美北密歇根州教区牧师因进行佛教禅修不能成为主教

据《基督邮报》报道，美国北密歇根州教区一位进行佛教禅修的圣公会牧师不能成为北密歇根州教区主教。

2009年7月27日，主持Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester问题讨论会议的Katharine Jefferts Schori主教表示，进行佛教禅修的Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester没有获得主教们以及常任委员会的同意，无法成为主教。因此，他的选举也是无效的。

Thew Forrester于2009年2月作为于2007年6月去世的James Kelsey主教继承人，成为美国北密歇根州教区主教。据悉，他是搜寻委员会推荐的唯一一位候选人。

但是他和佛教的联系以及他对基督教中心教义的理解却受到许多圣公会教堂人员的关注和质问。

尽管一些教区的基督教领导和已退休主教支持Thew Forrester的选举，但他仍然需要获得主教们以及常任委员会大部分神职人员的同意。

据悉，长达120天的讨论阶段于上周结束，Thew Forrester没有被接受。（编译：子规）

An Episcopal priest who practices Zen Buddhist meditation was not approved to lead the Diocese of Northern Michigan.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said on Monday that the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester did not receive the required consents from bishops and standing committees to be consecrated. His election was thus "null and void."

"I have been extraordinarily blessed and honored to walk with my friends from the Diocese of Northern Michigan over these past months as their bishop-elect," Thew Forrester said in a statement, according to the Episcopal News Service.

Thew Forrester was elected in February to succeed James Kelsey, who died in June 2007, as bishop of the Diocese of Northern Michigan. He was the lone candidate presented by the search committee.

But his ties with Buddhism and views on core Christian doctrines raised concerns among many in The Episcopal Church.

His revisions to the denomination's Book of Common Prayer were also questioned.

While some diocesan leaders and retired bishops supported Thew Forrester's election, he needed the consent of a majority of bishops and standing committees. The 120-day consent period ended last week.