Episcopal Press and News
Western Michigan Elects Lee
Episcopal News Service. June 22, 1989 [89114]
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (DPS, June 22) -- The Diocese of Western Michigan has elected the Rev. Edward L. Lee, rector of St. John's Church (Georgetown Parish) in Washington, D.C., to become their seventh bishop.
Lee was one of four nominees presented by the search committee to the clergy and lay delegates at the special convention that met on June 3 at the Cathedral Church of Christ the King in Kalamazoo.
The other three nominees included the Rev. William Greer, rector of Grace Church in Cortland, New York; the Rev. D. Edward Emenheiser, rector of Holy Trinity Church in Wyoming, Michigan; and the Rev. William Wiedrich, rector of Grace Church in Madison, Wisconsin. The Very Rev. Joseph Neiman, rector of St. Mark's Church in Paw Paw, Michigan, was nominated from the floor.
From the first ballot, the choice was between Lee and Wiedrich. To the surprise of many, Emenheiser trailed third despite his leadership, as president of the Standing Committee during the interim period between the resignation of the Rt. Rev. Howard S. Meeks in January 1988 and the special convention. Lee was elected on the first ballot.
The Rt. Rev. Lyman Ogilby has served as Episcopal visitor in Western Michigan during this interim. He presided and preached at the Eucharist opening the special convention but declined to chair. The Very Rev. Joseph Reynolds, rector of Grace Church in Grand Rapids and secretary of the Standing Committee, was chosen as the president pro tempore to chair the convention.
Lee has served as rector of St. John's in Washington since 1982. He was rector of St. James Church in Florence, Italy, from 1979-1982, and curate at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia from 1959-1964. He was Episcopal adviser at Temple University from 1964-1973.
In 1961, he married the former Kathryn Lucille Fligg. They have one child.