The diocese of Central Newfoundland will again attempt to choose a bishop at an episcopal election to be held Sept. 9-10, 2005 at Holy Trinity church in Grand Falls, Nfld., according to the current bishop, Donald Young. The diocese failed to elect a bishop on Sept. 11 at an electoral synod held in Lewisporte, Nfld., as no candidate received more than two-thirds of the vote after 11 ballots.
“Most people felt we should have a synod later rather than sooner. Because of the longevity of the last synod, when the 11th ballot was less decisive than the 10th, it was felt that there would have been a real danger, if we go sooner, that there might be some pressuring within the diocesan family,” Bishop Young told Anglican Journal.
Bishop Young, who is 59, also said that he intends to go ahead with his planned retirement as of Dec. 31 and that retired bishop Edward Marsh will administer the diocese from Jan. 1 until the new bishop is elected. Bishop Marsh, who is 69, served as bishop of Central Newfoundland from 1990 to 2000.
Bishop Young said that after his retirement date, he intends to work with a joint committee formed by the three Newfoundland dioceses — Central, Western and Eastern/Labrador — that co-ordinates common projects such as health care plans and insurance.