Episcopal Press and News
Birney Consecrated 10th Bishop of Idaho
Episcopal News Service. October 14, 1982 [82217]
BOISE, Idaho (DPS, Oct. 14) -- David Bell Birney IV was ordained and consecrated tenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho in August before a congregation of more than 1,000 persons in St. John's Roman Catholic Cathedral here.
The service began with a procession from St. Michael's, the smaller sized Episcopal Cathedral three blocks away, to the larger St. John's Cathedral. Included among the participants were some 20 bishops, notably the Most Rev. Alastair I.M. Haggart, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church -- who happened to be visiting nearby -- and the Most. Rev. Sylvester Trienen, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Boise. The Chief Consecrator was the Rt. Rev. John Maury Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, from New York. The Co-consecrators, chosen by the bishop-elect to assist, were: the Rt. Rev. Lloyd E. Gressle, Birney's bishop when he started his ministry in the Diocese of Bethlehem, Penn.; the Rt. Rev. Hanford L. King, Jr., retired bishop of Idaho; the Rt. Rev. C. Shannon Mallory, bishop of El Camino Real, in California, and formerly of Botswana where Birney was his assistant; and the Rt. Rev. Christopher Senyonjo, bishop of West Buganda, Church of Uganda, whose family lived next to the Birneys when both taught at Bishop Tucker Theological Seminary there.
Other national staff people participated in the service, in addition to the Presiding Bishop. The preacher was the Rev. Samuel Van Culin, Executive for World Mission in Church and Society, for whom Birney worked as Coordinator of Overseas Ministries for the last six years. He called Birney one of the Episcopal Church's great missionaries and charged him not only to be faithful to God and the people of the Diocese of Idaho, but also to be faithful to himself and his family, guarding from over-work. Having known Birney for 30 years, he said, "Your life has been full of surprises because you have always been faithful to God's call. You did not think you would be a bishop, you did not seek out the episcopate. It is a surprise to you that you are here today. It is because you have been faithful that you are."
Two women priests from Birney's Church Center staff participated: the Rev. Rachelle Birnbaum read the Litany for Ordinations, and the Rev. Page Bigelow con-celebrated with three Idaho priests. The Rev. Edward Geyer, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Presiding Bishop, was the registrar for the consecration, seeing to it that all documents were properly signed.
The new bishop's wife, Ginny, and his sons, David, 8, and Robby, 3, carried the elements to the table for the Holy Eucharist. Many persons helped in many ways as presenters; readers of testimonials documenting that Birney had been duly elected and his election had been properly endorsed by the majority of standing committees and bishops of the Episcopal Church; as lectors; bearers of gifts for the new bishop; deacons; musicians; banner bearers; acolytes; ushers; and ministers of communion.
Following the consecration of the new bishop, the congregation clapped for over a minute. Once again, when he emerged from the Cathedral, at the end of the processional, the 200 participants waiting outside once more applauded.
Following the service, a reception was held in Boise's Municipal Park. Birney, a 52-year-old native of New Orleans, attended Emerson College in Boston and received a bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa. He received a master of divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1955.