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Episcopal News Service. August 31, 1995 [95-1214BB]

The Rev. Leopoldo Alard recently became the first Hispanic elected suffragan bishop in the Episcopal Church when the Diocese of Texas chose him to assist Bishop Claude Payne. Alard was serving as canon for multicultural ministry to the diocese and, before taking that position, was executive director for the Center for Hispanic Ministries based in Austin, Texas, which serves the 12 southwest dioceses of Province VII. Alard said he did not expect to win the election, but "just allowed my nomination, thinking it would be a great opportunity to confront the larger church about the reality of our multicultural life in our diocese." Alard was born in Cuba, graduated from the Episcopal Seminary of the Caribbean in 1967 and pursued ecumenical studies in Switzerland. He served at several Florida parishes before moving to Austin in 1986.