Western Louisiana Elects Coadjutor
Episcopal News Service. March 23, 1989 [89061]
ALEXANDRIA, La. (DPS, Mar. 23) -- In a special diocesan convention held on March 13, the Diocese of Western Lousiana elected the Very Rev. Robert J. Hargrove of Lafayette, Louisiana, Bishop Coadjutor. Hargrove was rector of the Church of the Ascension in Lafayette; he was previously rector of Grace Church in Monroe, Louisiana, and of Grace Church in Madison, Wisconsin.
Hargrove's election came on the seventh ballot with a majority of votes in both the clergy and lay orders. The convention was held at St. James Church in Alexandria, Louisiana. His name had been placed in nomination from the floor, and he was considered in addition to the six nominees presented by the diocesan elections committee and to two other candidates placed in nomination from the floor.
The other candidates in the election were the Rev. Frederick Arthur Fenton of Santa Monica, California; the Very Rev. Sidney Ross Jones of Alexandria, Louisiana; the Very Rev. James Hugh Magers, Diocese of Dallas; the Rev. William Collins Morris, Jr., of River Ridge, Louisiana; the Rev. Canon Colton Mumford Smith III, Diocese of Mississippi; the Ven. Richard Leo Ullman, Diocese of Southern Ohio; the Rev. Kenneth W. Paul of Shreveport, Louisiana; and the Very Rev. William Dale Nix of Fort Worth, Texas.
Hargrove's consecration is set tentatively for July 8. He will serve with Diocesan Bishop Willis Henton until Henton's announced retirement on July 7, 1990. Henton will continue to oversee the diocesan department of finance while Hargrove will begin supervision of all other diocesan departments and of the processing of candidates for the priesthood. Both bishops will share the sacramental duties of the episcopate.
The Bishop-elect is 51 years old and was born in Paducah, Kentucky. He holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown Univeristy and an M. Div. degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary; he also attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1967, and has served churches in Iowa, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, and Louisiana. He has been a deputy to General Convention and to the Province VII Synod.
Hargrove and his wife, Linda, have three children.
The Diocese of Western Louisiana encompasses 38 civil parishes (counties) and stretches from northern Louisiana to the Atchafalaya River in the south. It was formed in 1979, calling Henton as its first bishop. The diocese will begin its second decade with Hargrove's election.