wfn.org | [ENS] James R. Mathes to be consecrated Bishop of San Diego

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@mail.epicom.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

March 3, 2005 - Thursday Thesis: Meeting People of Purpose

James R. Mathes to be consecrated Bishop of San Diego

By Rebecca Williamson

[ENS, Source: Diocese of San Diego] The Rev. Canon James R. Mathes will
be
consecrated the fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
March 5
during a 10:30 a.m. service at the Town & Country Resort and Convention
Center, San Diego, which is expected to draw more than 2,000 people. A
team
of people, headed by the Rev. Canon Lee Teed of St. Paul's Cathedral,
San
Diego, will work throughout the night to create a sacred space from the
convention center's ballroom.

The service will include a festival procession of more than 400 people,
including Episcopal bishops from around the country, banners for all
Episcopal churches in the diocese, a massed choir, and more than 100
clergy
members. The choir will sing anthems and a local mariachi band will
provide
additional music. Bishop Richard Chang of Hawaii will be the chief
consecrator, with more than 20 other bishops participating in the laying
on
of hands.

Mathes will replace retiring bishop Gethin Hughes, who has led the
diocese
for the past 12 years. Mathes was elected on the third ballot on
November
13.

Prior to his election as bishop, Mathes served as Canon to the Ordinary
for
the Diocese of Chicago. He also served as director of Deployment and
Congregational Development. He guided the strategic planning process for
the
diocese and was instrumental in securing a private $1.6 million grant
for a
new clergy mentor program.

Mathes was rector of the Church of St. James the Less, Northfield,
Illinois.
from 1994-2001. During his tenure, worship attendance doubled, church
school
attendance tripled, and a major community outreach program was founded
to
provide pastoral care to the indigent elderly and disabled residents. He
also completed capital campaigns that funded expansion of the property,
plus
the renovation and expansion of church buildings.

Previously, Mathes served as assistant minister at All Saints' Episcopal
Church in Belmont, Maine. He was raised in Texas and earned his
bachelor's
degree at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He received
his
masters of divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria
in
1991. Before ordination to the priesthood, Mathes worked in boarding
schools
as a teacher, coach and development officer.

He, his wife Terri, and children Lee (18) and Sara (15) have already
moved
to San Diego.

--Rebecca Williamson is communications manager of the Diocese of San
Diego.

___________________________
To SUBSCRIBE to enslist, send a blank email message, from the address
which
you wish subscribed, to: join-enslist@epicom.org

Send QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS to news@episcopalchurch.org.

The enslist is published by Episcopal News Service:
www.episcopalchurch.org/ens