Woman Elected Suffragan Bishop in New York
Episcopal News Service. June 21, 1995 [95-1156]
(ENS) The Rev. Catherine S. Roskam was elected the first female bishop in the Diocese of New York, and only the fourth female bishop in the Episcopal Church, during the diocese's annual convention June 10.
Roskam was elected suffragan bishop on the third ballot in an election that included a field of five candidates, two of them male and three female. A suffragan bishop serves as an assistant to the diocesan bishop.
"The Diocese of New York not only made history today, it also made an excellent choice in electing her suffragan bishop," said Bishop Richard F. Grein, bishop of New York.
The announcement of Roskam's election brought the 600 convention delegates to their feet with tears, shouts of joy and some expressions of disbelief.
"A bishops stands for unity, and I hope that we, the diocese, will move ahead together -- perhaps not always in agreement, but always united in our love for Christ and our work for the building of God's kingdom," said Roskam.
Two other women have been elected as suffragan bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States -- the Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris of the Diocese of Massachusetts and the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon of the Diocese of Washington (D.C.). The Rt. Rev. Mary Adelia McLeod is diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Vermont.
Roskam, 52, has been diocesan missioner for the Diocese of California since 1991. She was accompanied to the convention by her husband, Philip Roskam, who is a psychologist, and daughter Gemma Roskam, a freshman in college.
"I really felt she was the right person for the position," said Gemma Roskam. "When I was little I used to volunteer at Holy Apostle's Soup Kitchen (in Manhattan) where my mom worked. I know how much she cares and how much she can do."
As diocesan missioner in California, Catherine Roskam was responsible for congregational development, leadership training for clergy and laity, and planning for mission and evangelism, with oversight of as many as 24 parishes. She also has served as interim rector of the Church of Our Savior, Mill Valley, California, priest-in-charge of Holy Innocents' mission congregation in San Francisco, and assistant rector of Holy Apostles, Manhattan, where she was in charge of pastoral ministries and program director for the soup kitchen.
She was ordained in 1984 in the Diocese of New York after graduating from General Theological Seminary with honors. She taught speech as a lecturer at General for eight years and served as chaplain for two. She also trained spiritual directors both at General and San Francisco Theological Seminary, and serves as part of a "visioning team" for future programs at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. She is an associate of the Society of St. John the Evangelist.
Other candidates in the election, held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, were the Rev. S. Burtner Ulrich and the Rev. Herbert G. Draesel, both of the Diocese of New York. The Rev. Jane Butterfield of the Diocese of Massachusetts and the Rev. Rosemari Sullivan of the Diocese of Virginia also were candidates.
After the second ballot, when it became clear that Roskam was the leading female candidate, the two other women withdrew from the election and urged the convention to elect her. In his concession remarks following the announcement of the final vote, Ulrich, who ran a close second to Roskam, invited the assembly to join him and Draesel in making Roskam's election unanimous.
The election must be ratified by a majority of the bishops and standing committees of the Episcopal Church. Pending that ratification, Roskam's consecration as bishop probably will take place in New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine in about six months.
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