SECOND PRESIDING BISHOP ELECTED
TO LEAD THE
UNITED FREE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Bishop Mark Leavell-2nd Presiding Bishop of the UFCC
The General Synod of the United Free Catholic Church is pleased to announce the election of the 2nd Presiding Bishop of the Church, The Most Reverend +Mark Leavell, Ordinary of the Diocese of Virginia, USA.
Bishop Leavell was unanimously elected by the Bishops of the Synod, Abp. Jack Stafford, Bp. Adrian Glover and newly-consecrated Bishop Lou Johnson, on Saturday, July 3, 2010.
Abp. Jack Stafford, the first Presiding Bishop of the UFCC, submitted a proposal to the members of the General Synod, stating that the time had come to elect another Presiding Bishop to lead the Church, now that the UFCC is established, organized and preparing to enter another season of service to the people of God. With a background in administration and education, Abp. Stafford reasoned that the organizational and establishment functions were fulfilled and it was time to select another Bishop of the Synod to lead the UFCC as it enters a more pastoral and evangelistic period of development.
Bishop Mark Leavell and Bishop Adrian Glover, members of the General Synod, consented to the proposal. Abp. Stafford then nominated Bishop Leavell to assume the role of Presiding Bishop. The Most Reverend Leavell was elected by unanimous consent, including the newest member of the Synod, the Rt. Rev. Lou Johnson.
Abp. Stafford officially transfered the office of Presiding Bishop to Bishop Leavell during the principal Sunday Mass at All Saints Free Catholic Church in Dinwiddie, VIrginia, cathedral church of the Diocese of Virginia, on July 4, following the consecration to the episcopacy of Bishop Lou Johnson.
"Please keep +Mark in your prayers; be grateful to where God has lead the UFCC; and be prepared for where God is taking us next", said Abp. Stafford, in Petersburg, Virginia, following the Mass at All Saints on Sunday. "I am honored to have served you as your first Presiding Bishop, but with +Mark serving us now, I am confident our future will be even more blessed than our beginning".
Bishop Leavell was unanimously elected by the Bishops of the Synod, Abp. Jack Stafford, Bp. Adrian Glover and newly-consecrated Bishop Lou Johnson, on Saturday, July 3, 2010.
Abp. Jack Stafford, the first Presiding Bishop of the UFCC, submitted a proposal to the members of the General Synod, stating that the time had come to elect another Presiding Bishop to lead the Church, now that the UFCC is established, organized and preparing to enter another season of service to the people of God. With a background in administration and education, Abp. Stafford reasoned that the organizational and establishment functions were fulfilled and it was time to select another Bishop of the Synod to lead the UFCC as it enters a more pastoral and evangelistic period of development.
Bishop Mark Leavell and Bishop Adrian Glover, members of the General Synod, consented to the proposal. Abp. Stafford then nominated Bishop Leavell to assume the role of Presiding Bishop. The Most Reverend Leavell was elected by unanimous consent, including the newest member of the Synod, the Rt. Rev. Lou Johnson.
Abp. Stafford officially transfered the office of Presiding Bishop to Bishop Leavell during the principal Sunday Mass at All Saints Free Catholic Church in Dinwiddie, VIrginia, cathedral church of the Diocese of Virginia, on July 4, following the consecration to the episcopacy of Bishop Lou Johnson.
"Please keep +Mark in your prayers; be grateful to where God has lead the UFCC; and be prepared for where God is taking us next", said Abp. Stafford, in Petersburg, Virginia, following the Mass at All Saints on Sunday. "I am honored to have served you as your first Presiding Bishop, but with +Mark serving us now, I am confident our future will be even more blessed than our beginning".
Abp. Stafford reads Pastoral Letter during Mass
Bp. Johnson reads Synod Resolution of Consent
The Most Rev. Mark Leavell-Presiding Bishop