Delaware Bishop Plans to Retire
Episcopal News Service. March 28, 1985 [85072]
WILMINGTON, Del. (DPS, March 28) -- The Rt. Rev. William H. Clark, who has been bishop of the Diocese of Delaware for the past ten years, has announced his plans to retire at the end of 1985. Clark, who will be 66 at the time of his retirement, came to Delaware from Massachusetts, where he was executive director of the Worcester County Ecumenical Council. Before that, he was rector of St. Andrews's Church in Wellesly, Mass.
Clark succeeded Bishop William Mead who died at the age of 53, after serving five years as bishop.
Clark's interest in ecumenism carried over into his episcopate in Delaware. To commemorate his years as bishop and to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Diocese of Delaware, an ecumenical service is planned for May 5 at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Del.
During Clark's term as bishop, he coordinated the diocese's fund raising program with the national Church's Venture in Mission. More than $2.5 million was raised to support diocesan programs at home and abroad.
Under Clark's guidance, a Companion relationship with the Diocese of Haiti was begun and renewed for a second two-year period.
During the transition period, an interim bishop will provide episcopal services, visitations and pastoral care. The Standing Committee of the Diocese will be the ecclesiastical authority until a new bishop is consecrated. According to the schedule, the interim bishop will serve from Sept. 15, 1985, to June 30, 1986. The new bishop is expected to be elected in June, 1986 and consecrated in October.
A profile development committee and a committee for search and nomination will work during the period to produce a slate of candidates to be voted on at a special convention of the diocese.
Clark and his wife Rosemary plan to move back to Massachusetts following his retirement to be near family and friends in the area where he spent most of his ministry.