Bishop Paul V. Marshall of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem began a sabbatical Aug. 1 that will lead to his retirement on Jan. 1, 2014, from a position he has held for 17 years.
Marshall, 66, said he is retiring for reasons of advanced age.
At the beginning of the month, he turned over ecclesiastical authority to the diocese's standing committee, which consists of five lay and five ordained members. The Rev. Canon Andrew T. Gerns of Trinity Episcopal Church in Easton is president of the committee.
Gerns emphasized that Marshall is still bishop until January. In a note on the diocese's website, Gerns said Marshall's sabbatical will be a time for Marshall to "pray, rest, wrap up some things and begin to imagine how he will serve God in the next phase of his life."
Marshall was installed as the eighth bishop of Bethlehem in June 1996 following his election in December 1995. He replaced the retiring Mark Dyer.
Marshall, a former Yale University professor, graduated from a Lutheran college and began his ministry as a Lutheran. During his tenure as bishop, Marshall made at least 15 mission trips to Kajo Keji in southern Sudan. He was moved by the poverty he saw there and later established New Hope, which he described as a capital campaign for others. The New Hope Campaign has raised $4.1 million in pledges and supported the establishment of five primary schools, one secondary school and a seminary and teaching college in Kajo Keji.
More here-
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=501751
No comments:
Post a Comment