May 6, 2024 | #PressRelease
By Stephanie Martin Taylor, the Diocese of California’s Canon for Communications.
The Rt. Rev. Austin Keith Rios was ordained and consecrated bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of California on May 4 at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. The consecration paves the way for Rios to succeed the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, who is retiring July 24 after 18 years as the diocese’s chief pastor.
The presider was the Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, bishop provisional of West Missouri. In a historic first for the Diocese of California, the examination — the series of questions the bishop-elect must answer prior to ordination — was in a mix of Spanish and English.
“¿Crees verdaderamente que Dios te ha llamado a ser obispo?” Bruce asked. In English: “Are you persuaded that God has called you to the office of Bishop?”
“Así lo creo,” Rios responded, in Spanish, meaning: “I am so persuaded.”
Rios is the Diocese of California’s first Latino bishop. His heritage includes Mexican American ancestry from his father’s side and Scottish and English ancestry from his mother’s side. Although English was spoken at home, Rios began learning Spanish at an early age to embrace his Latino heritage. He is also fluent in Italian, which he honed during his 12-year tenure as the rector of St. Paul’s Within the Walls Episcopal Church in Rome, Italy.
The offertory reflected Rios’ commitment to multilingual and multicultural ministries. Donation recipients include the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center, St. Paul’s Within the Walls’ primary outreach mission housed within the church; La Capilla de Santa Maria, a Spanish-speaking congregation in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where Rios served as rector for five years; the Diocese of Western North Carolina’s Center for Hispanic Ministry; and the Diocese of California’s Racial, Social and Environmental Justice discretionary fund.
The preacher was Tennessee Bishop Brian Lee Cole. There also were six co-consecrators: Andrus, Maine Bishop Thomas J. Brown, Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe Bishop Mark D.W. Edington; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Sierra Pacific Synod Bishop Jeff R. Johnson; Puerto Rico Bishop and Cuba Provisional Bishop Rafael Luis Morales Maldonado, and West Tennessee Bishop Phoebe A Roaf.
Rios is married to Maleah Rios and has one child. He calls several places home, including Texas, where he was born; Rome, Italy; North Carolina; Wisconsin; Louisiana; and now, the San Francisco Bay Area. He will be installed as the ninth bishop of California on Aug. 11.
Video of the consecration service and the seating is available on the Grace Cathedral YouTube channel.
Photo by Sean McConnell: The bishop-elect stands before his consecrating bishops to take the Oath of Conformity.
Feb 21, 2024 | #Press&BishopStatements, #PressRelease, #Stories
The Diocese of California is honored to announce the appointment of the Very Rev. Eric Metoyer as our first-ever Canon for Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice.
Dean Eric brings to the historic new canon position more than a decade of experience in multi-cultural ministry. As Canon for Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice, he will advise the bishop, work directly with congregations, and develop meaningful racial/environmental justice partnerships between the diocese and Bay Area community and interfaith organizations, as well as the broader Episcopal Church.
Click here to learn more about the Canon for Racial Social and Environmental Justice position.
Dean Eric is looking forward to returning to diocesan offices full-time in September 2024. Beginning April 1, he will serve in the Canon for Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice position on a part-time basis, while he fulfills contracts to serve as part-time supply priest at Grace, Martinez and then in San Francisco through the summer.
More about Dean Eric
The Very Rev. Eric Metoyer is Regional Dean for the diocese’s San Francisco Deanery. In his former diocesan role as Associate for Congregational Ministries, he served the liaison to our various multicultural ministries: Afro Anglican, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino, Women’s, and Oasis (LGBTQIA+). He has participated in various national convocations, including those of the Union of Black Episcopalians and Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries.
Dean Eric served as lead anti-racism trainer for DioCal for over ten years. During this time, the training materials evolved to reflect more of the Bay Area’s unique history: including the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery on the people of this region.
