- Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
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Location of the Diocese of North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, founded in 1817, roughly corresponds to the segment of the U.S. state of North Carolina between I-77 in the west and I-95 in the east, including the most populous area of the state. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Durham are the largest cities in the diocese. The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina lies to the west extending into the Appalachian Mountains, and the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina lies to the east extending to the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
About the diocese
The Diocese of North Carolina has no cathedral, but its offices are in downtown Raleigh. It meets in annual convention in January. Between conventions, the Diocese is administered by a Diocesan Council in conjunction with diocesan staff.
The Eleventh Bishop of North Carolina is the Right Reverend Michael Bruce Curry. He is assisted by the Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg, based in Charlotte, and on a part-time basis by the Rt. Rev. Alfred C. "Chip" Marble, Jr., based in Greensboro. Retired bishops of the diocese are the Rt. Rev. Robert Estill, the Rt. Rev. Huntington Williams (suffragan), the Rt. Rev. Robert C. Johnson, and the Rt. Rev. J. Gary Gloster (suffragan).
Congregations in the Diocese vary from conservative to liberal and from low church to high church, but the Diocese itself is generally considered moderate and is highly supportive of the Episcopal Church. Consisting of approximately 48,000 communicants,[1] the Diocese is the tenth largest in the nation and has shown a 3% compound annual growth rate over the last ten years. The density of Episcopalians varies across the Diocese but is highest in Wake County, the capital county.
Programs and Institutions
Principal programs of the Diocese are its campus ministry (North Carolina State University, St. Augustine's College, Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Davidson University); and social ministry, notably the Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry in Newton Grove, a joint venture with the Diocese of East Carolina. The Diocese no longer operates a camp and conference center, having sold its facility near Browns Summit, North Carolina to the State of North Carolina for use as Haw River State Park. However, the Diocese maintains an active youth program. Although not run by the diocese, independent Episcopal Schools such as St. Mary's School and St. David's School, and the former Episcopal Ravenscroft School.
Other major institutions affiliated with the Diocese are Penick Village in Southern Pines, a retirement community; and Thompson Child and Family Focus in Charlotte, a youth services ministry.
In a state with a growing Latino population, the Diocese supports a Chartered Committee on Hispanic Ministry. The committee provides liturgical and pastoral resources, supports congregations' service and outreach among Latinas and Latinos, and advocates for immigration reform and other laws to protect the rights of migrant workers.
References
- ^ As announced by Bishop Curry at the Diocese's 2007 Convention
External links
Categories:- Episcopal dioceses of the United States
- Christianity in North Carolina
- Religious organizations established in 1817
- Episcopal churches in North Carolina
- Anglican dioceses established in the 19th century
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