Panama Fails To Elect Bishop
Episcopal News Service. October 14, 1982 [82220]
PANAMA CITY (DPS, Oct. 14) -- After eight ballots with no election, the Episcopal Bishop of Panama, Lemuel B. Shirley, adjourned a diocesan convention assembled here on Oct. 9 to elect a bishop coadjutor for this diocese.
None of the three contending candidates was able to receive the majority of the votes in the clerical order. The Rev. Dennis N. Josiah, 52, rector of St. Alban's Church, Paraiso, obtained the majority in the lay order from the beginning.
The other candidates were the Rev. James H. Ottley, 46, rector of St. Paul's Church, Panama City and Executive Secretary of the Ninth Province; and the Rev. Clarence W. Hayes, 54, Principal of Colegio San Cristobal, also in Panama City.
The convention was held at the Cathedral of St. Luke's, Balboa, and there were 13 clergy and 62 voting lay delegates.
The Anglican presence in Panama goes back to 1852. In 1906 it became a missionary district of the American Episcopal Church. At present there are more than 17,407 baptized members in the diocese.
No date has been set for the next convention to proceed with the election.
The bishop coadjutor will succeed Shirley, 66, when he retires.