Dean Eric also has served the Diocese of California and the wider Episcopal Church as the Province VIII Convener of Multi-Cultural Ministries; a deputy to General Convention (Standing Committee on the State of the Church, Legislative Committee on Racial Reconciliation); convener of the California Public Policy Network (TEC), meeting on Climate Change and Environmental Racism; and he is a frequent speaker and panelist on congregational development and multi-cultural ministries in The Episcopal Church.
In addition to his work as Regional Dean of San Francisco Deanery, he has served DioCal congregations as a rector, an interim vicar, and a priest associate. His contributions to the broader Bay Area community include serving as a board member of several local non-profits and schools. He lives in San Francisco with his beloved spouse Jessica, their son lives nearby and is a reservist in the United States Marine Corps.
Recent article featuring the Very Rev. Eric Metoyer
Also, check out this recent article written by the Very Rev. Eric Metoyer and published by The Episcopal Church Office of Racial Reconciliation: “Our history teaches, not harms us: reflections on Black History Month.“
Jan 29, 2024 | #BishopSearchPressReleases, #PressRelease
Invitation
The Rev. Austin Keith Rios will be ordained and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of California at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 at Grace Cathedral.
Please share this invitation (English, Spanish) with anyone who may want to attend in-person or via livestream.
Registration
Registration to attend the Ordination & Consecration of Bishop-elect Austin Keith Rios on May 4 is now open!
Please note that registration is required for each individual attendee, including children. There is no provision to register a party of more than one person. Additionally, you must register each individual under their own nameand cannot reserve more than one seat under the same name.
Register now
DioCal Clergy, you should have received a separate invitation from diocal.transition@gmail.com.
Everyone, all registration questions should be directed to diocal.transition@gmail.com.
Donated Desserts Welcome!
Cookie bakers of the Diocese of California are welcome to donate desserts to share at the reception following the ordination of Austin Keith Rios as the IX Bishop of California on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Sign up to bring a dessert
Please review the instructions for bringing a dessert.
Please feel free to direct any questions to diocal.transition@gmail.com
Jan 23, 2024 | #PressRelease, #Stories
The Diocese of California is pleased to announce Bishop Marc’s appointment of the Ven. Gary England to the position of Archdeacon. By accepting the appointment, Archdeacon Gary is taking on the position previously held by the Ven. Hailey McKeefry Delmas, who has moved to Colorado. Gary is also serving as the new Director of the School for Deacons, a position he began Monday. In that role, he will work closely with Hailey, who serves as Director of Deacons’ Formation at Bexley Seabury.
Archdeacon Gary will serve as one of the diocese’s two Archdeacons, along with the Ven. Canon Nina Pickerrell. The Archdeacons coordinate the work of the diocese’s deacons, help active and retired deacons stay connected, and serve as chaplains for the Bishop of California.
The Ven. Gary Wm England was ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Kentucky on August 12, 2011, and became canonically resident in the Diocese of California in 2020. He lives in Leona Heights in the Oakland Hills with his husband, John Reliford. Archdeacon Gary has three adult children Ana, James, and Adrian, and one grandchild Theodore.
Archdeacon Gary is a native of Alabama and before his relocation to the Bay Area in 2018, he lived in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee. As an attorney, he is admitted to the bar in all the states mentioned and is currently Registered In-House Counsel in California. Gary retired as General Counsel of a large private investment firm in June 2018 but continues to work as an arbitrator and as GC and HR Consultant for a few long-term clients, including the Diocese of California.
In addition to his continued liturgical duties at St. Paul’s, Oakland, Archdeacon Gary is involved in various ministries for DioCal and General Convention.
Jan 16, 2024 | #BishopStatements, #Press&BishopStatements, #PressRelease
A message from Bishop Marc
“Loving God, Source of all mercies and giver of all comfort: Deal graciously, we pray thee, with all those who mourn, that casting every care on you, they may know the consolation of your love.” -BCP page 489
The Very Reverend Alan Jones, PhD, Dean Emeritus of Grace Cathedral, died this past Sunday, peacefully and while watching the online webcast of the Sunday Eucharist at National Cathedral.
