Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Bob Bennett Elected Bishop of Huron
On Saturday, October 25, the Rt. Rev. Robert Bennett was elected the 12th Bishop of Huron. On the second ballot, he received 111 votes from the clergy and 263 from the laity, Rev. Canon Christopher Pratt received 15 clergy and 45 lay votes. Dean Terry Dance, Archdeacon Richard Salt, Rev. Canon Kim Van Allen and Dean Peter Wall all dropped out after the first ballot.Bishop Bennett has been Bishop of Norfolk, the Suffragan Bishop of Huron since 2002. Just before the election he answered the question What do you see as our Diocese’s greatest opportunity, and, its greatest challenge? by saying:
"We have just come through our 150th anniversary year as a diocese. Our sesquicentennial was an opportunity to celebrate who we are and what has shaped us as a diocesan family. We certainly did it well! We are also at the tail end of the 'Who is my neighbour?' study that will reveal in some detail who we are as the Huron of 2008. The challenge before us is to use the 'bounce' of the 150th and the detailed data contained within the study to garner the energy and hopefulness to actually make the journey God wills for us. The roadblocks are well known to all of us including lethargy, fatigue, aging congregants, too many old and inappropriately located buildings as well as a dearth of young persons and young adults. The initial response by the diocese to these challenges is rather exciting by adding three new ministries (youth-stewardship-congregational development). The next few years in our corporate life look very exciting."
Bishop Bennett will be enthroned January 10th, 2009.
