The Rt. Rev. Harry Bainbridge announced his intention to retire as Bishop of Idaho upon the consecration of his successor, tentatively scheduled for November 2008.

“We have journeyed a long way over these past few years. For me it has been a journey of grace, filled with both challenge and opportunity,” Bishop Bainbridge wrote in a letter which was emailed to diocesan email newsletter subscribers. “We can give no greater gift to one another than to engage in the work of transition that firmly fixes our direction toward tomorrow and invites each of us, the next bishop included, to offer his/her gifts to further the mission to which God calls us as disciples of Jesus in the Diocese of Idaho.”

The transition to new episcopal leadership began at the diocesan convention last fall when, during his address, Bishop Bainbridge called for a transition committee to begin envisioning the future ministry needs of the diocese. In his letter, Bishop Bainbridge listed some of the consultations and transition plans that have been engaged since that convention.

“In the next few months your congregation will be asked for more ideas and comments, another opportunity for conversation,” Bishop Bainbridge said. “At our diocesan convention this October we will engage in further conversation about our corporate future. And we expect to repeat the process next winter as well, with the hope that by next spring, together we will have developed a clear picture of where God is calling us to go, how we will move into God’s future, and what kind of leadership and resources we need to do this work well.”

At the time of his planned retirement, Bishop Bainbridge will have served as Bishop of Idaho for 10 years. Prior to his election as bishop, he served as rector of parishes in the dioceses of Tennessee, Western Louisiana and Easton (Maryland).

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