Alan was the dean of our cathedral for 24 years, and they were years of enormous creativity and of courage. Many examples come to mind of his transformative ministry, beginning with his fostering of the modern labyrinth movement at Grace by his support of the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress. Alan welcomed Lauren’s innovation, which led to an indoor and outdoor labyrinth there and in time around the world. The outdoor labyrinth outside my office at Diocesan House is a space used by people from early morning into dusk—I see people each day walking, dancing, skipping, sometimes walking very slowly the sinuous, continuous path of the labyrinth. There are many thousands of labyrinths registered worldwide, and it was Alan’s welcome to Lauren’s initiative that launched this global spiritual movement!
And with respect to courage, former Vice Dean Fran Tornquist was a central religious leader in San Francisco in providing compassionate care for all during the AIDS pandemic, which devastated the city before spreading over the world. Alan provided the leadership that supported Fran’s ministry that was crucial for the city.
Of course, Alan not only made it possible for creative, compassionate people like Lauren and Fran to flourish in their ministries, he was generative intellectually and spiritually, too. Alan’s preaching was famous for its warmth, depth, and humor. Many, many people have told me over the years how Alan’s welcoming, intelligent spirit in preaching opened the door for a renewed relationship with Christianity.
Through his writing Alan reached an even larger congregation than through his preaching. Some of his books, for instance, translated into Portuguese, are cherished within the Episcopal Church in Brazil.
Alan and my predecessor, the Right Reverend Bill Swing, partnered together with generous lay leaders like Mrs. Alfred Wilsey to completely transform Grace Cathedral, raising the money to replace the old gravel parking lot with beautiful and functional spaces, including the Great Steps, the Chapter House, and the cathedral’s indoor parking garage.
It was my privilege to be the bishop of this diocese and of the cathedral for the last three years of Alan’s active ministry. Alan and his wife, Cricket, warmly welcomed us to the cathedral, and it was a particular joy that we have been neighbors over these last eighteen years, sharing meals and visits together.
At this time of loss and grief, Sheila and I ask you to join us in praying for Cricket and for Alan’s children and grandchildren. May God in time wipe every tear away and give the comfort of the Holy Spirit to those who mourn.
+Marc Andrus
Note: A service is being planned at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. We will share more information once we receive it.
More information available from Grace Cathedral.
Dec 19, 2023 | #PressRelease, #Stories
Story by Stephanie Martin Taylor, Canon for Communications, with additional information about the gallery provided by Davey Gerhard, Canon for Stewardship
The portrait is part of a newly restored gallery at the Diocesan House in San Francisco
[San Francisco, December 19, 2023] – The official portrait of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Marc Andrus, the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, is now on permanent display at Diocesan House, the Episcopal Diocese of California’s headquarters at 1055 Taylor Street in San Francisco. The portrait, created by renowned San Francisco-based artist Dan Bayless, is a vibrant and soulful tribute to Andrus, who is retiring in July 2024.
Bayless is a longtime friend of Bishop Marc and Dr. Sheila Andrus, whom he met while serving as a trustee at Grace Cathedral. Over the years, the Andrus’ have collected several of his paintings, including one that currently hangs over the mantel in the bishop’s office. At Bishop Andrus’ request, Bayless was commissioned to paint his official portrait, a longstanding tradition in the diocese.
“The phenomenal artist, Daniel Bayless has done two things for which I’m incredibly grateful: First, he took all the portraits of the Bishops of California who came before me, from Bishop Kip in 1849 until today, reframed them, and rehung them in Diocesan House,” said Bishop Andrus shortly after the painting’s unveiling Thursday, December 14. “Daniel also painted my portrait,” Andrus continued. “While I’m uncomfortable with being the subject of portraiture, I see the creation of this portrait as continuing the lineage of Episcopal leadership in our diocese,” he said.
