The Good News • December 2007

My time with the PB

About a year ago, a committee of two appeared in the chapel at Grove City College while I was teaching. Inquiring what they were up to, I discovered that the college chapel was being considered as the venue for the consecration of the new bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Shortly afterward I had been asked to be the organist for the consecration which indeed would be at the college chapel. I knew that history was in the making, especially when I learned that the new Presiding Bishop would be there.

Fast-forward to September — after much work with the planning committee, it was the day of the rehearsal. After a day of teaching, the rehearsal would consume most of Friday evening. Gradually the chapel filled with the bishops and other clergy that would lead the service the next morning. Of course, it was great to see the bishop-elect, a GCC grad no less, and I was pleased to see two of our Ohio bishops, Bishop Williams and Bishop Hollingsworth. Bishop Hollingsworth remembered me from St. John's & our chat quickly led to how the summer fishing went. But then the presiding bishop appeared — Katherine Jefferts-Schiori — and she was clearly the leader. I didn't get to meet her Friday night, but hoped that there would be time following the consecration.

The consecration service was one of those career highlights that one never forgets. The congregational singing was incredible & my sources told me later that this could be heard clear across the quad! It was a thrill to see a former student become the youngest bishop in the Episcopal Church — truly a great day in the kingdom for sure.

After the ceremony a large reception was held and most of those in attendance were there. As luck would have it, Bishop Katherine was not so far behind me in the food line & thanks to the Dean of the cathedral in Erie, I had a few minutes alone with the Presiding Bishop. We chatted about the music for the consecration & then on to her skill as a pilot. That is the one thing she misses most — she had just been on vacation in Nevada & had to leave her plane behind — not quite fast enough to get her around in the new role. I found her to be so approachable and easy to engage. She is a very smart person & seems very comfortable in her role as our Presiding Bishop.

I told her that we had tried to get her to St. John's for the next morning, but she did indicate that she would be making a longer visit to Ohio at some point. Hopefully St. John's will be on her itinerary — it would be wonderful to welcome her to St. John's. Keep your fingers crossed!

Dick Konzen