ALABAMA: Bishop Henry N. Parsley announces plan to retire in 2011
Episcopal News Service. February 16, 2010 [021610-02]
ENS staff
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Bishop Henry N. Parsley Jr. said Feb. 12 that he plans to retire at the end of 2011.
Parsley, who has served the diocese since 1999 as its 10th bishop, made his announcement during the diocese's 179th convention. He was elected bishop coadjutor in 1996 and became diocesan bishop in 1999.
Parsley called the election of his successor in early summer of 2011 with the new diocesan bishop taking office in fall 2011. He said he would then take the sabbatical time remaining to him and would retire at the end of the year.
"A little more than 15 years is a good, full, long tenure for a bishop and I believe that such an orderly transition is in the fullness of time for us both," Parsley told the convention at the end of his address.
"When I retire it will be 41 years since I entered seminary ... and my 38th year of ordination, which is part of what I mean by the fullness of time, and it continues to be an inestimable gift to serve God and you in this way," the bishop said. "We are a strong and healthy diocese, and I continue to salute you from the bottom of my heart for your steadfast commitment to God's mission and, in the midst of our sometimes challenging times in church, for your spiritual maturity and unity in diversity."
Under his leadership, six new congregations have been established, 13 new churches have been built, seven parishes underwent major expansions, an Episcopal school was founded and two free medical clinics were established, according to a news release from the diocese.
"It is my intention that the mission of the diocese will not miss a beat during the coming months," Parsley said.
The most recent Episcopal Church statistics show that Alabama is one of four Episcopal Church dioceses reporting growth in membership and average Sunday attendance. (Navajoland Area Mission, North Dakota and Wyoming are the other three growing dioceses.)
In addition to its relationship with the Diocese of Haiti, the diocese has also engaged in a companion relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
During his tenure, Parsley reestablished the diaconate in the diocese. Alabama was the first diocese in the Episcopal Church to ordain deaconesses in 1885.
He was instrumental in calling the first Hispanic missioner to the diocese and the establishment of the first freestanding Hispanic congregation, Iglesia de la Gracia in greater Birmingham.
Parsley also oversaw the ACTS2 Campaign, a capital funds drive that has raised $6.2 million for new ministries in the diocese.
He was a nominee for presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in 2006 and is the founder of the Alabama Faith Council, an ecumenical and interfaith organization for the state. Prior to joining the Diocese of Alabama, Parsley served parishes in South Carolina, including Christ Church in Charlotte.
The 31,000-member diocese consists of 91 congregations and a number of institutions in the northern two thirds of the state.