Planning the new portrait gallery
Rather than hanging the seven previous bishops’ portraits in chronological order, Andrus and Bayless decided to rehang them in a way that put each in its best aesthetic light. “The outcome of the reframing and rehanging is positively transformative – these amazing people, in whose lineage I gratefully and humbly stand, now cast light upon each other and outwards, collectively on us.” Andrus said.
Bayless studied the existing portrait collection before deciding how to approach his rendering of Bishop Andrus. “They’re all lovely, for the time,” Bayless said, “But Marc is a modern fellow, right? I don’t like the word progressive. He’s forward-thinking.” To reflect the dignity of the bishop’s position, Bayless chose to paint Bishop Andrus wearing his clerical collar and sitting in a chair in his office. But, for the most part, Bayless chose to depart from tradition, “So I didn’t want him in his vestments, and I wanted it to be somewhat casual rather than with a bible, or a staff, or the mitre.”
Then there was the question of how to capture Bishop Andrus’ climate justice work – a defining ministry of his episcopate. To do this, Bayless chose to surround the bishop’s figure with vibrant colors that range from deep indigo to grassy green to lemon yellow. “They remind me of what you see when you see a picture of the earth taken from space,” Bayless said, adding that the colors are what come to mind when he envisions a healthy planet.
Finally, to imbue the painting with even deeper meaning, Bayless painted lines of text, in Koine Greek, above and behind Andrus’ figure. “I asked him, in his darkest times. when he’s experiencing the most despair at the unfolding climate catastrophe, what sustains him?” The answer, Bayless said, was a Bible passage emphasizing the value of each individual (Matthew 10:29-31):
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Bayless said Andrus gave him “free rein” to paint the portrait however he wanted, and he kept it under wraps until the official unveiling, Thursday, December 14. After seeing the portrait for the first time, Andrus said he felt deeply honored to have sat as a subject for Bayless and to help bring the artist’s “brilliant and heartfelt” work to a wider audience, although “he’s quite famous as is,” Andrus said.
“So much thought, so much feeling went into this portrait,” Andrus continued. “Every detail of this beautiful work of art has meaning, and all of it coheres into a whole that is far more than the sum of its parts.”
Bayless’ work on behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of California, including his reframing and rehanging of the seven previous bishops’ portraits, was funded by a group of generous donors. “I am so grateful that these faithful people, dear friends of ours, were able to support a great living artist,” Andrus said.
Further additions to the gallery
Throughout its history, the Episcopal Church in the Bay Area has been blessed by a diversity of voices and leaders as we preach and teach the Good News across our part of the world. To recognize this leadership, the gallery will be expanded in the coming weeks to include the portraits of four prophetic women:
- Nancy Grandfield, a parishioner at Epiphany, San Carlos whose lifetime of service and work with Episcopal Church Women (ECW) has brought strength and gifts to the diocese and to the whole Episcopal Church
- The Ven. Carolyn Bolton, Archdeacon and leader of African American women in the deaconate
- The Rev. Fran Toy, the first Asian-American woman priest ordained in the Diocese of California who has faithfully served many of the diocese’s communities of faith.
- The Rev. Madre Anna Lange Soto, who has ministered to monolingual and bilingual communities throughout the church, empowering Latinx voices of faith and spirit.
Framed in the same style as the bishops’ portraits, the portraits will showcase an inclusive, cohesive story of leadership and Gospel values in the Bay Area.
About Daniel Bayless
“The art of San Francisco artist Daniel Bayless captures the drama of the light, those fleeting moments when the delicate hand of nature caresses a bouquet, or gently twirls a body of water, creating a sparkling sea . . . His collectors include such luminaries as Elizabeth Taylor and the late Leonard Bernstein. His corporate collectors include The Disney Corporation, Omni Hotels, The Breakers, and MCrowd Dallas.” Click here to learn more.
About Bishop Marc Andrus
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Marc Handley Andrus is the Eighth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, the Episcopal Church in the Bay Area. A renowned climate advocate, he leads the annual Episcopal Church delegation to the UN Climate Conference (COP). After serving as Bishop of California since 2006, Andrus is scheduled to retire in July 2024
