Episcopal News Service March 29, 2008
Maryland elects Eugene Sutton as 14th bishop
By Matthew Davies and Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] The Rev. Canon Eugene Taylor Sutton was elected March 29 as the 14th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
Sutton, 54, canon pastor at Washington National Cathedral and director of the Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage (Diocese of Washington), was elected on the first ballot out of a field of five nominees. The election took place at St. James' Church, Lafayette Square, Baltimore.
Under the canons the Episcopal Church (III.16.4 (a)) (http://www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/pdf_const_2003/Title_ III _Ministry.pdf), a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to Sutton's election and ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving the consent request.
Sutton has served parishes in the dioceses of New Jersey and Washington. He has taught homiletics and liturgics at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and General Theological Seminary. He has also served as assistant to the bishop in the Diocese of New Jersey. Sutton is a frequent leader of retreats and conferences on prayer, preaching, spirituality and mission. Married to Sonya Subbayya Sutton, their family includes four children and stepchildren.
More information about Sutton is available here (http://www.ang-md.org/bishop_search/nominees.php#sutton).
"I am both honored and humbled to be elected your bishop in the wonderful Diocese of Maryland. I, Sonya and our family look forward to being among you as fellow travelers in this exciting journey," Sutton said following the election. "I would like to express my hopes and dreams for our new ministry together in the form of a prayer. We continually give thanks to God, who in Christ makes "a new creation...the old has passed away, behold, all things have become new.'"
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_96089_ENG_HTM.htm