RIO GRANDE: Bishop-elect Michael Louis Vono completes consent process
Episcopal News Service. August 3, 2010 [080310-04]
ENS staff
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's office announced Aug. 3 that Bishop-elect Michael Louis Vono of the Diocese of the Rio Grande has received the required number of consents from bishops with jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees to his ordination and consecration.
Vono, 61, was elected April 24 as ninth bishop of Rio Grande on the third ballot out of a field of six nominees. He received 150 votes of 189 cast in the lay order and 69 of 86 cast in the clergy order. An election on that ballot required 106 in the lay order and 64 in the clergy order.
His consecration and ordination is slated for Oct. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The presiding bishop will officiate.
Most recently Vono served as the rector of St. Paul's Within the Walls, Rome, Italy.
Vono will succeed Jeffrey Steenson, who announced in September 2007 that he was leaving the Episcopal Church to join the Roman Catholic Church. The Rt. Rev. William C. Frey, retired bishop of the Diocese of Colorado, has been serving Rio Grande as assisting bishop.
While Vono has received the necessary majority of consents, consents will continue to be accepted up to and including the Sept. 11 deadline.
As outlined under Canon III.11.4 (a),the presiding bishop confirmed the receipt of consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction (diocesan bishops only), and has also reviewed the evidence of consents from a majority of the diocesan standing committees of the church.