Good News with Bishop Carrie Schofield-Broadbent

Dolores: 00:00:00

Let's meet the Right Reverend Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, the

2

: 00:00:03

fifteenth Bishop of the Episcopal

Diocese of Maryland, and the

3

: 00:00:06

first woman to serve in that role.

4

: 00:00:09

With Bishop Carrie today is our Good

News team, Deacons Jon Shematek and

5

: 00:00:13

Lauren Welch as we launch our very first

episode in our second season of Good News!

6

: 00:00:19

All about people making a

difference in the world.

7

: 00:00:22

Jon Shematek: Bishop We're so

thrilled that you're here with us

8

: 00:00:24

today We've been really looking

forward to having a conversation

9

: 00:00:27

with you and are absolutely grateful

10

: 00:00:29

We know that you are really busy and

doing so many things and just that

11

: 00:00:34

you're taking this time, for us to

get to, know you and talk with you

12

: 00:00:37

a little bit, is a wonderful thing

13

: 00:00:39

so thanks.

14

: 00:00:40

It's just great that you're here.

15

: 00:00:42

Bishop Carrie: Well, I am honored to

be here and I always love spending time

16

: 00:00:45

with you what a privilege it is to be

here to kick off your second season.

17

: 00:00:50

Congratulations on that.

18

: 00:00:53

Jon Shematek: ..............March

19

: 00:00:53

of 2023.

20

: 00:00:56

Lauren and I were sitting at St.

21

: 00:00:58

John's Episcopal Church in

Ellicott City voting for our

22

: 00:01:01

next bishop, Bishop Coadjutor,

23

: 00:01:03

And that was you, and that's when this

whole idea for this series was born.

24

: 00:01:07

you were elected as Bishop

Coadjutor in March of -23.

25

: 00:01:11

You were consecrated and ordained

as a bishop in the Episcopal

26

: 00:01:15

Church in September of 2023.

27

: 00:01:19

And since April of 2024,

you have been the bishop.

28

: 00:01:23

Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland.

29

: 00:01:26

So, how's it going?

30

: 00:01:30

Bishop Carrie: I love this call.

31

: 00:01:33

I did not know how much I would love it.

32

: 00:01:37

I went in thinking that this job would

probably be about 60 percent awesome

33

: 00:01:43

and about 40 percent really hard.

34

: 00:01:46

And, um, I think we're

coming in at about 95.

35

: 00:01:49

5 right now.

36

: 00:01:51

I didn't know I could hope for that.

37

: 00:01:54

I'm glad that I'm called to be

Bishop in the Diocese of Maryland.

38

: 00:01:57

This feels like a really good fit.

39

: 00:02:00

so I'm glad that I'm becoming a bishop

here with people who are open and

40

: 00:02:06

curious and understanding and forgiving,

authentic and able to tell the truth.

41

: 00:02:13

Jon Shematek: Yeah, that's great, Bishop.

42

: 00:02:14

in thinking about your Episcopate,

over this last almost a year.

43

: 00:02:19

That you've been the diocesan bishop, have

there been, any particular high points

44

: 00:02:25

for you I think you have a lot of moments

of utter joy just from knowing you a

45

: 00:02:28

bit, but can you identify any particular

high points in your ministry so far?

46

: 00:02:35

Bishop Carrie: I've been very

moved every time I've been

47

: 00:02:38

able to ordain other people.

48

: 00:02:41

that is just a thrill and an honor.

49

: 00:02:44

definitely high points.

50

: 00:02:46

Such a privilege to be able to do that.

51

: 00:02:48

the more quiet high points have been

when I'm able to hear stories from people

52

: 00:02:55

that talk about how God is transforming

their lives through their congregation.

53

: 00:03:01

I can tell one specific story about that.

54

: 00:03:03

I was at Christmas Eve.

55

: 00:03:05

at the cathedral early, watching

everybody get ready for the pageant.

56

: 00:03:09

there was so much excitement and, a

mom pulled me aside and said, there's

57

: 00:03:14

something that I want you to know.

58

: 00:03:16

I want you to know that every night

when my head hits the pillow, I give

59

: 00:03:21

thanks to God for this church community.

60

: 00:03:24

I can't tell you the ways that it is.

61

: 00:03:27

shaping my life and the life of my family.

62

: 00:03:30

And so to hear stories from people

about how God is working in their

63

: 00:03:35

lives through their congregation, it's

a quieter, more subtle high point for

64

: 00:03:39

me, but it, oh, it's so beautiful.

65

: 00:03:43

And that's happening across the

diocese, not just at our cathedral.

