Noting that he is now in his 19th year as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE today announced his call for the election of a bishop coadjutor to succeed him upon his retirement. The proposed date for the electing convention is April 5, 2014.
“I love being your bishop and it is an honor to serve you,” Shaw said in a letter announcing his decision, sent today to diocesan clergy and leadership. “These years have been some of the richest years of my life. All of you and this work have taught me much about myself and the nature of our loving God for which I will always be grateful. I am full of gratitude for all that God has given us to do: the challenges God has offered us, the opportunities and all the experiences of God’s abundance which we have experienced in our life together.”
Can’t wait to see that slate of nominees. If the bookies in London placed odds on this election, I’m sure Mally Lloyd (canon to the ordinary) would be on top.
I noticed that “[t]he Standing Committee will meet . . . with the Rt. Rev. Clay Matthews, the Episcopal Church’s bishop for pastoral development, to begin its work . . .” Is this typical or merely another sign of the New Order of things?
Shaw’s last day = X
Shaw gets married = X+3