Ever since the list of candidates for Presiding Bishop was announced, members of St. Mark’s Church in South Milwaukee, Wis., had noticed a close resemblance between one of the members of the parish and the Bishop of Nevada, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who was elected the 26th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church June 18.

So when a woman in “civilian dress” who resembled Bishop Jefferts Schori kept appearing in the Rev. John Allen’s line of vision after he began to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist on June 25, he thought nothing of it until the passing of the Peace, when he realized that he was seeing double. Others in the congregation also noticed the resemblance to the photo of the Presiding Bishop-elect that St. Mark’s had published in the service bulletin.

Bishop Jefferts Schori was in Milwaukee for a family wedding on the weekend after her election during General Convention and St. Mark’s was the closest Episcopal Church to the airport, Fr. Allen told The Living Church.

“She was very personable and down to earth,” he said. “She was just here to mix with blue-collar people.”

Fr. Allen said St. Mark’s has an average Sunday attendance of about 100 with 38 children enrolled in the Sunday school program. Attendance last Sunday was a little higher than usual because of a baptism.

Bishop Jefferts Schori apologized for surprising the members of St. Mark’s, but told TLC she was delighted to find such a vibrant congregation so close to the airport.

For an exclusive interview with Presiding Bishop-elect Jefferts Schori see the July 23 issue of The Living Church.

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