Local diocese ordains new bishop

From Western Louisiana- (with video)

Local members of the Episcopal Church have a new leader as of today. Shreveport's St. Mark's Cathedral was alive with ceremony this morning. Hundreds of Episcopalians gathered at the cathedral to welcome a new bishop.

Reverend Jacob Owensby was ordained and consecrated fourth bishop of the Western Louisiana Diocese, which reaches from Arkansas to the Gulf of Mexico. It's a title many church members are glad to see him receive.

"He is a very spiritual man and a good leader and wonderful things are going to continue to happen in this diocese," member Susan Sparks said.

Owensby was elected back on April 21 by diocese committees.

http://www.ktbs.com/news/Local-diocese-ordains-new-bishop/-/144844/15632192/-/i0tomfz/-/index.html

Western Louisiana diocese elects Jacob W. Owensby as bishop

From ENS-

The Very Rev. Jacob W. Owensby was elected April 21 as fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana.
Owensby, 54, dean of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Shreveport, Louisiana, was elected on the sixth ballot from a field of three candidates. One other nominee withdrew after the second ballot, two others withdrew after the third, and a fourth after the fifth. Owensby received 78 votes of 143 cast in the lay order and 30 of 58 cast in the clergy order.

The election was held at a special convention at St. James’ Church in Alexandria. Delegates participated in a service of holy Eucharist before balloting began.

Owensby will succeed the Rt. Rev. D. Bruce MacPherson, who will retire in July after 10 years as bishop of the diocese.

Shortly after his election, Dean Owensby said: “I am humbled to be called to be the fourth Bishop of Western Louisiana and filled with affection for the good people who make this part of our state their geographical and spiritual home. Joy, excitement, and anticipation have me a little tongue-tied right now. But I can say that my first and most important job is to love the people of this Diocese and to help them grow in their witness to the extravagant love of God in Jesus Christ. I am especially looking forward to building deep relationships with my fellow clergy, visiting with our congregations and helping them to grow in vitality, and serving our Lord together with these wonderful people.”

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/04/21/western-louisiana-diocese-elects-jacob-w-owensby-as-bishop/

Western Louisiana announces slate of seven for bishop election

From ENS-

Seven priests have been nominated to stand for election to become the fourth bishop of the Shreveport-based Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana.

They are:

The Very Rev. John Burwell, 60, rector, Church of the Holy Cross, Isle of Palms, South Carolina and rector, All Saints Episcopal Church, Florence, South Carolina (Diocese of South Carolina);

The Rt. Rev. William Gregg, 61, assistant bishop in the Diocese of North Carolina;

The Very Rev. Jacob Owensby, 54, dean, St. Mark’s Cathedral, Shreveport, Louisiana (Diocese of Western Louisiana);

The Rev. Canon Gregg Riley, 63, canon to the ordinary in the Diocese of Western Louisiana;

The Rev. Frederick Robinson, 60, rector, Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota, Florida (Diocese of Southwest Florida);

The Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson, 47, canon to the ordinary in the Diocese of Louisiana; and

The Rev. Canon Larry Wilkes, rector, Church of the Epiphany, New Iberia, Louisiana (Diocese of Western Louisiana).

More information about the nominees is available here. The nominees will participate in a series of open question-and-answer forums March 19-21 and will have the opportunity to meet with the clergy and other members of the diocese.

The person selected will succeed the Rt. Rev. Bruce MacPherson, third bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, who announced his intention to resign when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 72 in July 2012.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/02/02/western-louisiana-announces-slate-of-seven-for-bishop-election/

Western La. Nominates Seven

From The Living Church-

Seven men — including a bishop, two canons to the ordinary and a cathedral dean — are nominees to become the fourth Bishop of Western Louisiana. Four of the nominees live in Louisiana and three serve in the diocese.

The nominees are:

The Very Rev. Canon John B. Burwell, 60, rector, Church of the Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island, S.C.;

The Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg, 61, Bishop of Eastern Oregon (1997-2000) and assisting bishop in the Diocese of North Carolina;

The Very Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, 54, dean of St. Mark’s Cathedral, Shreveport;

The Rev. Canon Gregg L. Riley, 63, canon to the ordinary, Western Louisiana;

The Rev. Frederick A. Robinson, 60, rector, Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota, Fla.;

The Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson, 47, canon to the ordinary, Diocese of Louisiana;

The Rev. Canon Larry G. Wilkes, 61, rector, Church of the Epiphany, New Iberia, La.
The diocese will elect its next bishop April 21.

