It has taken John Thornton, Idaho's Episcopal bishop, 12 days and 150 foot-pounding miles to say goodbye to his parishioners.
Thornton, who has led the 6,000 Episcopalians in central and southern Idaho for eight years, retires next month. He is celebrating the occasion by taking a pilgrimage, walking to churches across southern Idaho.He has walked between Idaho Falls and Pocatello, and Twin Falls and Sun Valley, and is finishing his journey from Caldwell to Boise over the weekend.
Groups of church members, from eight to 28 strong, walk with him.
"People have gone on pilgrimages for centuries to experience God," Thornton said. "We consider our churches holy places, so we are walking from one holy place to another."
Thornton, 67, sheds his bishop's garments for the walks, about 10 to 12 miles each day. Instead, he wears khaki pants, a sweatshirt and Nikes. He holds a wooden walking stick shaped like a bishop's staff and shows no signs of the triple-bypass heart surgery he underwent four years ago.
Thornton's term as bishop has been marked by advocacy against Idaho's death penalty and discrimination against gays and lesbians. This walk continues his legacy for social justice.
Episcopal bishops in war-torn developing countries can only reach their churches on foot, Thornton said.
"We walk in solidarity with bishops who have to walk this way," he said. "But we don't have to worry about land mines. Just cars and trucks."