From Southwestern Virginia-
Bishop Neff Powell, the leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, said Friday afternoon that he has called for the hiring of a successor and plans to retire by spring 2013.
Powell, bishop since 1996, made his decision formal during the diocese's 93rd annual council meeting, in front of more than 200 congregational leaders who gave him a standing ovation.
"I feel it's a good decision, and it's a tender decision," Powell said. "I love this diocese, and it's going to mean saying goodbye to it."
Powell, 64, is leaving as he nears retirement age and as the diocese - like the Episcopal Church itself - is grappling with slowly declining membership, attendance and revenues. A committee is presenting over the weekend a proposal that would partially decentralize resources to the parishes.
"Rather than me staying for these changes, I think it's time to call for a new bishop," Powell said.
Powell graduated from Claremont McKenna College in California in 1973, served small parishes in Oregon until 1983, then served administrative roles for the Diocese of North Carolina before he was named the fifth bishop of the Southwest Virginia diocese.
He was consecrated to the office of bishop in a ceremony at Burruss Hall auditorium at Virginia Tech in October 1996, with 21 other bishops, including retiring Bishop Heath Light, playing a role.
More here-
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/304109
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