Two Suffragan Bishops Elected in Connecticut
Episcopal News Service. May 21, 1981 [81161]
Hartford, Conn. -- The Diocese of Connecticut, historically the first diocese in the Episcopal Church, had another first to its credit when it elected two suffragan bishops in one day.
More than 500 clergy and lay delegates from the 186 congregations from throughout the state elected two of its priests to assist the diocesan bishop during a special convention at Christ Church here on May 16.
The Rev. Clarence Nicholas Coleridge, rector of St. Mark's Church in Bridgeport since 1966, was declared winner of the first election on the fourth ballot, and the Rev. Bradford Hastings, who has served Christ Church, Greenwich, since 1965, received the required majority vote in both the clergy and lay orders on the sixth ballot. The two suffragan bishops-elect were named along with six other priests as nominees by a special election committee. No additional nominations were made from the floor.
Although each election was separate, all the remaining candidates following the election of Coleridge were automatically renominated for the second election.
Coleridge was born in Georgetown, Guyana on Nov. 27, 1930. He studied at Lincoln University, Washington, D. C., and General Theological Seminary, New York City, and received his B. S. degree from Howard University in Washington, his M. Div. from Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, N. J., his M. S. W. degree from the University of Connecticut, and his D. Min. degree in psychology, pastoral care and counseling from Andover-Newton School of Theology, Newton, Mass.
Coleridge's pastoral ministry has been at St. Philip's Church, New York City; St. George's Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.; and St. Mark's Church, Bridgeport.
He has served in many capacities in community and diocesan work. He and Euna Jervis were married in 1962 and they have two daughters.
A native of Garden City, N. Y., Hastings received his B.A. degree from Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. and his M. Div. degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. He has received honorary degrees from both institutions as well as from Trinity College.
Hastings, who was born Dec. 13, 1919, has served congregations in Overland, Mo.; Concord, Mass.; St. Paul, Minn.; Minneapolis; and Worcester, Mass., before coming to Christ Church.
He has been active in many diocesan and community activities, and was a deputy to two meetings of General Convention. He and Virginia Floyd were married in 1942 and they have four married children.
The Rt. Rev. Arthur E. Walmsley, Bishop Coadjutor of Connecticut, who will automatically succeed the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Morgan Porteus, when he retires at the end of August, presided at the Eucharist and the convention.
A suffragan bishop does not have any formal jurisdiction nor does he automatically succeed the diocesan bishop. A suffragan's primary function is to assist the diocesan bishop in whatever ways he designates.
Walmsley has indicated that he expects the two suffragans to exercise a strong pastoral ministry with both clergy and laity, each operating primarily among half the congregations in the state. They will not reside in Hartford, the see city, but in as yet undetermined locations designed to provide easy accessibility to all congregations in the state.
The two bishops-elect have indicated their acceptance of the voting, subject to the required consents of the diocesan standing committees and bishops of the Episcopal Church.