FARMINGTON, N.M. (DPS, Jan. 6) -- Bishop Frederick W. Putnam was honored at a farewell eucharist and banquet shortly before he retired as the first resident bishop of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland.

Putnam took on the post in 1979 after the area mission had been authorized by the 1976 meeting of the General Convention. During an organizing phase, Bishop Otis Charles of Utah had held jurisdiction at the request of Presiding Bishop John M. Allin. Putnam had been suffragan bishop of Oklahoma since 1963.

During his tenure here, he built up a clergy team of seven -- from the two who were ministering at the start -- and has seen the unique area mission grow into a smoothly-working cooperative venture welding the Navajo people of three former dioceses into a cohesive unit.

Plans for Putnam's successor are unclear at this point. Allin could appoint an interim bishop to serve on a part-time basis until a permanent bishop is elected by the House of Bishops which will meet in October.

On Dec. 11, Allin and Putnam were joined by the area mission clergy and by Bishop Richard Trelease of Rio Grande in the eucharist and banquet that hailed Putnam and his wife, Helen, for their work.

Although technically retiring at age 65, Putnam will move on to yet another ministry when he takes up a four-month term as assisting bishop in North Carolina.

A native of Minnesota and a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Putnam served parishes in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Kansas before being elected to the episcopate.