Dear Friends,
I am delighted to share great news with you. The Standing Committee has selected the location for the consecration of our eighth bishop diocesan on July 11, 2026: All Saints, Pasadena.
All Saints is the largest church in our diocese, with seating for 800 in the main sanctuary and an additional 400 in auxiliary spaces where the service will be livestreamed. And it is air-conditioned, a major plus in July!
All Saints also offers spacious areas for clergy vesting before the service and a reception afterward. It is close to hotels for out-of-town guests and there is ample nearby parking. It met or exceeded all our criteria as we considered numerous locations for the consecration.
All Saints’ priest-in-charge, the Rev. Tim Rich, says, “It is always a joy when the diocese comes together to see the rich tapestry of our composition. But it will be a particular privilege for All Saints to welcome the diocese for such a special occasion.”
I want to place the plans for the consecration of our next bishop in the context of the guidance of our Presiding Bishop, Sean Rowe. Bishop Rowe’s consecration was a modest event in the chapel at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City rather than a major (and very expensive) event at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Modeling fiscal responsibility and good use of resources, our Presiding Bishop encourages dioceses to hold their consecrations in churches rather than in alternate venues at greater cost. He urges electing dioceses to focus their energy and resources on new initiatives of mission and ministry with their new bishop rather than on a single day’s celebration. Our current bishop, John Harvey Taylor, joins the Standing Committee in bearing these thoughts in mind as we plan a gracious, memorable, and sacred event for our new bishop.
There is much work to be done in the next 11 months, and many details to be worked out, but let me share some highlights:
- A ticketing plan for those who wish to attend the service in person will be announced closer to the consecration date.
- The service will be livestreamed, and we will encourage the option of watch parties around the diocese for those who, perhaps due to challenges of distance or mobility, are unable attend in person. This is another learning from our Presiding Bishop’s consecration, when Episcopalians around the world gathered locally to worship and rejoice together. We want to bring the entire diocese together to share in the festivities and underscore that our diocese extends beyond the city of Los Angeles.
- Our Transitions Committee, currently planning the candidate meet-and-greets around the diocese the week of October 20, will handle the hospitality aspects of the consecration weekend.
- A Consecration Committee will be formed soon to plan the liturgical aspects of the consecration.
We will work closely with the Presiding Bishop’s office as we plan the consecration service, and we will want our bishop-elect to be as involved as possible in all aspects of the weekend.
Meanwhile, please watch for the announcement of the slate of candidates in mid-September; plan to attend the meet-and-greets the week of October 20; and prepare for the election of our next bishop by Diocesan Convention the weekend of November 7-8. An exciting time for the whole diocese awaits as we prepare to begin a new ministry with our bishop-elect.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Dr. Kate Cress
President of the Standing Committee