WEST MISSOURI: Diocese announces 3 nominees for bishop
Episcopal News Service. August 4, 2010 [080410-03]
Pat McCaughan
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri announced Aug. 3 a slate of three nominees for the diocese's next bishop. They are:
- the Rev. Peter Frasius Casparian, 59, rector of Christ Church in Oyster Bay, in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, New York;
- the Very Rev. Martin Scott Field, 53, rector of St. Paul's Church in Flint and assistant to the bishop for congregational life and dean of the Flint River Valley Convocation in the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan; and
- the Rev. Canon Edward Daniel Smith, 54, canon to the ordinary, Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.
More biographical information is available on the nominees here.
The election will be held Saturday, Nov. 6 during the Nov. 5-6 annual convention meeting of the diocese, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, according to Linda Robertson, chair of the bishop's search and nominating committee.
"An election is always an exciting time," Robertson said during an Aug. 4 telephone interview. "People have been very anxious to find out who our candidates would be and of course there's a petition process so there may be other names added to the slate," she added.
"We're all looking forward optimistically to the future but it's always a period of a little bit of tension as well, as you go forward into new territory with new people."
The Rt. Rev. Barry R. Howe, who was consecrated seventh bishop of the diocese in 1998, had announced in September 2009 his intention to retire.
Diocesan clergy and laity may nominate by petition additional candidates until Aug. 27, according to a statement released by the Standing Committee. More information about the petition process may be found here.
Under the canons (III.11.4) of the Episcopal Church, a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to the bishop-elect's ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of the election.
The consecration date is planned for March 5, 2011.
The Diocese of West Missouri encompasses the western half of the state and includes 50 organized congregations.