Before becoming bishop, Baxter, 58, a graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, was rector at St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster for almost three years. Prior to that, he was dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Because of Baxter's many Lancaster ties, the consecration featured a strong local flavor.

'Infinite worth'

The huge temple building, which resembles a sports arena, had ground-level and tier seating. Nearly all available seats were filled.

The service began with a half-hour musical prelude, during which the McCaskey High School gospel choir performed.

Baxter, Tutu and the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, were among the dozens of clergy who took part in the procession that followed. Tutu, Anglican archbishop emeritus of the Diocese of Cape Town, South Africa, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1984 for his tireless efforts against apartheid.

He began his sermon with a humorous anecdote, noting someone sent him a picture of a large billboard with the words, "Have difficulty sleeping? Let the church help."

With the powerful message he delivered, however, Tutu needn't have worried about putting anyone to sleep. He called Baxter the diocese's "new shepherd," its "new father in God."

Tutu thanked God for his friend's gifts of warmth, friendliness and caring, and also credited Baxter's wife, Mary Ellen.

He pointed out some interesting symbolism, saying the bishop's double-pointed mitre, which he wears atop his head, is emblematic of the tongues of fire the Holy Spirit delivered to the disciples at the first Pentecost. And the crosier, or shepherd's crook, he carries represents his role as a stand-in for God, reminiscent of the 23rd Psalm ("The Lord is my shepherd ...).

Like the good shepherd in the Gospel John, the bishop is one "who lays down his life for his flock," especially sheltering the vulnerable, the hungry, the poor, the abused, and anyone else "with no clout," Tutu said.

Jesus is often pictured holding a cuddly lamb, he said, but that image misunderstands the parable of the good shepherd. A cute lamb is much less likely to stray, Tutu said, than "an obstreperous old ram" who ends up with a tattered, torn and foul-smelling coat.

The shepherd leaves the 99 perfectly behaved sheep to go after the one gone astray, he said.

Bringing it back into the fold, through repentance, gives God greater joy than anything, Tutu said.

"God invests the most in what we would consider a lost cause," he said.

"Jesus is in the business of saving sinners, not condemning them," Tutu said.

"God created us because he loves us, unchangeably and unchangingly," he continued.

"Jesus is trying to make us understand what is really so simple," Tutu said.

"We're lovable because God loves us. Isn't that fantastic?" he said, drawing strong assent from the crowd.

"You aren't an accident," Tutu said. We're "part of God's plan for all eternity. God chose us, and imbues us with infinite worth.

"Nothing can change that, not even sin."

We'll never escape divine love, he said.

"Our names are engraved on the palms of God's hands," Tutu said. "We're carried as if we were this fragile thing."

As bishop, he said, Baxter has the responsibility of reassuring members of his flock that "God loves you as if you were the only human being on earth."

First communion as bishop

Baxter's consecration included a laying on of hands by the other bishops seated on stage; their vestments and mitres were a colorful mix, from orange to light blue.

When the new bishop was presented, he received a standing ovation lasting several minutes.

Baxter is the diocese's eighth bishop, and the 1,010th in the U.S. Episcopal Church.

A native of Harrisburg, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1977 after graduating in 1976 from Lancaster Theological Seminary. He decided to join the Episcopal Church after a visit Christmas Eve 1974 to St. John's Episcopal Church in Lancaster, where he later became an associate priest. Many members of St. John's, as well as St. James, attended or took part in the ceremony. St. James is the largest parish in the diocese.

Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray, a member of St. James, and Gov. Ed Rendell were among the civic leaders present.

For 12 years, prior to coming to St. James in 2003, Baxter was dean of the National Cathedral and chief administrative officer of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, a corporation of the cathedral's eight schools, colleges and auxiliaries. As dean, he preached for and before U.S. presidents, from George H.W. Bush to George W. Bush. He and wife Mary Ellen have two children, two foster children and nine grandchildren.

After his consecration, Baxter celebrated his first communion as bishop.

And, appropriately for a ceremony that began with the McCaskey gospel choir, he left the stage at the end to the rhythmic beat of the Millersville University West African drum and dance ensemble.

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