GEORGIA: Bishop announces retirement plans
Episcopal News Service. February 23, 2008 [022308-02]
Lisa B. Hamilton
Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Bishop Henry I. Louttit has announced his plans to retire from episcopal ministry when the 10th bishop of Georgia is consecrated.
Louttit's announcement came during the diocese's 186th convention February 7-9 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta.
In his convention address, Louttit asked, "Why should we belong to a Church in which there are people who do not agree with us [as a] parish, diocese, national denomination, World Communion?" After noting that "the Bible does not show all faithful people agreeing," the bishop concluded, "The point is we need diversity to serve in God's richly diverse world."
Louttit announced that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will visit the diocese September 12-14.
The convention passed resolutions to:
- Create a commission to review the voting process in the diocese;
- Better define the function and structure of the convocation using a system of convocations;
- Clarify the process for missions to apply for parish status.
A resolution also passed urging General Convention to work diligently to provide better health care benefits for clergy and lay employees of the Episcopal Church.
The convention passed a 2008 budget of $1,747,838.
Retired Bishop Ernest Shalita of the Diocese of Muhubura in the Anglican Church of Uganda spoke about African Team Ministries, Inc and preached at the closing Eucharist.
The Diocese of Georgia includes 18,561 members worshipping in 71 parishes.