Dear Friends in Christ:

Since late August 2017 – since I began to say publicly that I had decided to call for the election of my successor – I have heard myself saying, emphatically and often: “It’s too soon to say ‘Goodbye.’ We have a lot of work yet to do, and a lot of time yet before us.” That was not just my seeking to avoid the emotional labor of a prolonged parting; we really have had a lot of work to attend to. This process has not included pressing the ‘Pause’ button.

But now – almost suddenly, it seems – it is time. Time to say “Goodbye.” Or, at least, “So long; I’ll be seeing you someday,” since Ann and I will continue living here, and (after a decent interval) will return to being part of this Diocesan family, but in a new way. It is time to acknowledge the end of my tenure as the VIIth Bishop of the Diocese of Northern California, and the end of the ministry you and I have shared for the past thirteen years.

I greatly appreciate all that the Transition Committee has done to help us do that well. Our recent gatherings at St. John’s, Petaluma, Trinity Cathedral, and All Saints’, Redding, have been wonderfully, joyfully meaningful moments. Thanks, again, to all of you who hosted or participated in those events, for making it so. Thank you for your kind words, your blessings, and your gifts – especially the fantastic gift of a Rhine River cruise! Ann and I are very happy and excited to begin planning that trip.

I thank God for this Diocese. I thank God for you all, and for the many ministries of radical hospitality, authentic Christian witness, worship-centered discipleship, deep spirituality, and compassionately generous outreach manifest in our congregations.

We have done true and holy work together. It has been an incredible privilege and joy to be partners together with Christ in his ministry here. There are many challenges ahead of you but also considerable resources available to you. The ‘Golden Age’ of this diocese has yet to come. I hope that I have helped to nudge us that direction, and I hope to be around to see more of it. Our Bishop-Elect will do a magnificent job of leading you there, and our Office of the Bishop staff will partner with her and continue to support you faithfully and effectively. I confidently entrust you to them, and, with them, I entrust you all to the care and keeping of the Good Shepherd – whose Church this is.

I am so very grateful. And I know that Ann, who has loved this Diocese even longer than I, is grateful, too. Thank you, God bless you. And may the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with you always.

Faithfully Yours,

The Office of the Bishop is closed on Monday, July 1 to give our staff an additional rest day after their hard work at the consecration. We will reopen the following day, Tuesday, July 2 at 9 a.m.

The office is also closed on Thursday, July 4 for Independence Day. We will be opening the following day, Friday, July 5.

The link to the live-stream of the consecration is now available! You may use this link to view the consecration.

The full video will also be available via the same link after the consecration is over.

Your tickets to enter the Mondavi Center were mailed to you last week. If you have not received your ticket(s), please contact Maria Acuna-Feldman at [email protected]. You MUST have a ticket to attend the consecration. If you have any issues with your ticket(s) the day of the consecration, there will be a ticket help table near the front of the Mondavi Center.

The consecration will begin at 11 a.m. and run until about 1 p.m. There will a reception immediately following the service. 

The celebration color is red! Please wear red if you wish to/are able to.

You are invited to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral for the Seating of our new Bishop, The Rev. Canon Megan Traquair, who will be consecrated the previous day. The seating of a bishop is an ancient ceremony in which the bishop is seated in the cathedra or the bishop's chair. The word cathedral is based on cathedra and the placement of this specific chair in this building is what makes Trinity, in this case, a cathedral. Bishop Megan will also be preaching and celebrating Holy Eucharist at this service. 

Live-stream of the seating will be available at 11:15 a.m. on the diocesan Facebook page!

The Seating of the Eighth Bishop of Northern California

Sunday, June 30, 2019

11:15 AM

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

2620 Capitol Avenue

Sacramento, CA

Diocesan clergy are invited to sit with the congregation. No Vesting.