Back in MAR 2016 we reported that the bishop ordinary of the Diocese of Lexington, Douglas Hahn, was stepping away from all ecclesiastical duties during a one year suspension that was termed as a period of “repentance, retreat and reflection.” He had intentionally withheld information regarding an extramarital affair from the diocesan search committee which had selected him as a candidate for bishop. The suspension was an agreement that Bishop Hahn negotiated with TEC Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. At the time of Bishop Hahn’s suspension, the President of the Standing Committee of Dio Lexington spoke of the damage done to the relationship between Bishop Hahn and the diocese. He committed to working with the Presiding Bishop’s staff in securing a bishop to serve the diocese during the period of Bishop Hahn’s absence.
During a Special Convention held 14 MAY at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Winchester KY, clergy and laity of the diocese chose to call the Rt Revd Bruce Caldwell, former bishop ordinary to the Diocese of Wyoming, as bishop provisional for Dio Lexington. Most recently Bishop Caldwell has been serving as the interim spiritual leader of St Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis MN, where he has been residing with his family. +Bruce has also been simultaneously serving as a bishop assistant in the Diocese of New York.
The Presiding Bishop was in Kentucky at the Special Convention which affirmed Bishop Caldwell to offer his pastoral support in the process. Bishop Caldwell sent greetings to the Convention and upon receiving news of his affirmation expressed that he excitedly looked forward to his work in Kentucky. He will begin in the diocese 1 JUN and will be officially celebrated with a special Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington on 18 JUN.
The original story was posted by the Episcopal News Service.
The main photo is from communitymatters.biz
The diocesan seal is from Wikipedia.