Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
10/28/2009
The Bishop of Western Kansas, the Rt. Rev. James M. Adams has resigned his episcopacy and will take a parish in the Diocese of Central Florida under Bishop John W. Howe.
Bishop Adams wrote that the Domestic Missionary Partnership of $55,000 (from the National Church), begun four years ago, has changed and is no longer supporting the diocese’s base budget, only ministries. It leaves the diocese financially vulnerable.
In a Pastoral Letter to the diocese he wrote, “As most of you know, our recent Diocesan Convention revealed the Diocese’s weaknesses as it has struggled to be a Diocese. Assessment rates, which have hampered ministries in local congregations, was no surprise to this Convention, and the expenses of a full time Diocesan Bishop and his office have led to the realization that Western Kansas needs to decide how best to continue Christ’s ministry as The Episcopal Church in two thirds of the State of Kansas. Unfortunately, for all the options to be considered, a sitting Diocesan Bishop would not be helpful, neither to the process nor to the ongoing fiscal responsibilities of the Diocese.”
Adams said he did not specifically resign because of the diocese financial situation, but due more to his own calling to return to congregational ministry. “The two needs have just coincided to bring about the realization that I am being called back into congregational work and this part of God’s Kingdom is being called to something new.”
Adams has been Diocesan Bishop for 8 years.
The diocese will be run by Fr. Mark Cowell and The Standing Committee as they become the Ecclesiastical Authority beginning February 1, 2010.
Adams will take over a mission congregation: Shepherd of the Hills in Lecanto, Florida, Bishop John W. Howe told VOL. “They received a significant financial settlement following a road widening project which will help them in building their new worship facility. We expect them to become a parish this year.” Howe said the parish has excellent lay leadership, and the parish is placed in the center of a rapidly growing, largely retirement, community. “I expect it to explode under +Jim's leadership.”
END
| Poster | Thread |
|---|---|
| OnTheRight | Posted: 2009/10/28 19:00 Updated: 2009/10/28 19:00 |
Not too shy to talk   Joined: 2008/4/9 From: Decatur, Georgia Posts: 31 |
 Re: Bishop of Western Kansas ResignsFrom Salina KS to Citrus Co. FL-- that is a rather stark contrast! Anyway, prayers and best wishes to Rev Adams as he begins this new chapter.
Prayers and best wishes, too, to the people of the Diocese of Western Kansas. It would appear that juncture with the Diocese of Kansas is coming over the horizon. |
| Statmann | Posted: 2009/10/28 23:00 Updated: 2009/10/28 23:00 |
Just can't stay away   Joined: 2008/11/20 From: Posts: 91 |
Re: Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns Seriously doubt that Diocese of Kansas would want to annex West Kansas. In 2008, Kansas had an average of 265 Members, average ASA of 100, and average Plate & Pledge of $165 thousand. In 2008, West Kansas had an average of 70 Members, average ASA of 27, and average Plate & Pledge of $30 thousand. Of the 31 parishes in West Kansas only ONE had Plate & Pledge over $150 thousand. (And the Cathedral in Salina saw its Plate & Pledge plunge from $160 thousand in 2007 to under $20 thousand in 2008!) Why would Kansas (with its own declining Members and ASA and flat Plate & Pledge) want this economic wasteland? Statmann
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| Sodslaw | Posted: 2009/10/29 1:19 Updated: 2009/10/29 1:19 |
Home away from home   Joined: 2007/8/3 From: Orthodox Bunker Posts: 330 |
Re: Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns Another one bites the dust!
Adams is a good man, life will not be the same for those he leaves behind, what will become of them? |
| OnTheRight | Posted: 2009/10/29 8:18 Updated: 2009/10/29 8:18 |
Not too shy to talk Joined: 2008/4/9 From: Decatur, Georgia Posts: 31 |
Re: Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns "Seriously doubt that Diocese of Kansas would want to annex West Kansas."
I don't think it's a question of wanting it or not, on the part of either diocese. I think it's a question of whether TEC churches within the Diocese of West Kansas are, in fact, able to sustain themselves as a separate diocese. If they cannot, they will of necessity be joined to some other diocese(s). |
| xenophore | Posted: 2009/10/30 5:26 Updated: 2009/10/30 5:26 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2005/7/25 From: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 158 |
 Re: Bishop of Western Kansas ResignsQuote:
If they cannot, they will of necessity be joined to some other diocese(s). These days, it's more likely that Hurricane --Kate will swoop in, exercise her (non-existent) primatial authority, and order all the remaining parishes to be sold with the proceeds going to TEO's legal offense fund. |
| Statmann | Posted: 2009/10/30 19:09 Updated: 2009/10/30 19:09 |
Just can't stay away Joined: 2008/11/20 From: Posts: 91 |
Re: Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns Bishops are becoming rare in dioceses with low Plate & Pledge. Based on 2008, the five dioceses with the lowest Plate & Pledge are:
Northern Michigan VACANT Western Kansas VACANT in March 2010 North Dakota Wants to go to Louisiana Eau Claire VACANT Eastern Oregon VACANT (Provisional ?) Little chance of a "golden parachute" in any of these dioceses. Statmann |
| xenophore | Posted: 2009/10/30 20:04 Updated: 2009/10/30 20:04 |
Home away from home Joined: 2005/7/25 From: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 158 |
Re: Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns Statmann, don't forget the faux dioceses of Fort Worth, Pittburgh, Quincy, and San Joaquin are also without full-time bishops. So much real estate for Hurricane --Kate to swoop in and sell…
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| Andrewes | Posted: 2009/11/4 18:02 Updated: 2009/11/4 18:02 |
Just popping in  Joined: 2008/9/22 From: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 5 |
Re: Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns I have heard only great things about Bishop Adams from my friends in Kansas.
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| Chico | Posted: 2009/11/7 15:31 Updated: 2009/11/7 15:31 |
Just popping in Joined: 2006/10/5 From: Posts: 4 |
Re: Bishop of Western Kansas Resigns This is a disturbing trend in the church, where dioceses can no longer financially support a bishop. There are a growing number of examples of this.
Bishop Adams is just a few years off from retirement. In the "old days" Bishop Adams would have finished out his term as bishop, retired, and then, perhaps, moved to Central Florida to assist Bishop Howe or take on a parish as interim. Financial realities no longer allow that luxury. |