66

: 00:03:47

Jon Shematek: Yeah, but

Bishop, you invite that.

67

: 00:03:49

I recall even in the videos when

you were a nominee, ever since

68

: 00:03:53

you've been true to this, is the

value that you place on listening.

69

: 00:03:57

And I think that people, when they see

you think, wow, she's a bishop and she's

70

: 00:04:02

our first female diocesan, which is great.

71

: 00:04:05

but there are, and I should say not but,

and they see someone who is compassionate.

72

: 00:04:10

And will listen and is

pastoral to, to all of us.

73

: 00:04:14

So, that's one of the gifts you bring

to the church and to the diocese.

74

: 00:04:18

Lauren Welch: Thank you.

75

: 00:04:20

I would add in one who is always joyful.

76

: 00:04:23

I've always anytime I have seen

you or and all of the pictures

77

: 00:04:28

on Facebook, there's just so much

joy that surrounds your presence.

78

: 00:04:33

Has there been any surprises?

79

: 00:04:36

In your experience so far

80

: 00:04:41

Bishop Carrie: I think in general,

I'm consistently surprised by how

81

: 00:04:48

ready and willing the Diocese of

Maryland is to love their bishop.

82

: 00:04:54

I thought that I would have to hustle

for my self worth or hustle for

83

: 00:04:58

belonging here and I've never felt that.

84

: 00:05:02

people were just ready to receive

the new bishop, with open arms

85

: 00:05:08

and that's felt really beautiful.

86

: 00:05:12

Lauren Welch: That's wonderful.

87

: 00:05:13

And I think, again, as Jon said, you

invite that kind of relationship, and I

88

: 00:05:18

know that relationship is important to

you, and you invite people to want to have

89

: 00:05:25

a relationship with you, so thank you.

90

: 00:05:29

what do you think the

future of our church is?

91

: 00:05:34

Bishop Carrie: I am very hopeful.

92

: 00:05:36

about the future of our church.

93

: 00:05:38

if I'm listening to what I'm hearing

across the diocese, our churches are

94

: 00:05:45

growing, average Sunday attendance

numbers don't always show that

95

: 00:05:49

because our most, faithful and regular

attenders, it used to be that they

96

: 00:05:54

were there every single Sunday and now

church attendance is just different.

97

: 00:05:59

People may come every other

Sunday or maybe once a month

98

: 00:06:02

because They're balancing all

that life is throwing at them.

99

: 00:06:06

but I hear consistently across the

diocese that our churches are welcoming

100

: 00:06:11

new people, and they're staying.

101

: 00:06:14

The Episcopal Church, I think, is

especially well suited for this time, and

102

: 00:06:19

I know I'm completely biased, but I'll

just speak, you know, as an Episcopalian.

103

: 00:06:24

we know how to hold the middle road, and

across our diocese, Our congregations

104

: 00:06:32

know how to have deep, real relationships

and conversations across differences

105

: 00:06:39

and divides in ways that, are not

happening in other spaces in the country.

106

: 00:06:45

I hear this lament from people,

online and throughout society.

107

: 00:06:51

Where are these places that people

can go to have Real conversations with

108

: 00:06:55

people who have different opinions.

109

: 00:06:57

where can we go where conversations

are civil and people know how to get

110

: 00:07:01

along places where those things can

happen, I think, are an endangered

111

: 00:07:06

species and our Episcopal Church is

holding those spaces really well.

112

: 00:07:15

so Bishop Carrie, would you say that?

113

: 00:07:16

There's some real intentionality about

that, in terms of, it's not just something

114

: 00:07:22

that is spontaneously happening, but it's

that it's being kind of nurtured because

115

: 00:07:28

it seems to me that there's so much,

you know, we use the word polarization.

116

: 00:07:33

Jon Shematek: the question really

does come up is, to what extent do

117

: 00:07:36

you see this as part of our call to be

followers of Jesus and the Jesus way?

118

: 00:07:43

Bishop Carrie: I think it's absolutely

rooted in our call to follow Jesus to

119

: 00:07:47

make sure that relationships are at the

center and that we're looking to the

120

: 00:07:51

margins and making sure that people feel

welcome and included and that they belong.

121

: 00:07:58

I think it's part of our.

122

: 00:07:59

Cultural heritage as Episcopalians,

one of the good parts of our cultural

123

: 00:08:04

heritage, it's, one of the ways we live

out our core values, and there are some

124

: 00:08:09

congregations that are noticing that

and living into that intentionally.

125

: 00:08:13

But I think because it's woven

into the fabric of who we are.

126

: 00:08:18

we sometimes live that out

without intentionality as well.

