Archdeacon Parnell Appointed Canon to the Ordinary to the Bishop of Massachusetts

April 14, 2016

The Ven. William C. Parnell

It was announced today by Bishop Dietsche that the Ven. William C. Parnell, Archdeacon for Mission since 2010, would be leaving shortly to take up the position of Canon to the Ordinary for Bishop Alan Gates of the Diocese of Massachusetts.

Bishop Dietsche wrote as follows:

April 14, 2016

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I write to inform you of a change occurring in my staff.  The Venerable William Parnell, Archdeacon for Mission, has accepted the position of Canon to the Ordinary for Bishop Alan Gates of the Diocese of Massachusetts.  It is expected that Bill will finish his service in New York at the end of May.

Bill was hired as Archdeacon by Bishop Mark Sisk in 2010 to succeed the retiring Archdeacon Michael Kendall, and over the six years that he has served among us he has proved himself an invaluable resource for our work in the development of regional ministries, and in the organization and oversight of global mission, ecumenical and interfaith relations, and public policy.  He has formed countless relationships across the diocese, among the six dioceses of New York State, and across the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, all of which have richly blessed our common life.  He has also been to me a partner in ministry and a friend, and I know you join me in wishing him and Tom godspeed as they leave us to take up their new life and work in Boston.

It is not my intention to fill the position of Archdeacon at this time.  The task forces of the strategic plan process are still in the midst of their work, and we have just had the happy occasion of welcoming Bishop Mary Glasspool to New York as Assisting Bishop. Her arrival gives us the opportunity to revisit the organization and oversight of the ministries of the diocese, and to look again at the best use of all of our human resources.  I have decided, at least for the time being, to bring the work that Bill has done in the formation of regional pastorates under the umbrella of Congregational Development, with Bishop Allen Shin as episcopal liaison for that work, and to ask Bishop Glasspool to be the episcopal liaison for the mission, ecumenical and public policy portfolio that Bill has carried.

Indeed, Bishops Shin and Glasspool and I are in conversation about a new ordering of the diocesan ministries which we believe will bring clarity to the work we do and the staff structures we create to support it.  Along with the conclusions and proposals of the strategic plan task forces, we will in short order have much about all of this to report and share with all of you.  Until then, I remain

Yours,

The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche
Bishop of New York
August 26, 2015