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Orthodox Priest Daniel Martins Obtains Consents from HOB to be Bishop of Springfield
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
January 4, 2011
The Rev. Daniel Hayden Martins, a priest in the Diocese of Northern Indiana, will now be the Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins Bishop of Springfield. He has obtained consents from both the Standing Committees and the House of Bishops, despite an appeal by the rump bishop of San Joaquin Jerry Lamb not to elect him.
"I'm very pleased to have the consent phase of this process behind me. Despite a couple of bumps along the way, the results are unambiguous and pretty much what I expected. I can now turn my attention fully toward bidding a proper farewell to the parishioners of St. Anne's this coming Sunday, making the move, and getting my feet on the ground in Springfield by the first of next month. We look forward to a season of renewal and a focused sense of mission in the Diocese of Springfield," Martins told VOL.
Earlier in the week, Martins received Standing Committees' consents by an overwhelming 64 to 15. The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop's office notified The Diocese of Springfield that Martins had received the required majority of consents in the canonical consent process.
Martins was elected on September 18, 2010. His ordination and consecration service is slated for March 19 when Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori will officiate.
The saga of Dan Martins, bishop-elect for the Diocese of Springfield, reached a crisis point when faux Bishop Jerry Lamb of the Diocese of San Joaquin said he had grave concerns about Martins' fitness to be the next Springfield bishop. He wrote a a letter to all TEC bishops and Standing Committees telling them that Martins lacks what he calls "suitability" for the job and he hopes they will withhold consents. He failed.
It got more interesting when ten priests, including George Werner, past president of the House of Deputies, came out in favor of Martins getting the job. This was an interesting development because none of these people are orthodox in faith and morals (though personally they might be). They toe the Episcopal party line. They believe charges that Martins would take the diocese out of TEC were without foundation.
Another group calling themselves Concerned Laity of Diocese (CLSD) announced they were also in favor of Martins being elected. This group is not altogether conservative, either. In an Open Letter to the Standing Committee Members and Bishops with Jurisdiction, they wrote, "CLSD wants all in the church, especially members of Standing Committees and Bishops with jurisdiction, to know that while Father Martins may not have been the first choice of all of our members, he was very near the top of everyone's list of preferred candidates, and we strongly urge you to provide Father Martins with the necessary consents. CLSD has been assured in writing by Bishop-elect Martins that he will not take the Diocese out of The Episcopal Church."
Martins succeeds orthodox Bishop Peter Beckwith.
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The Presiding Bishop's office also notified the Diocese of Western Kansas that Bishop-Elect Michael Pierce Milliken had received the required majority of consents in the canonical consent process. Milliken was elected on August 21. Bishop-Elect Milliken's ordination and consecration will take place February 19, 2011.
Milliken is considered a moderate. He succeeded the Rt. Rev. James M. Adams, the fourth bishop of the diocese, who resigned earlier this year to become vicar of Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church in Lecanto in the Diocese of Central Florida. He is orthodox.
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