Episcopal Press and News

Dioceses of Rochester and Connecticut Elect Bishops

Episcopal News Service. June 30, 1999 [99-098]

(ENS) Two diocesan bishops were elected at conventions held on June 19. Bishop Jack McKelvey was chosen bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Rochester on June 19. McKelvey, who currently is suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Newark, edged ahead of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson of New Hampshire on the fifth ballot at the convention at St. Thomas' Church in Bath, New York.

The three other candidates included the Rev. Canon Mark Scheneman of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, the Rev. David Selzer of the Diocese of Western New York and the Very Rev. Gladstone "Skip" Adams III of the Diocese of Central New York.

Attention was focused on the election because Robinson, canon to the ordinary in New Hampshire, is an openly gay priest. He finished third in the balloting last year for diocesan bishop of Newark -- McKelvey was second.

In Connecticut, Bishop Andrew D. Smith was elected diocesan bishop on the second ballot from a slate of six candidates. He is currently bishop suffragan in the diocese.

Other candidates included the Rev. Leander S. Harding and the Rev. E. Bevan Stanley, both of the Diocese of Connecticut; the Rev. Canon John E. Kitagawa of the Diocese of Maryland; the Rev. Martyn Minns of the Diocese of Virginia, and the Rev. Leslie C. Smith of the Diocese of New Jersey.