Brian Prior, formerly vice president of the House of Deputies, was ordained and consecrated as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota this past weekend. A time of celebration by all the people of the Diocese, it included the rituals, music and dance from many traditions in the church. Of note was each phrase of the Litany for Ordinations read by children and youth of the diocese. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori presided, The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera preached, and Dr Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies, and The Very Rev. George Werner each preached at the two installations of the new bishop.
From ENS:
Several thousand well-wishers packed the Minneapolis Convention Center Feb. 13 mid-way into a three-day celebration of the Rt. Rev. Brian N. Prior’s consecration as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Minnesota, in a ceremony rich with diversity and rife with history.
Fragrant smoldering sage filled the convention center as Ojibwe and Dakota Native Americans drummed and danced. A variety of musical traditions were represented, including Hmong choristers, Fran McKendree’s four-piece folk rock ensemble, and a 200-voice “Massed Intergenerational” choir as well as a hand-bell choir from local congregations.
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The Rt. Rev. Edna Bavi “Nedi” Rivera, provisional bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon, was preacher at the consecration, webcast to more than 20 countries.
President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson, among those presenting Prior for consecration, also preached at St. Mark’s Cathedral in downtown Minneapolis, at one of two Feb. 14 official “seatings.” Typically, a new bishop is seated in the cathedra, or bishop’s chair in the cathedral, a symbolic welcome to his new ministry. He has served as vice president of the House of Deputies alongside Anderson since 2006.
“We have all been given the gifts we need to be the ministers of the church,” Anderson said, emphasizing the ministry of all — laity, clergy and bishops. “We need each other to be able to respond fully to what God asks of us.” She called upon the gathering to work together as ministers of the church.
A similar seating service was held at the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour in Faribault, about 50 miles south of Minneapolis. Originally Bishop Whipple’s church, it is considered the historical cathedral of the diocese. The Very Rev. George Werner, Anderson’s predecessor as president of the House of Deputies, served as guest preacher.
From the blog, Laughing Water
Our mission-oriented heritage was symbolized in the liturgy with the use of a crosier by Bishop Prior and the presentation of a pectoral cross to him, both of which date to the 19th century and belonged to Minnesota’s first bishop, the Right Reverend Henry Benjamin Whipple. My favorite moment, however, came when Bishop Prior’s wife and their two teenage sons vested him with a new stole, cope, and mitre. Tears of joy accompanied the applause that followed, and his wife gently wiped a few of those tears from his face with her hand.
More photos and news at the Diocese of Minnesota website:
This service represents the hard work of hundreds of individuals who deeply care about the people of our state and about The Episcopal Church’s long history of mission in Minnesota,” said the Rt. Rev. Prior. “It is truly a privilege to have been called to serve with Minnesotans.”
A thoroughly modern bishop, Prior has a blog, Twitter account, and Facebook page.
Below: a 10 minute video of some highlights of the service: