Episcopal Press and News

Michigan to Get New Diocese

Episcopal News Service. October 27, 1994 [94178A]

The 160 churches of the Michigan diocese recently accepted a plan to divide into two dioceses. The agreement becomes final on January 1, 1995, but the new northern diocese, composed of 58 congregations and 7,983 parishioners, holds its first convention on October 28-29 in Port Huron. The new southern diocese will contain 102 churches with 23,849 members. According to Bishop Stewart Wood of Michigan, "Both new dioceses will try to move decision-making more toward the local level. It will make new claims on the lay people and clergy." Wood will continue as bishop of the southern diocese when the division is completed. "Smaller is better for building community at the grass-roots level," said John Coppage, interim diocesan administrator for the northern diocese. "One of the movements in our national church is aimed at improving structure. As a smaller body, people should be able to come together and deal with each other in new and better ways," he said.