Episcopal Press and News
Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries nominees announced
Episcopal News Service. February 8, 2010 [020810-06]
ENS staff
A nominating committee of the Episcopal Church Feb. 8 announced the names of six candidates to become the sixth bishop suffragan for federal ministries.
The bishop suffragan for federal ministries is responsible for the pastoral care and oversight of U.S. Armed Forces chaplains, military personnel and families, federal hospitals, prisons, correctional facilities and the eucharistic communities related to military installations.
Current Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries George E. Packard is scheduled to retire in May.
The election for Packard's successor will be held during the March meeting of the House of Bishops at Camp Allen, Texas. Pending successful completion of the consent process, consecration will occur June 19 at National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori presiding, according to a release due to be posted here by the church's Office of Public Affairs.
Pending successful completion of background checks, the nominees include:
- The Rev. Carl Andrews, 61, a U.S. Air Force colonel and chaplain stationed at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas.
- The Rev James "Jay" Magness, 63, canon for mission and diocesan administration in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.
- The Rev. Babs Meairs, 59, field coordinator in the Office of the Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries.
- The Rev. C. Christopher Thompson, 56, rector, Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- The Rev. John Weatherly, 58, Joint Force Headquarters (Virginia) chaplain and rector, St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
- The Rev. Carl W. Wright, 50, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and chaplain Air Force Global Strike Command stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana.
The nominating committee included: Charlotte Greeson (U.S. Navy), Chair Alice J. Harshey-Bischoff (Air Force Reserve), Linda Leibhart (Army Reserve), Thomas Rardin (Veterans Administration chaplain), Sarah Shirley (Air National Guard chaplain), Mary Staley (U.S. Air Force, retired), Edward Thielen (U.S. Army, retired), Elizabeth Walker (federal prison chaplain) and Christine Waweru (U.S. Army chaplain).
Nominees by petition will be accepted Feb. 8 -12. For more info contact Central Pennsylvania Bishop Nathan Baxter at bishop@diocesecpa.org, or Office of Pastoral Development Bishop Clay Matthews at cmatthews@episcopalchurch.org.