FORT WORTH -- The Rev. Rayford High, who recently retired as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, has been nominated as the next provisional bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.
He will be formally elected at the 30th Diocesan Convention on Nov. 3 at Tarleton State University in Stephenville."I am deeply honored and humbled by the fact that the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth would ask me to be their provisional bishop," High said in a statement."I am thrilled and I am excited about it and I look forward to working with laity and clergy of the diocese. I'm really grateful for the laity of the church."High lives with his wife, Pat, in Lake Jackson, where he oversees the chaplains for retired clergy and clergy spouses for the Diocese of Texas.He will remain on the board of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.He will replace the Rev. C. Wallis Ohl, retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas, who will retire as provisional bishop at the Nov. 3 convention.Ohl has served since November 2009, when he succeeded the Rev. Edwin F. Gulick Jr.In November 2008, the diocese split when Bishop Jack Iker and most of the 56 congregations in the diocese departed from the national Episcopal Church.This month, Iker appealed to the Texas Supreme Court to keep control of the diocese properties, including St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in downtown Fort Worth, after losing a decision in a Tarrant County civil court.Bill Hanna, 817-390-7698Twitter: @fwhannaHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