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2012/2/2/western-la-nominates-seven

Three Dioceses Question Title IV Changes

From Anglicans United-

With varying degrees of force, three dioceses – Dallas, South Carolina and Western Louisiana – have expressed their concerns about revisions to Title IV of the Episcopal Church’s canons. All three dioceses express concerns about the revised Title IV granting greater authority to the church’s presiding bishop over other bishops, and to diocesan bishops over their clergy, amid accusations of misconduct.

The Diocese of South Carolina adopted seven resolutions that either delete references to the Episcopal Church’s canons, or specify that the diocese recognizes those canons only through 2006.

The annual convention of the Diocese of Dallas voted to study revisions to Title IV for the next several months and to reconvene in early summer to act on conclusions of that study.

“The more we looked at Title IV, we began to realize what we have here is a constitutional crisis,” said the Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, Bishop of Dallas. “Much of our concern has to do with due process for clergy and protections for clergy.”

Bishop Stanton said his vocation has been guided by a principle he heard in a seminary course with the Rev. Dr. Massey H. Shepherd: “Canon law exists to protect the people from their clergy and the clergy from their bishops.”

“When you are liable to be charged for failing to report something that may have been an offense, you’re opening the door to all kinds proceedings,” Stanton added. “I think it’s important for every diocese, and clergy especially, to look very carefully at this.”

The Diocese of Western Louisiana adopted a canon that places the diocese in conformity with the new Title IV, but also called on General Convention to reconsider the revisions to Title IV.

More here-

http://www.anglicansunited.com/?p=8954

Address to the Annual Diocesan Convention Saturday, October 10, 2009 The Rt. Rev’d D. Bruce MacPherson, D.D. Bishop

Bishop Bruce MacPherson's Convention Address-

Where to begin? Much has gone before us and much is before us, and we gather here this weekend to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Western Louisiana as we share in this annual convention. One-hundred and sixty-eight years ago Bishop Leonidas Polk became the first bishop of the new diocese of Louisiana. A ministry that would see him covering vast amounts of the territory as he established congregations far and wide, a ministry that would be cut short as he dies at the hand of war on June 14, 1864 at Pine Mountain, Georgia. Though his death came prematurely during his role as Confederate General, his labour in the vineyard of our Lord bears a witness to his calling and faithful episcopacy as a bishop of the Church Catholic and to his ministry as he set about “Making a path for the Lord.”

As we look at these words from the Old Testament, we see there is much likeness in the man Elijah and that of the man named John. Both of them were one in spirit and office, and this being that both were sent to prepare the way of the Lord! But it didn’t end there. It continued down through the ages, for in every age this work is required. But how can it be done? As Elijah, John, Leonidas, and others have shown. By changing conditions that make difficult the entrance of Christ. By lifting the valleys, lowering the hills, and smoothing the rough road. And as Isaiah continues, “and the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” [Isaiah 40:5]

More here-

http://www.diocesewla.org/DC%202009%20Convention%20Address%2010.9.09%20final%20delivered.single.pdf

Good Stuff In TEC: Western Louisiana

Time for Joy is "the place to be"

The Episcopal Church Women will sponsor their annual spring retreat, a Time for Joy, on April 24-26, 2009 at Camp Hardtner. The Joy weekend is for young women and promises to be fun, relaxing and an event even better than the one before. It's an awesome weekend, and the staff focus and work hard to make it a very special weekend for each guest.

Time For Joy was conceived by Bishop Hargrove several years ago as a time for young women to be away from the demands of work and family and a time to renew or revive their relationship with Jesus Christ. Bishop MacPherson is an important part of the weekend, and he and Susan MacPherson allocate quality time to the young women in attendance. He's a lot of fun, and it's interesting to get to know the Bishop and Susan, on a personal level in an informal and relaxed setting.

The central concept of the Time For Joy (Jesus, Others, Yourself) weekend centers on providing young women with a time to get away from the pressures of an over-busy life. Once at Camp Hardtner, the message of taking time for oneself and making time for a relationship with God is emphasized.

The weekend is joyful and carefree, with the message that life is our gift from God and that He meant for us to enjoy it! It is a "stop and smell the roses" type of weekend. There are fun activities that have no message, but equally important are the activities that stress the importance of slowing down and enjoying life, and sharing a personal relation with God.

http://www.diocesewla.org/Time%20for%20Joy%202009.htm

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