wfn.org | USA: FOUR CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDING BISHOP ANNOUNCED

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TITLE:USA: FOUR CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDING BISHOP ANNOUNCED
April 18, 1997
ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE
Canon Jim Rosenthal, Director of Communications
Anglican Communion Office
London, UK

[97.4.3.5] ACNS

USA: FOUR CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDING BISHOP ANNOUNCED

(ENS) Four bishops have been nominated as candidates for the next
Presiding Bishops of the Episcopal Church USA.  They are:
The Rt Revd Frank Griswold III of Chicago
The Rt Revd Robert Rowley, Jr., of Northwestern Pennsylvania
The Rt Revd Richard Shimpfky of El Camino Real (California)
The Rt Revd Don Wimberly of Lexington (Kentucky).

The election will take place in the House of Bishops July 21 during the
Church's General Convention in Philadelphia and must be confirmed by the
House of Deputies.

In commenting on the work of the committee, completed during its final
meeting April 10-13 in Delray Beach, Florida, co-chairs Katherine Tyler
Scott of Indianapolis and Bishop Calvin Schofield of Southeast Florida
said in a joint statement, "We are grateful for all of the prayers of
the Church as we have engaged in our work and for those who submitted to
this process of discernment. We are offering the names of four
individuals whom we believe possess the necessary qualities and
abilities for this uniquely important calling."

During a two-year process that was marked by its confidentiality, the
29-member committee developed broad criteria for the office,
underscoring the canonical requirement that the Presiding Bishop "shall
be the chief pastor and primate of the Church." The committee also
emphasised the Presiding Bishop's "responsibility for leadership in
initiating and developing the policy and strategy of the church and, as
chair of the Executive Council of General Convention," with
implementation.

For other news from the Episcopal Church USA see ENS online

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