127

: 00:08:23

Jon Shematek: I'm reminded of many

church signs Episcopal churches say

128

: 00:08:28

the Episcopal church welcomes you.

129

: 00:08:30

people have that in different ways,

the banners they put up, and so on.

130

: 00:08:33

there will be some non Episcopalians

and non Christians who will

131

: 00:08:37

be listening or watching this.

132

: 00:08:39

it's a wonderful message You are so

committed to, people at the margins the

133

: 00:08:46

economically disadvantaged and victims

of racism and gender issues and LGBTQIA

134

: 00:08:53

plus, communities, which I know you

are absolutely committed to personally.

135

: 00:08:59

And for the church.

136

: 00:09:02

Bishop Carrie: Absolutely.

137

: 00:09:04

it is a source of such joy for me that the

Episcopal Church can offer a warm welcome,

138

: 00:09:11

to people who have been hurt by other

expressions of Christianity, that our

139

: 00:09:19

congregations are safe places for people.

140

: 00:09:22

I think sometimes in our efforts

to be inclusive there's a shadow

141

: 00:09:26

side that I've seen, sometimes,

142

: 00:09:30

We've run into churches that take

this all are welcome message and they

143

: 00:09:36

shift it unintentionally to say that

All behaviors are welcome in church.

144

: 00:09:45

all people are welcome in church, but not

all behaviors I've seen some congregations

145

: 00:09:49

throughout my career, lack the spine

to stand up to bullies or to people who

146

: 00:09:57

are, not making the church a safe place.

147

: 00:10:00

I'm beginning to see a shift in our

churches to, some more backbone to say all

148

: 00:10:04

people are welcome, but not all behaviors.

149

: 00:10:06

Are welcome in our church.

150

: 00:10:08

I have a sign in my office.

151

: 00:10:10

I can't, I can't see it from

here, but it says all y'all are

152

: 00:10:14

welcome, but you got to act right.

153

: 00:10:16

I think that's, part of being A

welcoming, open, affirming church

154

: 00:10:21

we need to make sure our behaviors

are in line with our values

155

: 00:10:25

Jon Shematek: That is such a profound

statement because I'm reminded about

156

: 00:10:31

over the centuries how the scriptures

have been misused and how the church has

157

: 00:10:35

been misused to hurt people, as you said.

158

: 00:10:37

So this is.

159

: 00:10:38

Great to know that we stand up

for not that, but for people to

160

: 00:10:42

actually be like Christ to everyone.

161

: 00:10:47

Bishop Carrie: which is easy to

say but not always easy to do

162

: 00:10:50

Jon Shematek: It's the lifelong task

163

: 00:10:53

Bishop Carrie: it's a good task

164

: 00:10:56

Lauren Welch: Lifelong is good task, but

to follow Jesus It's just not something

165

: 00:11:01

that we have to intentionally do that

It's not something that necessarily

166

: 00:11:06

comes, normal or, easy for all of us.

167

: 00:11:10

So to be intentional, I think that's

what you're talking about, right?

168

: 00:11:14

Bishop Carrie: Absolutely.

169

: 00:11:15

And it's counter cultural.

170

: 00:11:17

To follow Jesus, to rely and lean into

community instead of being, self reliant

171

: 00:11:22

and self focused, to think about the good

of the whole instead of self interest.

172

: 00:11:26

That's not a message we hear

in wider society as much.

173

: 00:11:33

Jon Shematek: I think you've really

given us some good, insights into,

174

: 00:11:36

dealing with, polarization and so on.

175

: 00:11:39

And I think so much of it does go

back to, respecting the dignity

176

: 00:11:43

of every human being, which our

baptismal covenant calls us to do.

177

: 00:11:47

Lauren Welch: Bishop Carrie,

178

: 00:11:48

since you are the first woman who has

been elected as our Diocesan Bishop,

179

: 00:11:54

how has the ordination of women

influenced you and your ministry?

180

: 00:12:01

Bishop Carrie: Yeah, thank you.

181

: 00:12:03

So, I was born in 1974.

182

: 00:12:05

Which is the year, when, women were

first ordained in the Episcopal Church.

183

: 00:12:10

granted in my early years I

wasn't really tracking on that.

184

: 00:12:15

my, my family, all grew up

Catholic, Roman Catholic.

185

: 00:12:20

And when my parents had girls they decided

it was time to find another church, and

186

: 00:12:26

found a home in the Episcopal Church.

187

: 00:12:28

they, they even, even then were

chafing against, you know, the,

188

: 00:12:32

the local parish's custom that the

girls couldn't be on the altar, and

189

: 00:12:36

they didn't see women in leadership.

