Published: January 15, 2008
Leaders of Various Religions Blessed New Episcopal Bishop of Nevada
Leaders of various religions blessed new Episcopal Bishop of Nevada
In a marvelous gesture, the new tenth Episcopal Bishop of Nevada, Right Reverend Dan Thomas Edwards, was blessed by a Catholic Bishop, Hindu chaplain, Muslim Imam, Jewish Rabbi, Bahai leader, Baptist minister, and a Native American faith leader here.
During the interfaith blessing of his new Episcopal ministry, Bishop Edwards sat on a chair below the podium to receive the blessings in a ceremony held at the chapel of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. He was rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Macon Georgia before coming to Nevada.
Details of pictures attached (photos by M.L. Bates) Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed reading shlokas from ancient Sanskrit scriptures to bless the new Episcopal Bishop Edwards, whose back is seen on the left. Other religious leaders are also seen in the background.
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Starting with Most Reverend Randolph Calvo, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Reno; other leaders who blessed the Episcopal Bishop included Buddhist Priest Reverend William Bartlett, Jewish Rabbi Elizabeth Beyer, Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed, Imam of Northern Nevada Muslim Community Abdul Barghouthi, Bahai leader Trip Barthel, Reverend Onie Cooper of Second Baptist Church, and Native American faith leader Reynalda James.
While Rajan Zed read blessing Sanskrit shlokas from oldest existing scripture Rig-Veda, composed around 1,500 BCE, Reynalda James brought special water from Pyramid Lake to bless Bishop Edwards. Some of these leaders of various faiths embraced the new Bishop, while others shook hands with him welcoming him to Nevada and wishing him best in his mission. His wife Linda, a law professor at Mercer, watched.
Various religious leaders after the Service (from left to right)-Father Charles Durante, pastor of Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Community of Carson City; Reverend William R. Millsap of Trinity Episcopal Church; Rajan Zed, Hindu chpalian; Reverend Ruth Hanusa; Reverend Rebecca of International Community of Christ; Most Reverend Randolph Calvo, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Reno; Reverend Rhys Andrews of International Community of Christ; and Buddhist priest William Bartlett.
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Bishop Edwards has been a lawyer, has studied at Harvard Divinity School, and has worked with homeless in New York City. Reverend Laurie Chappelle of St. Catherine of Siena Episcopal Church organized this Service.
Episcopal Church, with headquarters in New York and founded in 1789, has over 2.3 million members in over 73 thousand parishes in USA, including 39 in Nevada. Members profess two of the ancient Christian creeds: the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed. It sponsors eleven accredited seminaries and there are eight Episcopal colleges and one university in USA besides two overseas colleges.
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