Synod of Diocese of the West elects new Bishop Ordinary
by Fr. Scott E Kingsbery, Vicar of the Mission of St. Barnabas the Apostle, Sun Valley, California

Editors NOTE: This article appeared in the Christmastide 2006 issue of The Messenger Journal.

HE Diocese of the West (DOW) of the Anglican Church in America returned once again to Phoenix, Arizona for their Annual Diocesan Synod, on October 24th through 27th 2006.

And this was to be no “ordinary” Synod. Due to growing health concerns, the beloved current DOW Bishop James G. Stewart, Sr. had announced his retirement at the previous Synod, and the Diocese had formed a Search Committee to find suitable candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant office of their “Father in God”.

As always, each day of Synod included sung Morning Prayer, a celebration of the Holy Eucharist and Evensong. Worship in community has always been a hallmark of the Synods held by the DOW — and this year was no different. Archdeacon Fred Rivers’ Church of the Epiphany was the host parish for this Synod— and they made sure that a reverent worship-space was provided for each of the services.
During the year-long canonical process of coming up with a list of candidates for Bishop, the list went “from four to three to two” in number. In September of this year, the Search Committee met with the two “finalists” at St. Mary of the Angels parish in Hollywood, California, for a day of extensive interviews with the two candidates: (The Very Reverend.) Peter D. Robinson, Rural Dean of Arizona and Rector of the Parish of St. Paul in Prescott, Arizona, and the Reverend. Daren K. Williams from the Diocese of Eastern United States, currently the Rector of the Church of the Incarnation in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The Standing Committee and the Board of Examiners met for Morning Prayer and Mass early on the first day (Wednesday), and concluded by dispatching their duties with their normal reverence and alacrity. Thanks be to God, Deacon Gene Smith of St. Augustine’s Mission in Hamilton, Montana was recommended for advancement to Priest’s Orders, and former Roman Catholic Priest Fr. Juan Sanchez was received into the Diocese. He will be ministering to congregations in both Tucson and Tubac, Arizona.

The business of electing a new Bishop Ordi¬nary began in earnest the next morning (Thursday), with “Matins and Mass” - and a morning meeting of the House of Clergy, where both candidates answered questions and spoke about their vision for the future of the Diocese. This same process was repeated in yet another meeting with the House of Laity, where the two stalwart candidates answered even more ques¬ions. It was a long day for everyone!

At 4:00 in the afternoon, on a beautiful, warm Autumn day in Phoenix, two large tour-buses were filled with joyous Traditional Anglicans, who were soon headed across-town to the sanctuary of “Faith Lutheran Church”, where the Opening Eucharist was to be held. A beautiful “Mass for the Election of a Bishop” was celebrated by the Archdeacon (and several DOW clergy assisting — including both Candidates for Bishop acting as “Bishop’s Chaplains for the Ordinary”), with Bishop Stewart preaching to his assembled Synod flock for the last time. Needless to say, there were more than a few damp eyes by the end of the Service. The music, as ever, was spectacular, even by normal DOW standards, with the combined choirs of the Church of the Epiphany and Faith Lutheran joining their voices with the “Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven”. The collection that was taken at the Offertory at the Synod Mass was dedicated to the Anglican Church of the Sunstar, on the Pine Ridge Lakota Indian Reservation near Kyle, South Dakota. Father Francis Apple is the dedicated Priest there, and he was greatly in need of a new automobile — and the reservation always needs propane-gas for heat during the long winter season. Thanks to the generosity of the Diocese of the West, over $3,000.00 was raised for the Anglican Mission to the Lakota Sioux peoples.

After a scrumptious dinner at the Phoenix American-Italian Club, (again, cooked and hosted by the Church of the Epiphany — there is no way to thank them enough for their service to the Diocese of the West!) — it was soon off to bed (or, to the now-famous “Hospitality Suite” in “Room 105”) to rest and pray for the next-day’s festivities.

After Matins and Mass in the morning, the Synod opened on Friday with more Prayer, led by the beloved Bishop Stewart — and moved directly to the election of the new Bishop. In very orderly fashion, the Archdeacon and DOW Chancellor David Smith divided the House of Clergy from the House of Laity — and official ballots were passed out.

For the first time in anyone’s memory, the election of DOW Bishop Ordinary was a “first ballot” affair — with Father Daren K. Williams being elected as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of the West. After a rousing round of applause from the assembled clergy, delegates and observers, Fr. Williams stood behind the rostrum, genuinely and visibly moved and humbled by the experience, and led the Synod in his first prayer as Bishop-elect.

Many delegates on the floor of Synod and in the hallways were heard to say; “Surely the Holy Spirit was with us today!”

The Synod closed with the traditional Synod Banquet (a Friday evening affair, with two kinds of fish on the menu!) And as always, although the importance of dispatching the business of the Diocese was not overlooked— the Fellowship and the annual “getting reacquainted” with fellow clergy and members of the Body of Christ from all over the geographically massive Diocese of the West — was far-and-away the best part!

The Diocese of the West again extends its thanks to the Church of the Epiphany for a “job well done” — says “thank you” to Bishop James Stewart with the most profound gratitude possible - and wishes Bishop-elect Fr. Daren K. Williams Godspeed, good luck and all of the blessings possible as he leads the DOW boldly into the next decade!

Last edited on Thursday, May 15, 2008 01:11 PT.