190

: 00:12:38

They switched to the Episcopal Church,

which, liturgically they found very

191

: 00:12:42

comfortable like home, and they found

a beautiful, Christian community in

192

: 00:12:47

our little town and our little church,

and their best friends were there.

193

: 00:12:52

five years after I was ordained,

my mother was ordained as a priest.

194

: 00:12:57

I always remember seeing women priests,

even though our parish priest was a man.

195

: 00:13:02

we had supply priests that were women.

196

: 00:13:05

as soon as I got involved in

the wider church and youth

197

: 00:13:08

ministry, there was women priests.

198

: 00:13:10

you know, I'd go to convention and I'd see

women priests get up to the microphone.

199

: 00:13:14

representation can't be underestimated

to be, we're incarnational people.

200

: 00:13:19

And for me to be able to see ministry.

201

: 00:13:23

Embodied by people who, looked more

similar to me was really important.

202

: 00:13:30

a pivotal time in my call was when

I served, in the official youth

203

: 00:13:35

presence at a general convention.

204

: 00:13:38

in the late 90s in Phoenix, Arizona.

205

: 00:13:41

I remember looking around

and seeing people in collars.

206

: 00:13:45

Of all sorts I thought, maybe

this is something I could do.

207

: 00:13:49

Maybe this is a profession that

I could see myself and maybe

208

: 00:13:52

this is a call I could follow.

209

: 00:13:54

that's been really important.

210

: 00:13:56

I want to say a word about, women

mentors who have, walked with me in so

211

: 00:14:02

many ways on this journey we caution

one another, we lift one another

212

: 00:14:08

up, we listen to one another having.

213

: 00:14:11

Women, colleagues, mentors, supports

in ministry has made me the leader.

214

: 00:14:15

I am today.

215

: 00:14:21

Lauren Welch: think that having, and

having you, as our 1st, Bishop who, who

216

: 00:14:29

is a woman has, has brought life to the

church in a way that wasn't there before.

217

: 00:14:37

I see a lot of energy, in, in our, in

our churches that, and it's different.

218

: 00:14:43

It's just.

219

: 00:14:44

there is, there is a difference.

220

: 00:14:46

I think people are excited, about

having someone, who, looks like them.

221

: 00:14:52

the little girls, I mean, it's making

a big difference in their lives.

222

: 00:14:57

I know that I'm really

grateful for your ministry.

223

: 00:15:00

Bishop Carrie: Thank you.

224

: 00:15:01

Thank you, Lauren.

225

: 00:15:02

That means a lot to me.

226

: 00:15:04

Lauren Welch: you are just

back from the Holy Land.

227

: 00:15:07

I love the pictures.

228

: 00:15:10

It was wonderful.

229

: 00:15:11

I felt like I was over there.

230

: 00:15:14

So tell us about your experience.

231

: 00:15:17

Bishop Carrie: thank you.

232

: 00:15:17

I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

233

: 00:15:19

That was my hope is that I could kind

of bring people along, along with me.

234

: 00:15:24

I think there's a sometimes I feel

there's a bit of a risk on social

235

: 00:15:28

media I don't want my posts to ever.

236

: 00:15:32

Show like, oh, look what I get to do,

but it's an experience I don't want

237

: 00:15:37

to keep to myself it was an incredible

privilege to be able to travel and

238

: 00:15:42

go on pilgrimage in the Holy Land.

239

: 00:15:44

what a trying and wild time it is there.

240

: 00:15:48

are people are really suffering.

241

: 00:15:53

Before I went, I definitely

understood, the economic impact of

242

: 00:15:58

not having pilgrims in the Holy Land.

243

: 00:16:02

But I underestimated what a spiritual

gift so many people have there for

244

: 00:16:11

sharing their land and their stories

and their faith and their experiences.

245

: 00:16:17

people seemed hungry to tell the story

246

: 00:16:23

and to share it.

247

: 00:16:24

and in that way, it felt very good to be

there, to be able to receive those gifts.

248

: 00:16:31

we had so many incredible

opportunities and we just felt

249

: 00:16:34

so richly blessed by all of this.

250

: 00:16:36

people kept thanking us for being

there and we're like, Oh, we're the

251

: 00:16:39

ones who are thankful to be here.

252

: 00:16:41

Why are you thanking us?

253

: 00:16:43

But there was something deeply,

deeply spiritually real that

254

: 00:16:46

was happening as people shared.

