Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande

The Episcopal Diocese of Rio Grande is the Episcopal diocese in New Mexico and southwest Texas, the portion of the state west of the Pecos River, including the counties of El Paso, Reeves, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Brewster, Presidio, Terrell, Hudspeth and Pecos. The total area of the diocese is 153,394 square miles.. According to the 2006 parochial report, there are 57 active congregations within the diocese. [ [http://www.dioceserg.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=0 Journal of the 2006 Diocesan Convocation] ]

The see city is Albuquerque, New Mexico and the diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral Church of St. John. The Right Reverend Jeffrey N. Steenson was elected the eighth bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande on October 24, 2004, and was consecrated on January 16, 2005, and installed on October 8, 2005, at the Cathedral Church of St. John. [ [http://www.dioceserg.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=34 Biography of Bishop Jeffrey N. Steenson] ] Prior to his consecration, Steenson was the canon to the ordinary under the Right Reverend Terence Kelshaw.

On September 25, 2007, Steenson announced his resignation from the Episcopal Church in order to become Roman Catholic. [ [http://www.dioceserg.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=122 Pastoral letter by Jeffrey Steenson, September 26, 2007] ] [Pastoral letter from Jeffrey N. Steenson, November 30, 2007] Effective December 1, 2007, the ecclesiastical authority for the diocese was assumed by the Standing Committee of the diocese, under the leadership of its president, Canon Colin Kelly. On March 11, 2008, the diocese announced the appointment of Bishop William C. Frey, retired bishop of Colorado, as assisting bishop. The diocese also announced that former Bishop Kelshaw had joined the Anglican Church of Uganda. [ [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_95587_ENG_HTM.htm "RIO GRANDE: Standing Committee chooses William Frey as assisting bishop",] Episcopal News Service, March 11, 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.dioceserg.org/ Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande website]