The Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish was seated as the 10th Episcopal bishop of Utah Saturday at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City.
Bishop Irish was previously ordained and consecrated bishop coadjutor in a religious rite at Abravanel Hall on May 31. The bishop coadjutor is an assistant bishop who has the right of succession at retirement or death of the seated diocesan bishop. She succeeds the Right Rev. George E. Bates, who announced his intention to retire Oct. 17, 1994.The Episcopal Diocese of Utah is made up of 21 congregations, chaplaincies and ministries. There are some 6,000 Episcopalians in the diocese.
A crowd of more than 300 members and clergy witnessed the seating of Bishop Irish. Bishop Bates was the chief celebrant at the service that opened with the bishop coadjutor knocking at the front doors of the cathedral. Bishop Irish was greeted by Dean Jack C. Potter and cathedral wardens.
Bishop Bates presented his concluding sermon as the ninth Bishop of Utah wearing his bishop's miter with a Utah Jazz logo given to him by Utah Jazz President Frank Layden.
In his remarks, he discussed the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul. He also admonished those in the Episcopal Church to beware of eclecticism in religion. "It is apostasy," he said. He told members to remember that Jesus Christ is the Kingdom of God. He asked them to continue to pray and proclaim the gospel. Bishop Bates encouraged the Episcopalian members to support and love Bishop Irish the way they did him.
Following his remarks, Bishop Bates was asked to vacate his chair. Then Bishop Irish was escorted by Potter to the cathedra, or ornate wooden bishop's chair. Bishop Bates then gave Bishop Irish the pastoral staff, the traditional symbol of episcopacy.
Bishop Irish took an oath promising the congregation to do the utmost in her power to fulfill the responsibilities and obligations of her office, striving in all things to be a faithful shepherd to the flock of Christ.
The holy communion then followed the transfer of authority as the service was concluding. Grace Adams Tanner, Bishop Irish's mother, in attendance on the front row, was the first individual in line for communion. When asked about her feelings concerning her daughter's ordination, she said, "I'm proud. I'm proud and very happy."
DeeAnna Durboraw, church member and administrative assistant to the Canon of the Ordinary, said, "It is hard to put in words. I know I will love Carolyn, but I will miss Bishop Bates."
Another member and manager of community relations, Malin Foster, said, "I feel honored to be here. This is a significant thing that has happened. The bishop is an administrator and pastoral head for the diocese. We all depend on the bishop for our spiritual feeding. Bishop Bates is going to be missed."
He also said Bishop Irish is coming home in a sense to Utah. She left the state 38 years ago and has been serving in Washington, D.C., where she held a number of positions with the church.