that he was elected by his fellow Bishops in Philadelphia on July 21 as they felt he could be "someone who could connect the pieces to create a greater consensus and mutuality". "The Presiding Bishop is common property," the primate-elect said, "and must help articulate the conversation" with the diverse community known as the Episcopal Church. He wants his post to be "highly interactive" and wants to guard against too many things being "projected on the hierarchy". His election was readily ratified by the House of Deputies (clergy and laity), as is the custom.
The office of the Presiding Bishop is in New York and Bishop Griswold looks forward to that move as his two grown daughters now live there. He was quick to say he would miss Chicago and would have fond memories of his 12 years as diocesan bishop. His wife, Phoebe, is an active churchperson and is involved in the charitable work of Heifer Project International.
Bishop Griswold spoke of his commitment to the work of the Anglican Communion and said he "fully supported" the Archbishop of Canterbury's call for an international commission on Human Sexuality, a matter to be discussed at the Lambeth Conference 1998 in Canterbury. "The Episcopal Church has a significant role in the Anglican Communion," the prelate said, while warning American Episcopalians that they are not the "totality of the Anglican Communion, nor the final word or cutting edge". He called for the church to listen and be sensitive to the "cultural realities" that we face as a global church.
Bishop Griswold has been the Anglican Co-Chair of ARCUSA, the Anglican-Roman Catholic USA dialogue and intends to see ecumenism as "one of the main emphases in my ministry". He has had two private meeting with Pope John Paul II in Rome. He also called for more dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox and is supportive of the move to unite the Episcopal Church with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, whose offices are in the Diocese of Chicago.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd George L. Carey, urged the new American primate to approach his new post with "joy". Archbishop Carey and his Eileen had breakfast with the Griswolds during the Archbishop's brief visit to the General Convention to preach and pay tribute to the retiring Presiding Bishop. Archbishop Carey visited the Diocese of Chicago on a four-day pastoral visit and Mrs Carey and Mrs Griswold were in the same Bible Study group in Lambeth Conference 1988.
In response to a question on what challenges await the church Bishop Griswold said, "old securities don't hold, people are filled with anxiety, bitterness and mistrust". He called on church members to "honour the past and be open to the future". He sees his ministry as one of "communion and connection".