Episcopal News Service: Press Release # 86004

Browning Installed As 24th Presiding Bishop

Episcopal News Service. January 16, 1986 [86004]

WASHINGTON (DPS, Jan. 16) -- The sun was bright and the temperature mild here, on Jan. 11, when Bishop Edmond Lee Browning of Hawaii was installed in Washington Cathedral as the 24th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

For the 3,800 people who sat or stood in the Cathedral, the two and a half hour service was a blend of many sounds, sights and feelings.

There were the sounds of music from the Cathedral organ, the Choir of Men and Boys, the Carillon, voices singing hymns and liturgical settings from the Hymnal 1982 and the bursts of applause.

There were the sights of lay people, priests, deacons and bishops in procession, accompanied by banners and torches, the sunlight through stained glass windows making colored splashes on stone walls, ecclesiastical ornamentation that was both simple and splendid, thousands of people smiling as they exchanged the Peace of the Lord.

There were feelings of anticipation in wondering about the form and substance of leadership to be provided by Presiding Bishop Browning, nostalgia and remembrance evoked by the presence of retired Presiding Bishop John E. Hines, thanksgiving for the ministry of the lately retired Presiding Bishop John M. Allin, excitement and joy generated by the music and drama, as well as the concern brought forth by references to the state of the world.

A few portions of the liturgy were not familiar: the ancient Hawaiian call to worship chanted by Edward Collier and Marion Kaipo Kalua; some music from the recently complied hymnal. Most of the service was very familiar to Episcopalians, however, following the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Scripture readings from Ezekiel and Romans were read by the Hon. William Alexander, a Congressman from Arkansas, and Dr. Verna Dozier, noted lay leader. The Gospel reading from Mark was by 88-year-old Deacon Gladys L. Hall, an old friend of Browning's from Texas.

For the first time, the installation of a Presiding Bishop was done within the context of the Eucharist, and concelebrants of the Eucharist were Browning; Allin; Bishop John T. Walker of Washington; the Most Rev. John M. Watanabe, Primate of Japan; and Bishop Desmond Tutu of Johannesburg, South Africa. Browning wore a full chasuble and matching mitre in shades of white and ice blue, crafted by Diana Lockwood of Hawaii. The Presiding Bishop was attended by Deacons Dorothy Nakatsuji and Alfonso Narvaez of Newark. He was escorted into the Cathedral by Bishops Wesley Frensdorff, David S. Rose, Furman C. Stough, and Walker; as well as Dean David B. Collins, President of the House of Deputies; the Rev. Provost Charles A. Perry; Pamela Chinnis, Vice-President of the House of Deputies; the Rev. Brian J. Grieves of Hawaii and John A. Lockwood, Chancellor of the Diocese of Hawaii.

A number of signs of ministry were presented to Browning as part of the service. Most groups of presenters were made up of a layperson, deacon, priest and bishop, and were representative of many aspects of pastoral, educational, social and specialized ministry in the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion and the wider Christian fellowship. Exceptions to this were a Bible presented by Charles Walker, son of Bishop Walker, and ecumenical representatives Bishop James R. Crumley, Jr., of the Lutheran Church in America; the Most Rev. Joseph Ferrario, Roman Catholic Bishop of Honolulu; and His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America; and a gift of bread and wine presented by Patricia, Browning's wife, and their children, Mark, Paige, Philip, Peter, John, and Philip's wife, Lisa.

Other gifts were a Book of Common Prayer; a copy of the newly dedicated Hymnal 1982; water; oil; a towel and basin; a plumb line -- whose presenters included Tutu; and a compass rose, symbol of the Anglican Communion. The final gift was that of the Primatial Cross, symbol of the office of Presiding Bishop, which was presented to Browning by his predecessor, Allin, with the words, "Edmond, be among us as one who holds high the cross of Christ."

Music for the service was under the direction of Canon Richard W. Dirksen, Precentor, Organist and Choirmaster of Washington Cathedral. He was assisted by Associate Organist and Choirmaster Douglas R. Major; Robert Lehman, Cathedral Fellow in Church Music; and James Gillis Saenger, Carilonneur. Gene Tucker was Litanist.

Those entering the Cathedral in procession included the clergy of the Cathedral; representatives of Protestant, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Jewish faith groups; the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church; Primates and representatives of churches of the Anglican Communion; bishops of the Episcopal Church.

"I want this to be our day, not just my day, a time for the whole Church, for all the baptized to again re-affirm its mission for these times," said Browning in his sermon. (Ed. Note: Text of sermon follows on Pg. 7). In preaching, the Presiding Bishop used the theme of compassion as a framework for comments about the mission of Christianity and the state of the world.

"The fragile earth on which we live is threatened by the very beings that God created to be its stewards," said Browning. "This is so, and yet there are those in the Church who want us only to be a port in the storm, a haven from the troubles of our time."

"There is pain beyond these Cathedral walls which most of us barely comprehend. There are tears of despair which we refuse to see. There are cries for help which we do not hear. There are those reaching out to be embraced whom we have yet to touch...I want to say to you this morning that our spiritual lives are bankrupt if our prayers do not call us to see, to hear and to heal."

In speaking about his service as Presiding Bishop, Browning pleaded that the Church not ask him "to honor one set of views and disregard the other. I may agree with one," he said, "but I will respect both...the unity of this church will be maintained not because we agree on everything but because -- hopefully -- we will leave judgment to God."

Browning said he intends to "reach out and join hands" with other Episcopal Church leaders and other religious leaders around the world so that "mission can be authentically lived out."

Walker, in his remarks of welcome which followed at the offertory, also touched on the theme of ecumenical unity, noting that the founders of Washington Cathedral had hoped that "by the time the building was complete, there would be unity in the body of Christ and this cathedral would indeed be a house of prayer for all people." The ecumenical delegation had been preceded in the procession by the cathedral's "House of Prayer" banner.

Walker also expressed his hope that Browning would return often to the Washington Cathedral, which is the nominal seat of the Presiding Bishop.

The diversity of the Cathedral congregation on Jan. 11 called to mind both what the Church is and what the Church is called to be: people of all age groups, many races, several cultural backgrounds. The whispering in the nave and the exchange of the peace were in many accents and more than one language. Some wore jeans and sneakers, with fur coats and business suits much in evidence also. One did not have to look carefully to see some worshipers in wheelchairs or being assisted by crutches and canes. The signing for the hearing impaired may not have been noticeable, because it has become so commonplace to many Episcopal worshipers.

Though the carillon bells pealed mightily at the conclusion of the Service of Installation, the spirit of enthusiasm, joy and anticipation that prevailed would have been there without them. Before the day's events had begun, groups of people gathered at the Cathedral's doors, waiting for them to open. Many had arrived early, and, by the main doors, people were beginning to become restless when singing broke out from somewhere in front, and, one by one, voices joined in the words of "Amazing Grace." That done, someone, perhaps from Browning's native state, began "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You," and a lively chorus followed. Then came "Alleluia, Sing to Jesus" and a few more in which many voices joined. Finally, the crowd took up "The Church's One Foundation" and, at the line, "Yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up 'How long?,'" all voices soared to a plaintive crescendo, and the hymn ended as the singers dissolved in laughter. A few minutes later, the doors opened.

In the words of one woman who came to the service from a distant Pacific island, "It was a good day, indeed."