Bishop Faces Need For Trained Priests

A Maryland priest will become the 14th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho, which has a need for seminary-trained pastors.

The Rev. Harry Bainbridge III, 58, will assume the bishop’s role in November when Bishop John Thornton retires.

Bainbridge will be ordained as bishop coadjutor, an assistant bishop for Idaho, on June 6. Bainbridge is pastor at Christ Church in Easton, Md.

The diocese lacks seminary-trained priests because many of its tiny parishes cannot afford them. The diocese has responded by ordaining priests to perform sacraments at their own churches.