DWTX from Anaheim – Episcopal News Service — The Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF) on July 11 honored former Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning and his wife, Patti, as “living examples of Christ’s prophetic witness” with the John Nevin Sayre Peace Award.
Surrounded by family, friends, and former colleagues — including West Texas Deputy Robert Browning, Edmond’s brother, and Robert’s wife Marylee — the Brownings were given a copy of an icon originally commissioned for former Utah Bishop Paul Jones, a pacifist forced to resign his episcopate because of his opposition to World War I. The Sayre award is named after a founding member of the U.S. branch of the interfaith Fellowship of Reconciliation, which was instrumental in founding EPF in 1939. Both organizations advocate for peace and nonviolent conflict resolution.
Former Presiding Bishop Browning grew up in the Diocese of West Texas where he was active at Camp Capers as a young person. After his ordination, he served Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi (1954 to 1956), and Church of the Redeemer, Eagle Pass (1956 to 1959). He later became Bishop of Okinawa and then Bishop of Hawaii, serving as Presiding Bishop from 1985 to 1997.
Brian Grieves, outgoing director of the Episcopal Church’s advocacy center, recounted how Browning went to a leper colony soon after arriving as bishop of Okinawa. “Receiving the instructions on how the service would proceed, he was told that the leprosy patients who would be confirmed would have a lovely linen doily placed on their heads, so the bishop could lay hands on their heads without touching them.
“Ed Browning said, ‘I don’t think we’ll be needing the doilies,’ and for the first time he laid his hands upon the confirmands and touched them,” Grieves said.
Grieves also described walking down Second Avenue in New York with Patti Browning. “There would be a homeless person on the side of the street. Patti would say, ‘Brian, give him a dollar.’ And I did, although I was always a little skeptical.”
“Patti is not skeptical,” said Grieves. “Patti has such a passion for the marginalized and oppressed people and poor people and identified so deeply with them because she, too, has the heart of a pastor. And that’s why we are honoring these two people tonight, out of that deep sense of pastoral care.”
Accepting the award, Browning said, “I think this has been one of the most meaningful things that has happened during the course of our time together and our ministry together.
“We feel extremely blessed and loved in a way that … has meant everything in the world to us,” he said. “We both have shared that sense the last few hours.”
– by Sharon Sheridan, copy editor of Episcopal Life, revised.
Tags: Browning, Presiding Bishop
As a former resident of Hawaii it was wonderful to read of the honor given to former Presiding Bishop Browning. I was very involved with IHS in Hawaii ( feeding the homeless) and with the late Fr. DuTeil. Bishop Browning was a blessing to Hawaii and we were very fortunate to have both he and his wife, Patti as our ohana ( family ).
Aloha nui loa,
Jacquie Baker
Dir. Newcomer Ministry
St. Francis Episcopal Church, San Antonio, TX