Utah’s Episcopalian bishop announces his retirement

From Utah-

The Right Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, announced this week that he will be retiring. 

In a letter posted on the Episcopal Diocese of Utah’s Facebook page, Bishop Hayashi, who was consecrated as the 11th bishop of Utah in November 2010, said his calling “has been and continues to be a blessing and joy that I never expected to have in my life.” 

The letter also noted the date of the election for a new bishop has not been firmly set, but will be held in the spring of 2021.

“I pledge to you that I will be diligent in my responsibilities of being your bishop until the ordination of the new bishop of our diocese,” the letter reads.

According to the diocese’s website, Bishop Hayashi, who graduated from Harvard Divinity School, was ordained a priest in 1984 and served as a parish priest Washington, Utah and California. In 2005, he became the canon to the Ordinary — or bishop’s office in the Diocese of Chicago.

More here-

https://www.deseret.com/2019/10/11/20910312/utahs-episcopalian-bishop-announces-his-retirement

Diocese of Virginia bishop to retire in November

From The Episcopal Church-

Editor’s note: Diocese of Virginia Bishop Shannon S. Johnston announced Aug. 3 that he will resign his office in three months.

The announcement appears to culminate a process that began in October 2017 when he announced plans to seek a bishop suffragan after the retirement of the Rt. Rev. Ted Gulick, assistant bishop. Then on May 24, Johnston announced an end to the search, citing “serious questions raised by members of the diocesan staff having to do with the leadership and the culture among diocesan staff,” and taking “full responsibility for this situation.” Johnston also said that he had begun to look more seriously about retiring earlier than he had originally planned, having reached age 60 and with 30 years of service in the Episcopal Church.

Dear Diocesan Family,

After many months of intense prayer and reflection, and in close consultation with the presiding bishop and our Standing Committee, I am formally announcing that I have decided to resign my office and ministry as Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia effective November 3, 2018, prior to the adjournment of our annual convention. I will then serve the diocese in a consulting capacity to facilitate the transition to new leadership. I will fully retire effective July 1, 2019, having served over twelve years as a bishop in this diocese.

More here-

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/diocese-virginia-bishop-retire-november
 
 

Memphis Episcopal bishop to resign in 2019

From Memphis-

The Episcopal bishop in Memphis plans to resign in 2019 when he turns 70, two years before his mandatory retirement age.

"I'm in good health and I love what I do, but it's time," Bishop Don Johnson said Friday. "This will give the diocese time to start the search process for a new leader."

The Rt. Rev. Don Johnson has been bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee since 2001.

He sent a letter Thursday to the diocese's Standing Committee calling for the election of his successor. The committee will oversee the nomination and election process for a new bishop, which generally takes 18-24 months.

More here-

http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2017/06/16/memphis-episcopal-bishop-resign-2019/403583001/

Thank you, Very Rev. Tracey Lind: Cheer of the Day: editorial

From Cleveland-

CHEERS . . . to the Very Rev. Tracey Lind, dean of Trinity Cathedral, the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, who is stepping down from her post Jan. 29 after 17 years at the helm. Lind has disclosed to her congregation and the public that she was recently diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration, a progressive disorder of the brain that was making it increasingly difficult for her to do her job.

More here-

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/12/thank_you_to_very_rev_tracey_l.html

Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida bids farewell

From Miami-

Bishop Leo Frade is a true South Floridian.

He says he could easily live off Cuban sandwiches and cafecito, and he isn’t a fan of the traffic on I-95.

“I’m a Miami Boy,” Frade said with a laugh.

Frade, 72, has spent about 15 years serving as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida. On Saturday, he officially resigned his post, ending his roughly 38-year career. The Right Rev. Peter Eaton will succeed Frade in the post.

“I’m excited,” said Frade before a Saturday morning service at Trinity Cathedral in downtown Miami. “The church is in good hands; we have a good bishop who will help the ministry here. It’s time for a new chapter.”

Frade’s tenure was celebrated by a multi-language service with music and people of various denominations. Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado was also on hand, proclaiming the day for Frade.

