Disciple: Greetings from the Presiding Bishop

By The Most Reverend Michael Curry

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

Well, I’m on the plane flying from Raleigh to New York. This may be a fitting context within which to write you, my family in Christ named the Diocese of North Carolina.

I’ve tried to say thank you to Bishop Anne and the incredible staff of the Diocese, and they really are incredible. I’ve tried to say thank you to the unwaveringly and deeply dedicated clergy, lay leaders and to all of our people. Serving with you as your bishop has been one of the greatest joys and deepest privileges of my life.

You are God’s.
You are good.
You are disciples of Jesus in the 21^st century!

To you I say thank you.
For you I thank and praise God.
With you I am so richly blessed.

So now, we all embark on a new journey on the Jesus way.
While I am quite literally leaving home, my true home - like yours - is in God.
And God will never let us go.

St. Paul said it this way:

“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

The late Dag Hammarskjold was a devoted disciple of Jesus, who served him by working for peace and the common good as the General Secretary of the United Nations in the 1950’s. After his death, his diary was found and later published as a book titled Markings. One of the entries said this:

“For all that has been --
Thanks!

For all that shall be --
Yes!”

My brothers and sisters in Christ,
God love you.
God bless you.
And keep the faith.

Your brother,
+Michael