Today in the American Episcopal Church we remember with thanksgiving Paul Jone, Bishop and Peace Activist, 1880-1941.

                                                    Psalm 31:5

Into your hands I commend my spirit, 

for you

have redeemed me, 

O Lord, O God of  truth.  

Paul Jones was born in 1880 in the rectory of St Stephen’s Church, Wilkes-Barre PA (near where my kids live.) He became a priest and offered to serve a mission in Logan, Utah. In 1914 he was appointed Archdeacon of the Mission-ary District of Utah. Later that year he was elected their Bishop. 

Against war as "unchristian," with the US entry into WW1, his views became increasingly controversial and, in 1918, under pressure from the House of Bishops, he resigned his see. Until his death  23 years later, on this day in 1941, he "continued a ministry within the Church dedicated to peace and conscience speaking, always with conviction and gentleness rooted in the Gospel.” In 1939 he founded The Episcopal Pacifist Fellowship, which name was later changed to The Episcopal Peace Fellowship. 

(With thanks to   Holy Women,Holy Men,  to which I often refer  and to a neat website I found today called Credal Christian.) 

        Pray today for all who work and pray for peace and justice; for all who  suffer for the sake of 

conscience; for those engaged in the  hard work of diplomacy, bridge building and reconciliation  both at home & abroad.