Read more here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article53940405.html#storylink=cpy

Episcopal Bishop Leopold Frade will leave behind a legacy of social activism

From Miami-

It’s just past 3 p.m. and Bishop Leo Frade is settling into his office next to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

He’s handed a cafecito.

“This is my 3:05 coffee,” he says, as he sips the Cuban coffee.

Frade’s office is full of momentos from his 38-year career as an Episcopal priest. Behind his desk, a black and white photo of God’s Mercy, a converted World War II submarine chaser he used to bring 437 Cubans to the United States during the Mariel Boatlift. On a side table, the Order of Francisco Morazan medallion, one of the highest honors granted by the Honduran government, which Frade received for his humanitarian efforts following Hurricane Mitch. Above his desk, a plastic crown, a gag gift from a friend after he was consecrated as bishop.

Soon these memories will be packed away, as Frade – pronounced Friday – will turn 72 on Oct. 10, the mandatory retirement age in the Episcopal Church.
Read more here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article20561976.html#storylink=cpy

Bob Trask retires as Grace Episcopal pastor

From Michigan (Bob was a seminary classmate)

His lean runner’s frame gives a clue to what the Rev. Bob Trask plans for his retirement: Run even more and, if possible, find a cross country team to coach.

“I will continue to be a priest, filling in on Sundays, “ said Trask, 65, who is retiring as pastor of Grace Episcopal Church in Port Huron.

“My dream is to be a running coach, cross country at a local high school.”

Trask’s final service after nearly 15 years at Grace Episcopal will be at 10 a.m. Sunday. He and his wife, Margaret, will be moving to Wheaton, Ill., where they have family.

Trask came to the ministry later in life and has spent nearly 30 years as an Episcopalian priest.

“I taught horticulture in a vocational training program at a maximum security prison in Kansas,” he said. “We had a greenhouse, we did turf care, a variety of things.”

Working at the prison in Hutchinson, Kan., he said, prepared him for his vocation.

more here-

http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20121228/NEWS01/312280017/Bob-Trask-retires-Grace-Episcopal-pastor

New Jersey bishop announces retirement goal

From New Jersey-

Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey Bishop George Councell has announced that he will retire at the end of 2013.

In an Oct. 21 letter to the diocese, Councell said the timing of his decision has to do with the fact that by the end of 2013 he will have served the diocese for 10 years and will be 64 years old. He also noted that it takes between 18 months and two years to elect and consecrate a bishop.

"Please be assured that no crisis or sudden deterioration in my health has driven me to this decision," he wrote.

Councell announced in August 2007 that he has Parkinson disease. Parkinson is a progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling movement, muscle control and balance. Councell wrote at the time that the disease was progressing very slowly in him.

The bishop said that he had informed the diocesan Standing Committee, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and the Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, the church's bishop for pastoral development, about his decision. "We are beginning an orderly transition to a new chapter in the history of our diocese under the care of a new chief shepherd," he wrote.

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_130288_ENG_HTM.htm

Bishop Rayford High Retiring in January

From The Living Church-

The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., one of two bishops suffragan in the Diocese of Texas, will retire in January.

The Rt. Rev. Andrew Doyle C. Andrew Doyle has announced that, with the approval of the diocese’s standing committee, he will appoint an assisting bishop to succeed Bishop High. Bishop Doyle will ask the Diocesan Council to approve his selection.

Bishop High, who turns 70 in January, announced his retirement at the annual diocesan clergy conference Oct. 25. He was consecrated in October 2003. The Rt. Rev. Dena A. Harrison has served as the diocese’s other bishop suffragan since October 2006.

Bishop High said that being a bishop suffragan has blessed him and his wife, Pat.

“Each day I offer thanks to the Lord for calling me into ministry, first as deacon, then priest, and now as bishop,” Bishop High said. “I am deeply humbled by God’s call and God’s continuing strength and presence in my life and ministry. What a blessing it has been for me, Pat and my family to service Christ and Christ’s Church and people.”

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/10/27/bp-rayford-high-to-retire-in-january