I was baptized into the Episcopal Church on Easter Sunday in 2006. How I arrived at that point is a long, involved story with many factors which I was explain another time. I will say that I was the last person I expected to join a church. If you told me at 15 or 16 that I’d later be a full blown, active church member, I would have laughed you out of the room.

Now I stand on the cusp of ordination as a deacon. I certainly never would have imagined that!

Not long after my baptism, the Episcopal Church elected its new Presiding Bishop. This is the highest position one can hold in the national Church. The term lasts 9 years, and the election takes place at the Church’s national convention.

The new Presiding Bishop’s name: Katherine Jefferts Schori. That’s right: a woman!

Her election made a splash on major news outlets. I still remember the crawl on CNN announcing that a major denomination has elected its first woman national leader. I was blissfully proud to be an Episcopalian and it reaffirmed that I made the right choice in becoming a member. It was being said that she broke the stained-glass ceiling. In November of 2006, she was formally installed at Washington National Cathedral with much fanfare. I have the DVD of the service and watch it for inspiration.

Oh, and before she was a priest and a bishop, she was a scientist– a marine biologist and oceanographer.

I then became more intrigued and wanted to know more about her, and her ability to make sense of the coexistence and harmony of science and religion. For too long, I thought of them as opposites.  But now I was gaining a new perspective.

It wasn’t long until she published a book. Issued in 2007, A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope was her first book and contains essays and sermons on a variety of topics. I, of course bought it as soon as I could. Posed on the cover in front of her small plane, we are reminded that she is also a pilot. She uses flying expertise as metaphors for being closer to God and Christian growth- “taking flight”.

I began to follow her statements, sermons, appearances and took in all the information I could on her. She stood for inclusiveness, questioning, acceptance, and working together for the common good.

I was ecstatic when I learned she was coming to preside and preach at a church in my city. I would get to see her in person!

It was a beautiful day at Church of the Holy Trinity, a large parish in downtown Philadelphia. I remember the choir and congregation singing “Let Us Break Bread Together” as we lined up for communion. She was tall and wearing a vestment that looked like a painted sunrise. She looked right in my eyes and her gentle voice said, “The Body of Christ” as she handed me the Body.

I was blown away, shaken to the core, overcome with joy. She had a certain goodness a warm aura one could only feel in person and not through images.

After the service, I went up to her, and managed to get a “Hello” out before getting dumbstruck. I then managed to tell her I had recently been baptized, and she told me, “Welcome home.” I now say this to people who are received or baptized in church.  I had brought my copy of “A Wing and a Prayer” and asked her to sign it. She put down the presiding bishop’s staff she was holding, and said, “Hang on, let me get you a pen.”, she scurried to get one before I could tell her that I had a pen in my bag.  She took the time to grant my request. I was so flattered and honored.

At the time, becoming an ordained member in the church was nowhere near my thoughts or realm. That would come about 10 years later.

Since that first meeting, she wrote more books, and I met her at least 2 or 3 other times.  One was during the 40^th anniversary of women being ordained in the church. I am fortunate to live in Philadelphia, where the Episcopal Church was founded, and where the first 11 women priests of the Church became ordained in 1974. The event put the Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia on the map as a historic site. Bishop Katharine led the service to honor the women who made her election possible. She gave a fiery sermon where she spoke of the importance of women’s shoes. After speaking of the condescending things men would say to female clergy, i.e. “Women priests shouldn’t wear heels.”, she slapped a pair of red shoes on the pulpit and said:

 “Women in all orders of ministry – baptized, deacons, priests, and bishops – can walk proudly today, in whatever kind of shoes they want to wear, because of what happened here 40 years ago.”

“We can walk proudly, even if not yet in full equality, knowing that the ranks of those who walk in solidarity are expanding,” she continued.

“Try to walk in the shoes of abused and trafficked women. Walk on to Zion carrying the children who are born and suffer in the midst of war,” the presiding bishop said. “Gather up the girls married before they are grown, gather up the schoolgirls still missing in Nigeria, and gather up all those lives wasted in war and prison. March boldly, proclaiming good news to all who have been pushed aside, and call them to the table of God, to Wisdom’s feast.”

It was a sermon I’d never forget, and still exists on YouTube.

Bishop Katharine has since finished her 9-year term as presiding bishop. I believe she is teaching at a seminary now. I would love to contact her and tell her about how my journey turned out, express my gratitude  and how she continues to be an inspiration.