Western Diocese Of Louisiana Organized
Episcopal News Service. November 1, 1979 [79324]
ALEXANDRIA, La. -- Delegates to the primary convention of the newly formed Episcopal diocese in Louisiana have selected a name for their jurisdiction: the Episcopal Church in the Western Diocese of Louisiana.
The General Convention of the Episcopal Church gave approval in September to the division of the Diocese of Louisiana and the new body was formally organized at its first convention, Oct. 11-12, at St. James' Church, Alexandria.
The convention also gave approval to a new constitution and canons and elected a standing committee to serve as the ecclesiastical authority until the election of a bishop.
The Atchafalaya River separates the two dioceses. The Western Diocese of Louisiana includes the entire western and northern sections of the state, with 41 civil parishes (counties), 30 church parishes, 13 missions and 43 priests. Communicants number 13,000. The continuing Diocese of Louisiana, whose see city is New Orleans, has 53 parishes/missions and 15,800 communicants.
The Rt. Rev. James Barrow Brown announced to the General Convention in Denver that he will remain the bishop of the continuing Diocese of Louisiana. He has served in that post since 1976.
Bishop Brown presided at the Primary Convention and the Rt. Rev. David E. Richards, Director of the Office of Pastoral Development, was guest preacher.
The new diocese will meet in convention Feb. 8-9 in Bossier City. At that time details for the election of a bishop will be worked out. The new bishop will select the see city, which may be the centrally located Alexandria.