Ray Consecrated In Northern Michigan

Episcopal News Service. October 14, 1982 [82218]

MARQUETTE, Mich. (DPS, Oct. 14) -- St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church here was the setting for the late August ordination and consecration of the Rev. Thomas Kreider Ray as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan.

More than 700 persons witnessed the consecration of Ray as 12 bishops of the Church, led by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin, Chief Pastor and Primate of the Episcopal Church, laid hands upon him.

The five consecrators were Allin; Bishop Charles Bennison of Western Michigan, Assistant Bishop William Dimmick of Minnesota, and former Bishop of Northern Michigan; Bishop James W. Montgomery of Chicago; and Bishop William C.R. Sheridan of Northern Indiana.

The preacher was John McKnight, associate director of the Center for Urban Affairs and professor of Communication Studies and Urban Affairs at Northwestern University, Evanston Ill. Registrar was the Rev. Canon Edward B. Geyer, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Presiding Bishop.

Ray, 47, was rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Evanston, Ill., when he was elected bishop of the diocese on the second ballot at a special election in Escanaba, Mich., last February.

Born in Barberton, Ohio, Ray is a graduate of the University of Michigan and General Theological Seminary in New York.

Prior to coming to St. Luke's in Evanston in 1971, his ministry was in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Crown Point and Marion, Ind.

He is married to Brenda Lee Ackerman and they have four children.