255

: 00:16:49

What was holy and precious for them in

that place, even when we went to Haram al

256

: 00:16:55

Sharif, which is also known as the Temple

Mount, and there's, Al Aqsa Mosque, and

257

: 00:17:00

the Dome of the Rock, there is a museum on

that complex, And the folks in the museum

258

: 00:17:05

took us around it's an Islamic museum.

259

: 00:17:08

And they were like, look this

is the biggest Quran ever.

260

: 00:17:11

This is one of the 10 oldest and they

were so overjoyed to share their stories.

261

: 00:17:16

So it wasn't just Christians who were,

overjoyed to share what they had.

262

: 00:17:21

but It is hard for people

to live there right now.

263

: 00:17:23

It is hard.

264

: 00:17:25

we understand the ministry of

presence, that being with people

265

: 00:17:29

who are suffering matters.

266

: 00:17:31

I had a lot of questions

as I prepared for the trip.

267

: 00:17:36

How could I help in this situation with

all of this suffering that's happening?

268

: 00:17:43

How could one small,

insignificant person help.

269

: 00:17:48

we all know that ministry is built

on relationships and relationships

270

: 00:17:54

require, tending to, and that in

the midst of suffering, having

271

: 00:18:00

someone present with us is helpful.

272

: 00:18:02

some of my takeaways from the trip.

273

: 00:18:08

Jon Shematek: Thanks so much for

that, Bishop, and thanks for bringing

274

: 00:18:12

us Maryland, to the Holy Land.

275

: 00:18:16

The times are so difficult, and the

folks that would normally think, gosh,

276

: 00:18:24

I'd really like to go on pilgrimage

are holding back for a while.

277

: 00:18:28

But personally, for me, I loved

your stories and pictures as well.

278

: 00:18:32

I went on a diocesan pilgrimage 14

years ago with Bishop Sutton and I was

279

: 00:18:40

reliving some of those moments, although

we were not permitted at that time to

280

: 00:18:44

go into any of the, Islam holy sites.

281

: 00:18:46

we were kind of out in the courtyard.

282

: 00:18:49

Bishop Carrie: That's where I

had been on my first pilgrimage.

283

: 00:18:53

I was amazed that we were invited in

and, that seemed really important.

284

: 00:18:59

The people who showed us

around wanted us to see.

285

: 00:19:03

Jon Shematek: That's Great.

286

: 00:19:05

So Bishop Carrie, do you have any final

words you'd like to share with us, advice?

287

: 00:19:13

Anything, that our viewers and listeners

might be interested in hearing that

288

: 00:19:17

you would like to tell us about?

289

: 00:19:20

Bishop Carrie: I'm so pleased with

the work you're doing, to do this

290

: 00:19:25

work, week after week, month after

month, to share the good news.

291

: 00:19:30

you all are having real conversations

about things that matter and reminding us

292

: 00:19:35

that even in the midst of struggle and,

unrest and political divisions God is

293

: 00:19:42

still weaving a story that is good news.

294

: 00:19:45

I appreciate your commitment to showing

up in this space and pointing to those

295

: 00:19:51

good news stories, not to joy wash things

or pretend everything's perfect, but

296

: 00:19:57

to remind us that light is shining in

the darkness and that God is at work.

297

: 00:20:02

even as many of us feel,

ill at ease in these times.

298

: 00:20:07

thank you so much.

299

: 00:20:10

Jon Shematek: Thank you, Bishop.

300

: 00:20:11

we appreciate your presence, your

time, your thoughts, your words.

301

: 00:20:15

thank you for being here with us today.

302

: 00:20:18

Bishop Carrie: And I

appreciate your ministry.

303

: 00:20:20

look at the deacons.

304

: 00:20:20

Deacons are here at work.

305

: 00:20:24

Jon Shematek: We are.

306

: 00:20:25

Digital deacons are at it.

307

: 00:20:27

Bishop Carrie: I love it.

308

: 00:20:28

Jon Shematek: Yeah.

309

: 00:20:29

Lauren Welch: Deacons rock.

310

: 00:20:31

thank you so much, Bishop

Carrie, for being with us.

311

: 00:20:34

Jon and I want to thank all who are

listening and watching with us today.

312

: 00:20:40

Until next time, peace and blessings.

313

: 00:20:45

Dolores: This episode of

Good News has been brought to

314

: 00:20:47

you by Listening for Clues.

315

: 00:20:48

For more podcasts, check out

our YouTube channel or our

316

: 00:20:52

website listening for clues.com

317

: 00:20:54

or just about any audio podcast platform.

318

: 00:20:57

Be sure to comment, like or share.

319

: 00:21:00

Thanks for being with us today.