Bishops Stay Busy at Camp Allen

From The Living Church-

The House of Bishops had a busier schedule of plenary sessions this year in a spring meeting that has traditionally served as a retreat.

Meeting at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas, on March 19-24, the bishops:

Elected the Rev. Dr. James “Jay” Magness, canon for mission and diocesan administration in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, as the sixth Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries.

The Rt. Rev. Nathan Baxter, Bishop of Central Pennsylvania and a member of the nominating committee, said in a media conference call that he was impressed by the bishop-elect’s pastoral skills, and his experience as both a Navy officer and an enlisted man.

Magness, he said, stressed “the importance of presence and supporting chaplains and commanding officers in their ministries.” He also referred repeatedly to the importance of ministry to families when one of their members serves in the military, or is imprisoned — both of which fall within the responsibilities of the bishop’s office.

Elected the Rev. Canon David Bailey as Bishop of the Navajoland Area Mission. In October 2009, Navajoland representatives elected Bailey as interim canon to the ordinary.

Issued a statement that condemned the attempted assassination March 17 of the Most Rev. Martin Barahona, Bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador and archbishop of the Anglican Church in Central America.

Heard the Rt. Rev. Jean Zaché Duracin, Bishop of Haiti, describe his struggles — and the struggles of his nation — when a magnitude-7 earthquake struck on Jan. 12.

Received a 95-page report, “Same-Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church” [PDF], prepared for the bishops’ theology committee by eight theologians. The eight scholars are Dr. John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary; Dr. Deirdre Good, General Theological Seminary; Dr. Willis Jenkins, Yale Divinity School; The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Kittredge, Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest; the Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand, Trinity School for Ministry; Dr. Eugene Rogers, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; the Rev. Dr. George Sumner, Wycliffe College; the Rev. Dr. Daniel Westberg, Nashotah House.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/3/24/bishops-stay-busy-at-camp-allen