Episcopal Press and News
RIO GRANDE: Diocese announces bishop nominees
Episcopal News Service. January 19, 2010 [011910-04]
Pat McCaughan
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Rio Grande has announced five nominees for their next bishop.
The candidates are:
- The Rev. Ellis Tucker Bowerfind, 51, rector, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Alexandria, (Diocese of Virginia);
- The Rev. James Harlan, 43, rector, Church of the Ascension, Denver (Diocese of Colorado);
- The Rev. Jedediah D. Holdorph II, 51, rector of St. Mark's Church, in Medford, (Diocese of Oregon);
- The Rev. John Nieman, 50 rector, Holy Trinity Church, Clemson, (Diocese of Upper South Carolina);
- The Rev. Dr. Michael D. Vono, 61, rector, St. Paul's Within the Walls), Rome, Italy, (Convocation of American Churches in Europe).
"The entire standing committee expressed excitement at the level of the nominees that are being put forward," said Diane Butler, chair of the diocesan communications committee and parish administrator of St. Thomas of Canterbury Church.
The Jan. 18 announcement also opened the way for a process by which clergy and laity in the diocese can nominate other candidates. The petition process began Jan. 19 and the deadline for those nominations is Feb. 1.
Information about that process is available here.The election will take place during an April 24 special electing convention at the Cathedral of St. John, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"The standing committe is very happy with the bishop nominees and would be delighted with any of them as bishop," said the Rev. Canon Colin Kelly, president of the diocesan standing committee.
The consecration of the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Rio Grande is expected to take place Oct. 22 during the diocesan convention in Albuquerque. The bishop will be seated at the Cathedral of St. John the following Sunday, according to Butler.