When the Rt. Rev. Edwin F. “Ted” Gulick, Jr., announced his decision to retire as Bishop of Kentucky, he was clear about the timing and his destination. He would leave by August 2010 and move back to Virginia, where he was a rector in Newport News for 11 years before being elected a bishop.
Bishop Gulick will not pause from episcopal duties for long. He will begin visiting parishes Sept. 12 as one of five “guest bishops” who agreed to assist the Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston, Bishop of Virginia, during 2010. On New Year’s Day in 2011 he will become assistant bishop.
“this is an unexpected pleasure. We are honored by your presence…”
“You may dispense with the pleasantries. I’m here to put you back on schedule.”
“I assure you, my people are working as fast as they can.”
“Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them.”
Vagans.
+Gulick is only 62 years old. I didn’t see any indication in the TLC article of how long he was asked to commit himself to serving as Assistant Bishop in VA, if indeed any length to his term was agreed upon. But one thing is for sure: he’s no +Francis Gray, the much-loved former assistant bishop under +Peter Lee who served for about five years. +Gray (former diocesan of N. IND before retiring) is far more orthodox than Gulick and opposed the consecration of Gene Robinson. Ted Gulick notoriously allowed himself to be used as the rump bishop of the make-believe new diocese in Ft. Worth, a shameful farce.
+Shannon Johnston has blown the chance to try to balance the “college” or team of bishops in VA by selecting someone more conservative than he is or +David Jones is, as his predecessor +Lee had done. Too bad, but I’m not surprised by that unfortunate decision; now that so many conservative churches have left the Diocese of VA, there is little need to placate the conservative wing anymore.
What does surprise me is that VA is hiring a third bishop at all, when its finances have taken such a huge hit. I figured that +Johnston and Jones would try to get by with just some retired bishops doing weekend work in their spare time. To hire a 3rd bishop is a gutsy choice in that sense, but it may also be reckless, as VA shows every sign of being in a downward tailspin.
David Handy+
Thank you for your substantive comments Fr. Handy.