May light perpetual shine on your servant, +Jim.
Tears of grief and rage - what a huge loss to all of us.
Great photo here. So Jim.
This a huge loss for our community of franciscan brothers and sisters - he was a great friend to us. A wonderful man and bishop - dearly missed.
I have a couple recent pics of him on my homepage.
We had a small memorial service for him last night and everyone shared stories of his kindness and generosity and great spirit.
Bp. Kelsey's daughter, Lydia and her fiance Jared, are members of my parish. They were to be married, with her father as officiant, this coming weekend in Marquette. We are all reeling in shock and grief. Please pray for the Kelsey family, and all who mourn Jim's death.
"In the midst of life, we are in death"
Linda in Iowa
May he rest in peace and rise in glory. May God's love and comfort surround his family, friends and diocese at this most painful time.
This is very sad and coming at the same time as the death of the great John Macquarrie.
My they rest in peace.
May the angels lead him into Paradise.
God bless his family, and comfort them in their grief.
Requiescat in pace. Amen.
May he rest in peace. He'd just been in my parish a few weeks ago. A very generous man.
On an unrelated note, what about this idea? This would seem a way forward that would release more energy for hope than the present Lambeth business.
Amen to the prayers for Bishop Kelsey and his family and friends.
Local news station reports that Bishop Kelsey lost control of his car and ran into a pick-up head on. The driver of the pick-up was also killed. Let us remember them both in our prayers this day.
It’s bigger than you. It’s bigger than us. Bigger than the any of our congregations. Bigger than our diocese. Bigger than the U.P.
FYI, the late Bp. Kelsey is referring, w/ the phrase "the U.P.", to his diocesan locale in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
C.B. is correct: unfortunately, there was another fatality, and a "serious injury" (story here). Pray also for the repose of the soul of Michael Charles Wiita, and for the healing (body & spirit) of Wiita's girlfriend Jessica Amber Slavik.
Pour down your grace as healing balm, Lord Christ.
What a stunning loss.
I am still overwhelmed with this loss! It is too much.
Beyond our own loss, I grieve for The Episcopal Church in the midst of the current "troubles." Apparently, Jim was the prime mover behind the tone and words that came out of the House of Bishops resolutions this spring. We in this community have so much that we owe to him. I would like to think that his words and influence during that meeting will be the memorial that will long outlive him.
"The Inclusive Pastor"
What a catastrophic loss for the days and the process ahead. At this time when we're hearing voices of discord and disunity from other leaders not so well endowed with the mind of Christ, we can only pray that there will be other bishops who will pick up that Truth and have the same Spirit to talk to Power that he had.
We miss ya, Jim.
Thanks for addtl background on Bp Kelsey's life & work.
I add my prayerful voice to others above.
To paraphrase a very old southern hymn...
"Take his hand, precious Lord, lead him home."
Actually, James, Precious Lord, Take My Hand was written by the "Father of (Black) Gospel Music", Thomas A. Dorsey in the 1930s (some of you may be familiar with the story behind it: Dorsey was out touring on the road, when he received a telegram telling him his wife had died in childbirth, along w/ the baby. I can't imagine a situation that would MORE prompt a cry of "Take my hand, Precious Lord" than this. :-( )
I have a very close friend here who is a Franciscan Anglican.
Bp. Kelsey was the protector of Franciscans in all Americas.
My condolences, also on behalf of my friends here who can't speak English well.
May he grow in glory next to the Lord, and may God and our God's family help his family recover form this tragic happening.
I was a member of a parish of Northern MI and I had the fortune to encounter the love and light of Jim Kelsey many times. My prayers are with his family and all those who mourn his passing. We will miss you Jim.
-Jennifer Davis
Along with many others, I mourn the death of Jim Kelsey!
Before serving in Oklahoma and Michigan, Jim Kelsey was a beloved priest in my home Diocese of Vermont in the late 1970s and the early 1980s and I came to know him when I was a camper at the diocesan camp, Rock Point in the early 1980s. He was the leader of a 10 day camp conference of high school students and was the "producer" and "director" as we put on a video of "DANIEL." I remember well his inspired and grounded leadership, always punctuated by his lively humor and ability to connect with high schoolers, with counselors, with volunteer staff, and with all ages. He helped us see the book of Daniel in a new way as we dressed up as lions to fight Daniel in the lions' den, as we climbed into a cardboard "fire hut" and danced to the Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House" depicting Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednago, Daniel's three friends...I have vivid memories of Jim, and would be blessed to be but a fraction of the person and priest that he was.
Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy servant James. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
He had a kind face. What a sad thing for all.
Another great Anglican died on May 28, 2007, aged 87, as reported in the New York Times: John Macquarrie. A former Presbyterian pastor, John was ordained an Episcopal priest by the Bishop of New York in the mid-1960s, while he was Professor of Theology at Union Theological Seminary. Although tarred with the same brush as John S. Spong by certain Fundegelicals, he was held in high esteem as a theologian by ++Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI. After leaving UTS, he served for many years as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Oxford University, preceding ++Rowan Williams in that appointment.
May God rest his soul.
When really good things or really bad things happen in our church, I come "home" to Jake's place. This is one of those bad times. I only knew Bishop Kelsey from his writings. But I grieve the loss of this man from our family.
What a tragedy.
My prayers join with all of yours.
Memory Eternal
Yes, JFC, I know who wrote it; but since this is 2007 it's old, and since it's so popular in the south, it makes it a southern hymn. :)
I am a Michigan news reporter and volunteer media advisor for several of Bishops Kelsey's interfaith environment projects.
I still can't believe Jim is gone - but he lives on in the hearts of all Earth Keepers.
Here are links to our video and written tributes to the wonderful people person that was Bishop Kelsey.
Earth Keeper TV Bishop Kelsey Tribute:
http://blip.tv/file/253821/
Written tribute/photos:
http://
www.lakesuperiorinterfait...shopkelsey.html
Link to written Earth Keeper tribute on this website:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/
We will never forget you Jim and thank you for being a friend and our Earth Bishop.
Just back from the Camino to find this awful, saddening news. Jim was a visionary for all of us. I first met him at one of the Diocese of NMI's 'open house' weekends on ministry back in 1996. I can't remember when I last saw him -- recently, it seems, but I do remember his smile and enthusiasm for life. I will remember him in the prayers this morning at the HE. Requiat, Jim. Your death leaves a huge, huge tear in our fabric.
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