Episcopal News Service March 10, 2007
Laura Ahrens elected bishop suffragan in Connecticut
First woman elected bishop in diocese
By Karin Hamilton
[ENS] The Rev. Dr. Laura Ahrens, 44, rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in Danbury, Connecticut, was elected bishop suffragan for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut (http://www.ctdiocese.org/index.cfm) at a special convention in Hartford on March 10. She is the first woman elected bishop in the Diocese of Connecticut.
Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford was at near capacity, with more than 900 people present, and the mood was one of excitement and anticipation.
Ahrens was elected on the fifth ballot from a slate of seven candidates. She was elected with 139 lay votes and 145 clergy votes. An election on that ballot required 123 votes of 257 cast in the lay order and 129 of 243 votes cast in the clergy order.
She will begin work this spring as bishop suffragan-elect.
In accordance with the Episcopal Church's Canon III.11.4 (http://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/canons/CandC_FINAL_11.29.200 6.pdf), a majority of bishops with jurisdiction as well as the Standing Committees of the other 109 dioceses in the Episcopal Church must now give their consent to the election. If received, Ahrens will be consecrated as a bishop on Saturday, June 30 at Christ Church Cathedral. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will be the chief consecrator.
A bishop suffragan is a full bishop of the Episcopal Church whose elected position is to assist a diocesan bishop; in Connecticut this is the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith. There is no "right of succession" upon retirement or resignation of a diocesan bishop. A bishop suffragan may later be elected as a diocesan bishop, however.
Since 2000, Smith has worked with two bishops suffragan, the Rt. Rev. James E. Curry and the Rt. Rev. Wilfrido Ramos-Orench. Last year Ramos accepted a call to serve as missionary bishop in the Diocese of Ecuador Central. At his departure, Smith decided to call for the election of another bishop suffragan (http://www.ctbishopsearch.org/ctbishopsearch/PositionDescriptionandCrite ria.pdf).
A diverse, representative nominating committee was appointed and its members began their work in late August 2006. They received nominations last fall and made their choices after an extensive screening process that included written essays, site visits, background checks, multiple interviews with the nominees, up to ten references and a final round of meetings with the full Nominating Committee and senior diocesan staff.
Full story and photo:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_83375_ENG_HTM.htm
--Karin Hamilton is director for communication and media for the Diocese of Connecticut.
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