October 12, 2012 

Dear Friends,

I want to tell you a story of unintended evangelism. Some years ago one of my daughters was engaged to a young man who was not an Episcopalian. My daughter was a member of an Episcopal Church in Washington D.C., and so it was there and to her priest that they went for the required counseling before marriage. The counseling sessions ended with their decision not to get married.

The introduction to the Episcopal Church that the young man received, however, resulted in his falling in love with the Episcopal Church. He became an active member of the Church, and over time he felt called to the priesthood. He went to seminary and was ordained as a priest. He has served for a number of years as a priest in the Diocese of Atlanta.

This Saturday he will be ordained as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. I am very pleased that he has asked me to be one of his co-consecrators as the Presiding Bishop presides at his ordination.

Not everyone invited to church becomes a bishop. This is, however, how many, many people come to the church: you invite them.

+ Chet Talton