Bishops-elect in Connecticut, Oregon receive church's consent for ordination
Episcopal News Service. March 16, 2010 [031610-03]
ENS staff
Bishops-elect in the dioceses of Connecticut and Oregon have received the required consent of the wider church to their ordinations and consecrations.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's office March 16 announced successful consent processes for the Rev. Ian T. Douglas of Connecticut and the Rev. Michael Joseph Hanley of Oregon.
Douglas was elected bishop on Oct. 24 and his ordination and consecration is planned for April 17. Hanley was elected on Nov. 20 and his ordination and consecration is set for April 10. Jefferts Schori will be the chief consecrator in each instance.
Douglas most recently served as Angus Dun Professor of Mission and World Christianity at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He will succeed Bishop Andrew Smith, who served the Connecticut diocese since 1999 and retired in January 2010.
Hanley was rector of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Roseville, Minnesota. He was elected to succeed Bishop Johncy Itty, who resigned from his diocesan position at the end of 2008.
Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4), a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to a bishop-elect's ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of the election.
As outlined under Canon III.11.4 (a) for every bishop election, the presiding bishop confirms the receipt of consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction, and reviews the evidence of consents from diocesan standing committees sent to her by the standing committee of the electing diocese.
The consent process begins after post-election procedural matters, including physical and psychological examinations, have been completed and formal notices are sent by the presiding bishop's office to bishops with jurisdiction, with separate notices from the electing diocese to the standing committees of each of the dioceses in the Episcopal Church.