RELIGION
Episcopal bishop candidates on island speaking tour
Episcopal church members in Hawaii will have a chance next week to hear from six candidates for bishop of the island diocese.
A 4 p.m. presentation tomorrow at 'Iolani School is the first stop on a five-island circuit that will give the candidates a forum to describe their ministry and ideas for Hawaii.
There will be time for questions from the audience, said the Rev. Jonipher Kwong, who will facilitate the sessions. Kwong is executive director of the Samaritan Counseling Center of Hawaii, contracted to coordinate the process.
The week-long "fly-about" is an island-hopping version of the Episcopal Church's "walk-about" tradition, in which prospective bishops make the rounds of parishes. The schedule will include:
» Tuesday -- 6:30 p.m., St. Michael & All Saints, Lihue.
» Wednesday -- 6:30 p.m., Trinity-by-the-Sea Church, Kihei, Maui.
» Thursday -- 6:30 p.m., Oceanside Retreat, Molokai.
» Friday -- 6:30 p.m., Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, Hilo.
» Next Saturday -- 3 p.m., Christ Church, Kealakekua, Hawaii.
The new bishop will be selected Oct. 20 to replace retiring Bishop Richard Chang. Clergy and lay people representing 39 parishes at the annual Convention of the Diocese will vote.
One candidate currently serves in Hawaii. Three others have island ties, including a California-born priest who was nominated last month by petition. His name was added to the five finalists selected by the diocesan search committee. The candidates are:
» The Rev. David Y. Ota, rector at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Foster City, Calif. He left Hawaii in 1997 after 14 years of ministry here, including as rector of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in Palolo and campus minister at the University of Hawaii.
» The Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick, canon to the ordinary for the Honolulu diocese. He came to Hawaii in 2000 and has served as priest in residence at St. Barnabas Church in Kapolei and St. Luke's Church in Honolulu.
» The Rev. Howard Anderson, president and warden of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. He earned a master's degree and doctorate at the University of Hawaii and is a former Mid-Pacific Institute coach and teacher.
» The Rev. David C. Moore, priest in charge of St. Margaret's Church in Bellevue, Wash. He was chaplain of 'Iolani School from 2002 through 2005.
» The Rev. Kathleen Cullinane, associate dean and canon missioner of Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis. She has had 23 years in ministry, including 12 years as rector of St. Mary's Church in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.
» The Rev. Joy Rogers, rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Battle Creek, Mich. She was formerly minister in Michigan and Illinois churches and has taught preaching in several seminaries.
Additional biographical information is available at episcopalhawaii.org.