wfn.org | Maine elects priest from Chicago as church's eighth female

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org (ENS)]

bishop
December 4, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

97-2037
Maine elects priest from Chicago as church's eighth female bishop
     
by Michael Barwell
     (ENS) The Rev. Chilton Knudsen, canon for pastoral care in the
Diocese of Chicago, was elected the bishop of Maine on November 14.
When she is consecrated she will be the fifth female diocesan bishop and
the eighth female bishop in the church.
     Knudsen is a nationally recognized expert in cases involving
sexual exploitation in the church. She succeeds former Bishop Edward
Chalfant, who took a one-year leave of absence and resigned in May
1996 after admitting he had violated his ordination and marriage vows by
having an affair with an unmarried woman.
     Recognizing that the pain and stress from Chalfant's resignation is
still evident, Knudsen said her first order of business will be promoting
healing and reconciliation in the large diocese, adding, "I have a sense I
need to be out there in the congregations for a lot of healing."
     In addition to her work in Chicago--where she developed one of
the most comprehensive sexual misconduct programs in the church--
Knudsen has been a consultant to the Presiding Bishop's Office of
Pastoral Development, the Executive Council's committee on sexual
exploitation, and the Church Insurance Company. 
     The fourth-ballot election in the Bangor Civic Center was
announced in the early afternoon. Other nominees were: The Rev.
Randolph Dales, of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire; the Rev. Leander S.
Harding of Stamford, Connecticut; the Ven. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr.,
archdeacon of Massachusetts; and the Rev. Linton H. Studdiford of Cape
Elizabeth, Maine.
     Knudsen, who has served in Chicago since 1987, said in an
interview with Anglican Advance, "I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and
joy. I expect and hope and trust that the people of Maine are ready to
have a shared episcopate," she said. "The most important word after
Jesus Christ is `we.'"    
     In a description of her plans for ministry as bishop in Maine,
Knudsen wrote earlier this year, "I see the bishop as the primary minister
of connection. I would establish a practice of gathering together,
probably regionally, with clergy and laity in focused meetings to listen
carefully."
     Knudsen expects to assume her new post by March 1, with a
consecration set for March 28.
     Knudsen becomes the fifth woman to head a diocese in the
Episcopal Church, joining Mary Adelia McLeod of Vermont, Geralyn
Wolf of Rhode Island, Carolyn Irish of Utah, and Catherine Waynick of
Indianapolis; and three suffragan bishops, Barbara Harris of
Massachusetts, Catherine Roskam of New York, and Jane Dixon of
Washington. 
     Presiding bishop-elect Frank Griswold of Chicago said her
election is a personal joy for him because "we will be able to continue to
work together as bishops." He added that he knew of few people better
suited for episcopal ministry. Knudsen "has shown incredible pastoral
skill and forthrightness" in dealing with sensitive matter involving clergy
and congregations, Griswold said, and has earned "a huge measure of
respect" for her skills as a consultant and counselor.
     Griswold added that her election "is a further sign of a growing
recognition of the value and grace of women's ministry."
     Knudsen married Michael Knudsen in 1971 and they have one
grown son. She received her bachelor's degree in biology and philosophy
from Chatham College in 1968 and pursued graduate studies in
biochemistry at the University of Pittsburgh before entering the Seabury-
Western Theological Seminary, where she earned a master of divinity
degree in 1980. She was ordained a priest in 1981 with four other
women--the first class of female candidates ordained in the Diocese of
Chicago. She served St. Benedict's Church in Bolingbrook, Illinois, from
1980-1986 before joining the staff in the Diocese of Chicago, where she
also served as part-time interim vicar for three congregations. She also
serves as a trustee of the Church Pension Fund.

--Michael Barwell is deputy director of news and information for the
Episcopal Church.