MAINE: One of the church's 'happiest bishops' reflects on retirement
Episcopal News Service. August 18, 2008 [081808-02]
Lisa B. Hamilton
The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, 61, bishop of the Diocese of Maine, who considers herself "one of the happiest bishops in the Episcopal Church," will retire at the end of this month. Knudsen was consecrated March 28, 1998.
"I'm finding myself looking back a lot these days," she says, "and the emblematic moments seem to have to do with the moments of beginnings and endings in which the community gathers, especially funerals for clergy and ordaining people.
"It comes down to simple ministry of presence," Knudsen says. "I knew in my head that's part of what bishops do, but living it has brought it home."
Knudsen lists her accomplishments in terms of relationship. Top of her list is "participating in the change of the Maine diocesan culture. I've seen, through slow and gradual growth, the ways in which we as a diocese have been blessed. There’s a stronger sense of unity, of partnership among churches, between the bishop and churches, of community among one another."
Knudsen's list of accomplishments also includes establishing a Deacon's Formation Program, beginning a companion relationship with the Diocese of Haiti, and exceeding a goal of $3 million in a capital campaign, "One in Christ," to fund the renovation of archives and campus ministry facilities, to provide clergy internships and salary justice for the diocese's least-well paid clergy, and to form and develop a communications ministry.
The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, current bishop coadjutor of Maine, will be seated and invested as ninth bishop of the diocese on September 13 at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, Maine.
Knudsen and her husband, Michael, will continue to live in Maine, "in part because of its beauty, in both landscape and people." She describes their fellow Mainers as "gracious, honest, creative, mutually-supportive, outward-looking and Christ-centered."
"Maine is exquisitely beautiful," says Knudsen, who had been to the state as a summer visitor for short periods a few times prior to her election. Living in beauty, she says, has profoundly affected her spiritually. "My relationship with Christ is now more deeply related to creation. I feel fed, nurtured, closer to Christ because of the beauty of this place. Sometimes I go speechless when trying to describe the majesty and grandeur of hearing the waves crash on the coast, or seeing the sun set over a mountain or gazing on the open, rolling hills of northern Maine. I have many favorite prayer places in this state, and they're all breathtakingly beautiful."
Knudsen continues, "Maybe because I have so many profoundly peaceful places to pray here, I feel myself called to silence. My spiritual life needs to be a place of strengthening and recovering. For a person as extroverted and busy, always turning over ideas and thoughts and plans, it’s a gift of God to me that when I turn it all off, I'm given the grace to be quiet."
"In terms of my retirement," the bishop muses, "I can't wait to see how it will all tumble out. Maybe I’ll find myself working my way back to a prayer life with more content as content of professional life diminishes."
After a few months of rest and relaxation with family, the Knudsens will travel to the former Iron Curtain countries. "Some people have a hobby of carving wooden statues," she says. "Mine is studying the impact of new democracies on religion. What happens spiritually when the curtain lifts on recent totalitarian regimes and religion comes out?"
In January, Knudsen will begin commuting missionary work with the Diocese of Haiti. "Opportunity for retired bishops in the Episcopal Church is huge," says Knudsen, "especially since we all promised to work toward the MDG goals in our personal life at Lambeth. We'll take stock of my work with our companion diocese of Haiti at General Convention," she says.
"Only God knows what my retirement will hold, but when it’s revealed, I hope it will be plain enough for me to see."
Four farewell parties where people can gather and wish Knudsen well will be held in different parts of Maine between August 23 and September 12. The program for each gathering will include a multimedia presentation, and playful tributes will be offered. To attend any of the parties, make reservations with Amy by August 20 at 207-882-7184.