April 17, 2008

Contact:  Press Officer Heidi Shott

heidomaine@gmail.com / 207.592.7353

Episcopal Diocese to consecrate Ninth Bishop of Maine on May 3

[PORTLAND] – The Rev. Canon Stephen Taylor Lane will be consecrated Bishop-Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine at 11 a.m. on  Saturday, May 3, 2008, at the Cathedral of St. Luke.  The Cathedral is located at 143 State Street in Portland.

Lane, who was elected from among three nominees by clergy and lay representatives of Maine's 67 Episcopal congregations on October 26, 2007, previously served as Canon for Deployment (helping congregations in search of a new priest) and Ministry Development in the Diocese of Rochester, New York.

As Bishop-Coadjutor, Lane will work alongside Maine's current bishop, the Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen, until her retirement in September 2008.  Earlier that month, Lane will be officially installed as the diocesan bishop.  Knudsen announced her retirement and called for the election of a Coadjutor at the annual diocesan convention in October 2005.  A search committee with clergy and lay representatives from across Maine conducted a nationwide search which resulted in Lane's election last year.

The consecration of a new bishop is one of the most festive and celebratory of all Episcopal services.  The Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori who is the first woman to lead a religious denomination in the U.S., will serve as the Chief Consecrator.  Bishop Knudsen and other bishops from New England dioceses will also participate in the service.

In addition to Saturday's consecration, on Friday, May 2, Jefferts Schori will meet with clergy members from across Maine. On Saturday, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. she will celebrate the Eucharist and preach (in Spanish) at a service of Mision San Lucas, the diocesan Hispanic ministry, at the Cathedral of St. Luke.  On Sunday, May 4 at 10 a.m. Jefferts Schori will preside and preach at Christ Episcopal Church in Biddeford.

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At 2 p.m. on Friday, May 2, Bishop Coadjutor-Elect Lane, Bishop Knudsen and Bishop Jefferts Schori will hold a press conference in the parish hall of the Cathedral of St. Luke.  Jefferts Schori will also be available for a very limited number of brief interviews over the course of the weekend.   Bishop Coadjutor-Elect Lane and Bishop Knudsen are available for interviews prior to the consecration weekend.  Please contact Press Officer Heidi Shott to schedule.

While we are not requesting that media representative be credentialed in advance for the consecration, we would appreciate a call or email to Press Officer Heidi Shott to indicate your intention to attend. Please check in with her at the entrance of the Cathedral between 9:45 and 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 3.  No flash photography will be allowed in the Cathedral during the service.

Questions? Clarifications? Requests for interviews with Bishop-elect Lane or Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori? Contact Press Officer Heidi Shott at heidomaine@gmail.com or 207.592.7353.