LOUISIANA: Morris K. Thompson consecrated as diocese's 11th bishop
Episcopal News Service. May 10, 2010 [051010-03]
Matthew Davies
The Very Rev. Morris K. Thompson was ordained and consecrated May 8 as the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana during a two-hour ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans.
More than 750 people attended the cathedral service, but hundreds more observed the consecration remotely as it was broadcast at five locations throughout the diocese.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori served as the chief consecrator, and the co-consecrators were Bishop Duncan Gray of Mississippi, Bishop Stacy Sauls of Lexington, and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Michael Rinehart of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod.
Thompson, 54, former dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, Kentucky (Diocese of Lexington), was elected Dec. 5, 2009, out of a field of six nominees to serve as Louisiana's next bishop.
Thompson succeeds 10th Bishop of Louisiana Charles Jenkins, who announced in December 2008 that he would retire in January 2010, saying that he has struggled with the emotional trauma of Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on the diocese in 2005 and its aftermath. Jenkins served as bishop of Louisiana since 1997.
During the sermon, Sauls acknowledged the challenges that New Orleans has faced since Katrina and recognized the Diocese of Louisiana's commitment to rebuilding people's homes and lives along the Gulf Coast. Sauls said that Thompson is the ideal person to be serving the diocese as bishop at this time.
"I believe with all my heart that Morris has been called to lead this diocese because he is a pastor," Sauls said.
Thompson will be seated at Christ Church Cathedral on Thursday, May 13, during an Ascension Day service at which he'll also preach and celebrate.
On May 7, the evening before the consecration, a reception was held at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans to welcome Thompson and his family to the diocese. Among those attending the reception were two busloads of people from the Diocese of Lexington.
Thompson served congregations in Mississippi and Kentucky before being called to the Lexington cathedral in 1997. Holding the Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Thompson was ordained deacon in December 1990 and priest in June 1991. He and wife Rebecca are parents to two adult children.
A former Marine, Thompson wrote in his answers to the diocesan bishop search committee's questions that he was drawn to Louisiana "because of your need for a pastor, someone who has proven administrative skills, understands the importance of daily prayer life, and has a passion for building strong relationships among colleagues."
The Diocese of Louisiana covers all of south Louisiana, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and includes approximately 18,000 Episcopalians worshipping in 53 congregations.