PITTSBURGH: Virginia Bishop Suffragan David Jones takes on consultant role
Episcopal News Service. October 23, 2008 [102308-05]
Bishop Suffragan David Jones of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia has accepted an invitation from the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh to serve as a "consulting bishop" as it rebuilds following a vote by a majority of its leaders to leave the Episcopal Church and realign the diocese with the South America-based Province of the Southern Cone.
As a consultant, Jones will provide practical advice to the Standing Committee -- the ecclesiastical authority on the diocese -- "on the details of diocesan administration, clergy deployment, and support for congregations remaining in the Episcopal Church," according to an October 23 diocesan news release.
"Bishop Jones's experience in Virginia, especially his pastoral care for congregations ... provides us a great resource and guiding hand," said the Rev. James Simons, Standing Committee president and rector of St. Michael's of the Valley in Ligonier.
The former leadership of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, including deposed Bishop Robert Duncan, voted October 4 to leave the Episcopal Church and realign with the Southern Cone, which is led by Archbishop Gregory Venables.
Following the realignment vote, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said that her office "will work to provide support and counsel to Pittsburgh" and the diocese's Standing Committee.
Simons, the only remaining member of the Standing Committee after the vote, announced on October 9 that he had appointed two others to fill vacancies on the committee.
Jefferts Schori recognized those efforts the same day and told the Standing Committee that she had asked Clayton Matthews, bishop for pastoral development, to help them obtain episcopal assistance.
"I believe my strongest spiritual gift is the gift of encouragement," said Jones, 65, who was consecrated the bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Virginia in 1995. "Throughout my entire ordained ministry I have been a listener and a guide. I now offer that to the Episcopalians of Pittsburgh to use as they see fit in rebuilding their diocese. I do not come with any predetermined expectations."
Jones will have no ecclesiastical authority in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and will continue as Virginia's bishop suffragan and maintain his residence in Virginia, according to the diocese's news release.
The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will hold a special convention on December 13 to elect officials to fill vacancies in the diocesan offices. "In the coming months, the Standing Committee will name an assisting bishop to serve until a permanent diocesan bishop is called -- a period that could take up to two years," the diocesan news release said, noting that Jones is expected to lend advice on naming the assistant bishop and continue serving as a consultant until that person is in place.