The five candidates seeking to become the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, which includes Worcester County, come from diverse backgrounds and include a former music industry executive, a former Roman Catholic priest and book editor, and a former banker.
Clergy and lay delegates will vote on a new bishop Saturday at Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield.
Pending the consent of the church’s 77th General Convention, which will be held in July, the new prelate will be ordained Dec. 1 during ceremonies at the MassMutual Center, also in Springfield.
Looking at the Diocesan website, I see the Obligatory Token 5: the token shaved head guy, the token goofy looking gaunt guy, the token woman, the token hippie looking guy with weird hair, and the token grey beard. No gays or minorities, but otherwise standard TEC bishop fare.
How is Dio. Western Mass. going?
The Dio lost about 25 percent of its ASA from 2002 to 2010. The Dio has managed thee loss in ASA plus the lousy economy rather well with inflation adjusted Plate & Pledge down about 10 percent. But it follows the TEC patern with Infant Baptisms down 32 percent and Marraiges down 46 percent. Statmann
Many thanks Statmann. Semper firmus.
Statman continues his divisive swathe through T19 threads I see. How many years will he be filled with such bitter, patriarchal, rigid conceptions of “truth” and “statistics” which, even if such existed would be irrelevant to the dreams and visions of a spirit-led peoples, yearning to breathe free and rest their collective heads on the inclusive breast of the Great Mother.
[i]How long will this go on?[/i]
They all seem harmless enough. I like Pendleton because his wife can cook. That’s as good a reason as any to elect someone a bishop in TEC these days.
Statmann, thanks, it was clear in my church years ago where they were headed. Western Mass was insulated from the “abortion is a blessing” crowd for years but it all finally got hold of the conservative diocese. When you have left the Bible, there isn’t much remaining. West mass will be lost and absorbed soon. Many parishes beginning the move to share a priest, that’s the first step following apostacy.
lostdesert, which parish were/are you?