Bishop Henton Invested in New Diocese
Episcopal News Service. September 25, 1980 [80330]
ALEXANDRIA, La. -- The recognition and investiture of the Rt. Rev. Willis Ryan Henton as the first Bishop of the Western Diocese of Louisiana was held at the Rapides Coliseum here on September 20. Bishop Henton is the first diocesan bishop in the Episcopal Church to be translated from one diocese to another since the Church's Constitution was amended in 1967 to permit such a transfer. He had previously been Bishop of Northwest Texas for nine years.
Presiding Bishop John M. Allin, who was the preacher at the service, was in charge of the investiture of the new bishop. The Western Diocese of Louisiana came into being about a year ago following approval of the General Convention in 1979 to the division of the Diocese of Louisiana.
The Rt. Rev. James B. Brown, Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, was also a leading participant in the investiture of the new bishop, which was witnessed by some 2,000 persons.
The Rev. Foster L. Chambers, president of the diocese's Standing Committee, presented Bishop Henton with the pastoral staff. With his hand on the Bible, Bishop Henton took the oath to fulfill the responsibilities of the office of bishop of the diocese. The Bible was brought to the altar by the Rev. Eugene Lyman Warner, diocesan administrator.
Bishop Henton was chief celebrant at the eucharist.
The Atchafalaya River separates the two Episcopal dioceses in the state of Louisiana. The Western Diocese includes the entire northern and western sections of the L-shaped state, with 41 civil parishes (counties), 43 church parishes and missions, 43 priests and 13,000 communicants. The see city of the continuing Diocese of Louisiana is New Orleans.
The diocese occupies offices at 909 Sixth Street (P.O. Box 4046), Alexandria, La. 71301 (Tel.: 318/442-1304).