Bishop's Forum
Greetings Friends!
It is my desire to communicate with you throughout the diocese on a regular basis as your bishop and friend. To that end we have redesigned and formatted our diocesan website to contain an easy to find location for what we'll call the Bishop's Forum.
This section of our site will be a place where I will be able to make available thoughts, devotionals, letters, information that I feel is beneficial to our life and ministry, and maybe even some humor interjected now and then!
Please select from any of the following topics that may be of interest to you; and check back often for new postings!
Faithfully Yours,
+John C. Bauerschmidt
Sermons
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, 2008, April 27, 2008, St. Philip’s Church Nashville
“Because I live, you also will live” (Jo. 14:19). Everybody knows someone who seems totally wrapped up in his or her job. So the day comes for mandatory retirement, or perhaps there... more
The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, 2008, April 20, 2008, St Augustine’s Chapel Nashville
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jo. 14:6). A work of art can change the way you look at things... more
The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A, 2008, April 13, 2008, Church of the Good Shepherd Brentwood (morning)
“Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts…” (Acts 2:46). Folks in Louisiana have the... more
The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A, 2008, April 13, 2008, Church of the Good Samaritan Franklin West (evening)
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jo. 10:10). It’s the “grand opening” of the Church of the Good Samaritan today, an Episcopal community of... more
The Third Sunday of Easter, Year A, 2008, April 6, 2008, Otey Memorial Parish Sewanee
“Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him…” (Lk. 24:31). In J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, the wizard Gandalf, “Gandalf the... more
The Second Sunday of Easter, Year A, 2008, March 30, 2008, Church of Our Saviour Gallatin
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’" (Jo. 20:27). Doubt is sometimes seen... more
Easter Day, Year A, 2008, March 23, 2008, Christ Church Cathedral Nashville
“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43). In the 1983 movie Tender Mercies, Robert Duvall... more
Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows & Consecration of Chrism, March 20, 2008, Christ Church Cathedral Nashville
“You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over” (Ps. 23:5). God’s Long Summer, by... more
The Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A, March 2, 2008, Grace Chapel Rossview & St. Luke’s Church Springfield
“The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7). No one wants to be superficial. To be superficial is to... more
The Third Sunday in Lent, Year A, February 24, 2008, Grace Church Spring Hill & St. Peter’s Church Columbia
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give... more
The First Sunday in Lent, Year A, February 10, 2008, Christ Church Alto
“Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all” (Rom. 5:18). To trespass is to cross a... more
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A, February 3, 2008, St. Matthew’s Church McMinnville
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead&rdquo... more
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A, January 27, 2008, Church of the Resurrection Franklin
“Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him” (Matt. 4:22). There’s a great episode of the T.V. show MASH that I remember from years ago. The cynical and... more
The Conversion of St. Paul, January 25, 2008, Diocesan Convention, St. Bartholomew’s Church Nashville
“So that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith” (Acts 26:18). Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, a celebration which... more
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A, January 20, 2008, Holy Trinity Church, Nashville
“The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me” (Is. 49:1). We like to have “freedom of choice”. We want to choose our own way... more
The First Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A, January 13, 2008, St Paul’s Church Franklin
“And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17). Sometime during my freshman year in college, British Rock Band... more
Epiphany, January 6, 2008, Church of the Epiphany Lebanon
“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem" (Matt. 2:1). People travel for different reasons. Go down to the... more
Archive - Sermons 2007
Bishop Bauerschmidt's Sermons from 2007 are archived. more
Theological Essays
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Remarks at Wycliffe College, Toronto
Agreeing Together: Reflections on Ecclesiology and Theological Method “What are parties given for in London but that enemies may meet?” says the Duchess in Henry James’ novel... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Commencement Address, May 11, 2007, The School of Theology, The University of the South Sewanee
It’s a pleasure and honor to be here, to receive this degree and to preach at this Eucharist. It is unusual, in my experience, to be preaching to a congregation with such a high proportion... more
Other
Ordination of John Bender to the Diaconate, February 23, 2008 , St. Philip’s Church Nashville
"For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." (Lk. 22:27) “Service” is the... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Bishop’s Convention Address, Diocese of Tennessee, January 26, 2008, St Bartholomew’s Church Nashville
It seems difficult for me to believe that a year has passed since January, 2007, and the great events of the Convention Weekend and the Consecration service. The past year has been a quick race for me... more
The Rev. Dr. George Sumner: Sermon for Holy Eucharist During Annual Convention, January 26, 2008, St Bartholomew’s Church Nashville
My daughter was 13 and we were walking down University Avenue at the heart of our home city of Toronto. The sun was shining and I was quite happy, maybe humming to myself.. until I noticed that she... more
The Rev. Dr. George Sumner: Convention Address, Diocese of Tennessee, January 26, 2008, St Bartholomew’s Church Nashville
It is a delight to be with you for your diocesan convention, and I as the principal bring you greetings from Wycliffe College, a theologically traditional Anglican seminary, Canada’s largest... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Statement on Resignation of The Rev. F.J. Richardson and The Rev. William Midgett
On Monday, January 7th, I received letters of resignation from the Rev’d Frederick Richardson, Jr as Vicar of Holy Cross Church, Murfreesboro, and from the Rev’d William Midgett, as Rector... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Summary of House of Bishops Meeting, September 2007, New Orleans
I am grateful to the clergy and people of the Diocese of Tennessee for your prayers and other support during the recent meeting of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church. I have... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Reflections on Communion Matters, September 1, 2007
Process In the Spring of this year, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church published a study document, Communion Matters, to guide Episcopalians across the country in considering and... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Funeral Service for Laurie Hamner, March 20, 2007, St Martin’s in the Fields Church Atlanta
My sermon today is less like a sermon and more like a series of unresolved points. So here it is: First, here’s what I remember. I remember meeting Laurie Roberts Hamner on a... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Statement Concerning House of Bishops Meeting, March 2007
I have a number of impressions to share with you from my first meeting as a member of the House of Bishops this month. Time was spent by the bishops in prayer and worship, for which I am... more
Archbishop of Cantebury: Presidential Address at General Synod, February 26, 2007
After the debates at the American General Convention last summer, I wrote directly to all the primates of the Communion to ask about their reaction and the likely reaction of their provinces as to... more
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt: Summary of Primates Communique, February 19, 2007
I read with great interest this week the Communiqué from the Primates’ Meeting of February 19th, 2007, and their recommendations for a way forward for the Anglican Communion, of which the... more
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori: Summary of Primates Communique, February 19, 2007
The Primates of the Anglican Communion have called for the formation of a "Pastoral Council" that would work in cooperation with the Episcopal Church to facilitate and encourage healing... more
Communiqué of the Primates’ Meeting, February 19, 2007
Communiqué of the Primates’ Meeting, February 2007, page 1 The Communiqué Of the Primates’ Meeting in Dar es Salaam 19th February 2007 1. We, the Primates and... more
The Rev. Pamela P. Snare, Sermon for Ordination of Bishop, January 27, 2007, Christ Church Nashville
SERMON FOR THE ORDINATION of THE REVEREND JOHN CRAWFORD BAUERSCHMIDT as ELEVENTH BISHOP of the DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2007 The Reverend Pamela P. Snare... more
The Report of The Covenant Design Group, January 15-18, 2007, Nassau
The Report of The Covenant Design Group meeting in Nassau, 15th –18th January, 2007 ... more
