Episcopal Press and News

Bishop James Ottley announces return to Diocese of Long Island

Episcopal News Service. March 29, 2007 [032907-05]

The Rt. Rev. James H. Ottley, assistant bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, announced that he will return to the Diocese of Long Island, effective June 1.

Ottley, who has been in the Diocese of Southeast Florida since 2001, made the announcement at the diocese's March 27 executive board meeting saying, "I have had a good ministry here."

He explained that his decision to return to Long Island was based on both a sense of being called by the Holy Spirit and personal considerations. Bishop Orris G. Walker Jr. of Long Island has been without Episcopal assistance since the retirement of Bishop Suffragan Rodney R. Michel earlier this year.

Ottley served as Bishop of Panama until 1995 when he was appointed Anglican Observer at the United Nations by the Anglican Consultative Council and the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 2000, he became interim bishop of the Diocese of Honduras, serving until the consecration of Bishop Lloyd Allen.

Ottley received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Caribbean, in Puerto Rico, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1964. He returned to Panama as a priest and on January 21, 1984 was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Panama. He served simultaneously as Bishop of the Diocese of El Salvador from 1985-1992.

Southeast Florida Bishop Leo Frade said he does not plan to call for another assistant bishop at this time. Instead he has asked retired Bishop Calvin O. Schofield, and retired Suffragan Bishop John Said, both of the Diocese of Southeast Florida, along with retired Bishop Onell Soto of the Diocese of Venezuela, to assist with visitations and confirmations.