Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan

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Diocese of Western Michigan
Diocese of Western Michigan seal.jpg
Location
CountryUnited States
TerritoryAllegan, Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Clare, Eaton, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Ionia, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Muskegon, Mewaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Wexford
Ecclesiastical provinceProvince V
Subdivisions3 regions.
HeadquartersGrand Rapids, MI
Statistics
Congregations56 (2019)
Members7,649 (2019)
Information
DenominationEpiscopal Church
EstablishedDecember 2, 1874
Current leadership
BishopGladstone "Skip" Adams III
Map
Location of the Diocese of Western Michigan
Location of the Diocese of Western Michigan
Website
www.edwm.org

The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan is the Episcopal diocese in the western half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The diocese was founded in 1874.

The Diocese is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and covers a 33-county area that stretches from the Straits of Mackinac southward to the Indiana border and from Lake Michigan to approximately the middle of the state. As of 2012 the website of the diocese describes it as having 15,000 communicants organized in 58 communities of faith, of which 54 are parishes and 4 are seasonal chapels. It is organized into three regions, centered in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Traverse City.

The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan is somewhat unusual in that it has no cathedral. From 1969 to 2007, the Bishop and the diocesan offices were located at the Cathedral Church of Christ the King, a prominent edifice near Interstate 94. However, this building was sold in 2007, and the congregation of the Parish Church of Christ the King moved to Texas Corners where it remained until January 2012, when the congregation disbanded.[1]

The first bishop of the diocese was George D. Gillespie. Robert R. Gepert, was elected on October 19, 2001, and was consecrated as the 8th Diocesan Bishop on April 27, 2002. His episcopacy, which spanned 11 years, concluded with his retirement in 2013. Whayne M. Hougland, Jr., was elected as the 9th Diocesan Bishop in September 2013.[2] Hougland was suspended in June of 2019[3] after admitting to an extra-marital affair. Hougland resigned [4]his position as Bishop on July 1, 2021. Currently The Rt. Rev. Skip Adams, a retired bishop of Central New York, is serving the Diocese of Western Michigan in the capacity of Assisting Bishop on an interim basis.

Bishops[]

  1. George D. Gillespie (1875-1909)
  2. John N. McCormick (1909-1937)
  3. Lewis Bliss Whittemore (1937-1953)
  4. Dudley B. McNeil (1953-1959)
  5. Charles E. Bennison Sr. (1960-1984)
  6. Howard Meeks (1984-1988)
  7. Edward L. Lee (1989-2002)
  8. Robert R. Gepert (2002-2013)
  9. Whayne M. Hougland, Jr. (2013-2021)

References[]

  1. ^ Parish history
  2. ^ "Election of Hougland". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  3. ^ "Michigan Bishop Suspended After Extramarital Affair". The Living Church. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  4. ^ Paulsen, David (2021-06-28). "Whayne Hougland to resign as bishop of Western, Eastern Michigan after suspension for infidelity". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 2021-07-30.

External links[]

Coordinates: 43°30′N 85°30′W / 43.5°N 85.5°W / 43.5; -85.5


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