Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Utah Episcopalians get new “sumo” bishop

Amid the pageantry and rousing hymns of a centuries-old liturgy to consecrate a new bishop, hundreds of Utah Episcopalians learned something Saturday about their new, slightly built shepherd: Bishop Scott Hayashi’s avatar — the figure he chooses to represent him — is a sumo wrestler.

“That tells you all kinds of things about your new bishop,” mused the Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee, the bishop of Chicago whom Hayashi served as a canon the past five years.

Lee preached the sermon to the 700 Episcopalians, 25 visiting bishops and leaders of other Salt Lake City faiths who gathered at The Grand America Hotel. 

But he also primed those in Hayashi’s flock for what to expect of the church’s 11th bishop.

“You’ve elected a bishop whose sense of humor will delight you. You will discover that this playfulness enfolds a heart of very serious purpose,” Lee said.

“His sheer competence will amaze you and an apparently endless supply of energy will dazzle you,” said Lee. “He will pray with you at the drop of the hat.

“He will stand with you before the vast mystery of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and in his presence, he [Hayashi] will not hesitate to step aside so that God may be glorified — not the bishop, not the church, not you and me, but God.”

During the two-hour service, Hayashi, 56, promised the Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, that he would nourish the faith of the baptized, guard the unity of the church and show compassion to the poor and strangers.

Bishops from throughout the country, as well as from Mexico and Myanmar, laid their hands on Hayashi’s head as he kneeled before Schori to be consecrated.

Immediately afterward, Hayashi, who wore a simple white alb, was given bishop’s vestments as gifts from people of the Utah Episcopal Diocese. 

He was soon clothed in a cream-and-gold chasuble, or robe, and a mitre, which is the bishop’s crown.

Retiring Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish placed a pectoral cross around Hayashi’s neck and Lee presented Hayashi with a bishop’s ring and a Book of Common Prayer.

Irish gave Hayashi the crozier, which is a staff symbolizing a bishop’s role as shepherd.

Among the representatives of other Utah churches attending were apostle M. Russell Ballard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Monsignor Joseph Mayo and Monsignor Terrence Fitzgerald of the Catholic Church.

SIC: UN/INT'L