The Bishop of Chicago, the Rt. Rev. William D. Persell, announced his intention to resign his office in the fall of 2007 upon the consecration of his successor. In a letter sent March 27 to clergy and congregations, Bishop Persell said his decision is motivated by his age, his more than three decades of ordained ministry, and health considerations.

“I will turn 64 in 2007 and will have journeyed nearly nine years with you in ministry and served over 38 years as an ordained minister,” Bishop Persell wrote. “While my mind and heart are very much committed to helping advance the church’s mission here, my stamina is not what it was when you welcomed me into your life in 1998.”

To continue in office would not be in the best interests of the diocese, nor would it demonstrate good stewardship, he added. In his letter, Bishop Persell reminded clergy that he had underscored the need for maintaining a healthy lifestyle as one of 16 “expectations for ministry” in his first address to diocesan clergy after his consecration in March 1999. “I believe it important that I model this more intentionally in my own life,” he said.

His departure will come at a transition point in the life of the diocese. The five-year strategic plan will be in its final year, the reorganization of the mission under six major commissions will be in full stride, the Lily Endowment-funded, clergy mentoring program will be starting its fifth cycle of curates and the Come and Grow evangelism initiative will be active in all 11 deaneries. Bishop Persell also cited the renewal of the companion relationships with the dioceses of Renk, Sudan and Southeast Mexico as other accomplishments.

Some projects, notably the redevelopment of the Episcopal Church Center property on East Huron Street and implementation of a new method of funding diocesan mission will be completed by the new bishop.

Bishop Persell and his wife, Nancy, plan to move back to the Diocese of Ohio where they will be closer to children and grandchildren. Ohio is also where Bishop Persell served as dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland prior to his episcopal election in November 1998.

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