Some 1,800 Episcopalians and friends dodged Hurricane Ivan’s dragon tail Sept. 18 to witness and celebrate the consecration of the Rt. Rev. G. Porter Taylor as the sixth Bishop of Western North Carolina.

Hours before the service at the Asheville Civic Center, Hurricane Ivan swept up from the Gulf Coast, dumping as much as eight inches of rain onto western North Carolina, flooding low-lying areas and causing power and water outages over much of the region.

Despite the storm, the long-planned consecration went ahead as scheduled, though the post-storm conditions likely cut the number of well-wishers on hand.

The outgoing bishop, the Rt. Rev. Robert H. Johnson, was chief consecrator because airport delays caused by the weather prevented the Most Rev. Frank Griswold, Presiding Bishop, from attending as planned. Co-consecrators included Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina, Bishop Neil Alexander of Atlanta, and Bishop Frank Allan, retired of Atlanta.

In his sermon during the two-and-a-half-hour service, Bishop Alexander pointed out that Fr. Taylor had done nothing to “deserve” to be bishop, nor did the diocese “deserve” him, but Fr. Taylor’s inclusion in the episcopacy was through the grace and gift of God. Lightheartedly, he admonished the diocese to stop pirating away the Diocese of Atlanta’s bright young priests. (Fr. Taylor had been rector of St. Gregory the Great Church in Athens, Ga., since 1996, and Bishop Johnson was rector of Holy Innocents’, Atlanta, before he became bishop.)

The service included a 250-voice choir, acolytes bearing banners from 62 parishes, as well as torches, liturgical kites and incense. Five processions of deacons, other clergy, visiting dignitaries, and diocesan leaders preceded the service which included 24 communion stations.

The new bishop, who was reared in Asheville, and his twin sister, Sally Osmer, celebrated their 54th birthday the day before the consecration, and many members of their family were on hand for the occasion. His wife, Jo, their son, Arthur, and daughter Marie served as elements bearers.

A reception followed in the basement of the civic center.

Eugene Willard

(From The Living Church, Oct. 10, 2004)