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By acdinoto, January 19, 2010 4:08 PM

–  Donate to Episcopal Relief and Development

A letter from the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut:

Dear Friends in Christ,

The news of the massive earthquake in Haiti has been breaking over us today, and specific reports have been coming in to us at Diocesan House from many sources, both here in Connecticut and from throughout The Episcopal Church.

Our diocese has come to know Haiti through our former Companion Relationship with dioceses in the Caribbean.  Many of our parishes have long-standing relationships.  A major living connection with Haiti is through l’Eglise de l’Epiphanie in Stamford.  In addition, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich has maintained a multi-pronged mission presence in Haiti for almost a quarter century.

The extent of the damage to Haiti and its people is yet to be known.  The news reports so far leave no doubt that the earthquake has been devastating and its effects widespread.  Port au Prince has been hit especially hard.

There will be many channels through which we will be able to offer monetary aid.  Episcopal Relief and Development already is engaged, and I encourage donations to be made through their website,  www.er-d.org.

This afternoon we committed $5000 from the Emergency Relief Funds of the Diocese of Connecticut as a starter from Connecticut in the relief effort.  I urge our parishes, our clergy, our members, to join in the work of providing support to the people of Haiti and to the Diocese of Haiti so they can begin the massive effort which is required to care for their people and begin the rebuilding of the nation.

Do keep the people of Haiti, and those working to provide relief, and those outside Haiti who wait for news of family and friends, in your prayers each day.  May God open our hearts and push us to respond to their needs!

Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith
Bishop of Connecticut

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By admin, October 25, 2009 7:36 AM

The Rev’d Dr. Ian T. Douglas, 50, of the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA was elected on the 2^nd ballot as 15^th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut at the church’s annual diocesan convention at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford.  One of four candidates presented by the diocesan nominating committee, Bishop-Elect Douglas out-polled The Rt. Rev’d James Curry, Bishop Suffragan by 90 votes (169-79) in the clergy order and by 77 votes (150 to 73) in the lay order, achieving the necessary plurality on just the second ballot.  Election of a candidate from outside the Connecticut diocese is virtually unprecedented in the nation’s oldest Episcopal diocese.

Bishop-elect Douglas will be consecrated and installed on April 17, 2010 at the cathedral by the Most Rev’d Katherine Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, U.S.A.