9th Bishop of Albany consecrated
Saturday 16 September was a special day for our link diocese of Albany. The Rev Bill Love, 48 years old and previously rector of St Mary's in Lake Luzerne, was consecrated as the 9th Bishop of Albany diocese in a ceremony of pageantry and song at the Albany Empire State Convention Centre. Bishops came from all over the United States and our own Bishop Harold and Archdeacon Gregor McCamley were there to represent Down & Dromore.
Hundreds of priests, deacons, lay participants, family and friends filled the convention centre. It was an emotionally charged occasion, especially for those from the small Episcopal parish in Warren County where Bishop Bill had ministered since 1992. Before that he was Dean's vicar at the Cathedral, and an Air Intelligence Officer in the Air Force. He is married to Karen (who is a pilot in the US Air Force) and they have two teenage children.
During the service Bishop Bill's son, Christopher, and daughter, Catherine, read scripture passages and Bishop Michael Flynn of California, a friend of Bishop Bill's, preached the sermon. Bishop David Ball, retired Bishop of Albany, had the task of lowering an ornate mitre onto the newly consecrated bishop's head. The reception following the consecration was held in the Cathedral of All Saints.
Through our diocesan link Bishop Bill has visited Down & Dromore on a number of occasions and will be returning for the first time as Bishop to attend the Clergy Conference in Donegal next month.
During the next three years Bishop Dan Herzog will retire and Bishop Bill will at that stage take over as bishop of the 19 country diocese of Albany.