985 comments on “Nominations Open!”

1. Dorcas
   Bede
   Julian of Norwich

2. I recommend and nominate Anna Pauline (Pauli) Murray. She was the first woman of color ordained priest of the Episcopal Church, a crusader for human rights for all, a writer, and (incidentally or not) a Lesbian who would probably be considered Transgendered in today's understanding. Her writings indicate that she always felt like a man trapped in a woman's body. Withal, her life attests to grace, faith, fire for the kingdom of God, and great courage. She has been approved for inclusion in TEC's calendar of saints by General Convention, and her feast day is 1 July.

   1. WOW! WOW! WOW!

   2. I strongly second Pauli Murray

3. Macrina (the Younger): In a society where women were expected to marry and have children, Macrina refuses to remarry after her betrothed dies. She stays at home, helping her mom raise her 9 siblings, and she embraces the ascetic life, baking bread (like a servant) and dedicating herself to prayer, vigils, etc. She saves orphans, performs miracles, leads the female part of the family's double monastery, and has an impact on her brother, Gregory of Nyssa (and, according to Gregory, on Basil the Great, too).
   Gregory of Nazianzus: A fourth century bishop who never wanted to be a leader, Gregory was forced into the episcopate by his father and friend, Basil the Great. Gregory's theological orations had tremendous impact on Trinitarian and Christological debates at the time, but his love of poetry (which he himself composed) as well as his dedication to his family merit equal consideration. He showed that one can lead the church while still caring for family--a mama's boy, he cared for his extraordinarily old parents until their death, and he praised his (married!) sister as well as his brother, father, and mother in three splendid funeral orations. He also revealed that theological prowess doesn't preclude love of art/poetry/beauty. He also could be dramatic! After demonstrating his lack of political acumen at the Council of Constantinople, Gregory practiced silence, not speaking during Lent of 382.

4. St James of Jerusalem

5. Saint John

6. I nominate Hildegard Von Bingen.

   1. Second!

   2. I was just coming here to put in a nomination, so ... thirded! I listened to BBC's Great Lives Podcast a few months ago and they covered her life, which was so interesting, plus her achievements were pretty extraordinary for the time.

7. And Dunstan!

8. Some nominations to consider:

   Augustine
   Bede
   Thomas Aquinas
   John Calvin
   Charles Spurgeon (he would despise such a tournament)

   And finally, one of my favorite preachers and teachers...
   Fulton Sheen

9. Lancelot Andrews, John Donne, Hannah More, Dorothy Sayers, Verna Dozier

10. Bishop Kemper

11. John Mason Neale and Margaret of Antioch

12. Kathy Hartley, Thurgood Marshall is considered a saint with a feast day, no less! And I enthusiastically second his nomination!!!

13. Egria (4th century pilgrim)
    Monica (mother of Augustine)
    Marcina the Elder (mother of Basil)
    Macrina the Younger (granddaughter of Macrina the Elder)
    Christine de Pizan
    Margery Kempe
    Marguerite Porete

    1. Second Margery Kempe and Marguerite Porete....

       1. Yes! Kempe and Porete are fascinating. I'll "third"!
          I'd have nominated Porete myself but didn't think she was on anyone's calendar, what with her ah burning desire to sidestep the authority of the official church of her time and continue telling people about God anyways.

14. I'd like to see St. Alban, Britain's first Christian known by name and first martyr. How about one of those unnamed saints in John: The Man Born Blind or The Woman at the Well.

15. I should like to nominate Susannah Wesley, mother of this year's winner Charles and nominee John. Wife of Anglican priest Samuel Wesley and a woman clearly ahead of her time in education and influence, this mother of 19 children was the primary influence in the lives of Charles and John. She also kept the congregations of husband Samuel Wesley moving along when he spent his time in debtors prison. Never at a loss for advice, Susannah even chastised her son John for not allowing circuit riding women to be called preachers. Some of them, she claimed, were better than her beloved John at proclaiming the Gospel. Clearly, without her the Methodist movement may never have had the impact it did.

16. Tom Penna, I thank you. I teach US History in high school, and every year I tell me students that my church celebrates Thurgood Marshall, and I share his life story as part of our study of Brown vs Topeka Board of Education. Hopefully the kids are impressed!

    1. I'm so pleased to hear of your efforts with your students, Kathy! We hear so much invective these days aimed at public servants. I believe we should be celebrating them! And Thurgood Marshall is an excellent and praiseworthy example.

17. Tikhon, Patriarch of Russia, Confessor, and Ecumenist - April 7
    Mary(Molly) Brant (Konwatsijayemi), Witness to the Faith Among Mohawks - April 16
    Jon Hus, Witness and Martyr - July 6
    Hildegard - September 17
    Teresa of Avila, Nun - October 15

18. I humbly propose for your consideration:
    Frances Joseph Gaudet
    St Thomas the Apostle
    Thomas a Kempis

19. Julian of Norwich

20. I nominate Alban--First English Martyr. I believe he would stand bravely against any bracketorial (saintly) adversary.

21. Bede
    Sojourner Truth (my favorite heroine)
    John Donne
    James Weldon Johnson
    Jan Hus
    Washington Gladden
    Count von Zinzendorf (for my supposed Moravian ancestors.

22. I'd like to nominate Paul Tillich. I hope the Supreme Executive Committee will consider this.

    1. YES!

23. Nominations:
    Venerable Bede
    Francis of Assisi
    St. George
    Roger of Taize
    John Wycliffe
    William Tyndale
    J.R.R. Tolkien (yes I am serious)
    Margery Kempe
    Brigid of Kildare
    St. Swithun
    George Fox
    Edith Stein
    Meister Eckhart
    Hildegard of Bingen
    St. Anne the mother of Mary

    I also support the many who would add Fred Rogers.

24. I'd like to nominate Paul Tillich. I hope the Supreme Executive Committee will carefully consider this nomination.

25. I see several names up above that I would consider voting for. Here are my nominations:
    1. Martin Luther King, Jr.
    2. Martin Luther
    3. Mother Theresa

    I consider Walt Disney and Jim Hensen to be saints, but doubt they have been canonized by anybody.

26. St. Francis of Assisi. Come on folks!

27. Well, we've talked about Fred Rogers, so, lets do it. And why not include his friend to be his neighbor on the list...Fr. Charles Cesaretti.

    1. Yes indeed

    2. Yes indeed, and thank you Carol. Excellent idea.

28. John Donne

29. Julian of Norwich

30. How about St. Stephen, Deacon and first Christian martyr.

    1. Second!! Second!! Second!! (And of course no connection to my serving a church named St. Stephen's...!)