In a marvelous gesture, the new tenth Episcopal Bishop of Nevada, Right Reverend Dan Thomas Edwards, was blessed by a Catholic Bishop, Hindu chaplain, Muslim Imam, Jewish Rabbi, Bahai leader, Baptist minister, and a Native American faith leader here.
During the interfaith blessing of his new Episcopal ministry, Bishop Edwards sat on a chair below the podium to receive the blessings in a ceremony held at the chapel of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. He was rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Macon Georgia before coming to Nevada.
Starting with Most Reverend Randolph Calvo, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Reno; other leaders who blessed the Episcopal Bishop included Buddhist Priest Reverend William Bartlett, Jewish Rabbi Elizabeth Beyer, prominent Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed, Imam of Northern Nevada Muslim Community Abdul Barghouthi, Bahai leader Trip Barthel, Reverend Onie Cooper of Second Baptist Church, and Native American faith leader Reynalda James.
While Rajan Zed read blessing Sanskrit shlokas (hymns) from oldest existing scripture Rig-Veda, composed around 1,500 BCE, Reynalda James brought special water from Pyramid Lake to bless Bishop Edwards. Some of these leaders of various faiths embraced the new Bishop, while others shook hands with him welcoming him to Nevada and wishing him best in his mission. His wife Linda, a law professor at Mercer, watched.
Bishop Edwards has been a lawyer, has studied at Harvard Divinity School, and has worked with homeless in New York City. He presides over Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, which comprises of 34 congregations in Nevada and Arizona. Reverend Laurie Chappelle of St. Catherine of Siena Episcopal Church organized this Service.
During the interfaith blessing of his new Episcopal ministry, Bishop Edwards sat on a chair below the podium to receive the blessings in a ceremony held at the chapel of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. He was rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Macon Georgia before coming to Nevada.
Starting with Most Reverend Randolph Calvo, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Reno; other leaders who blessed the Episcopal Bishop included Buddhist Priest Reverend William Bartlett, Jewish Rabbi Elizabeth Beyer, prominent Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed, Imam of Northern Nevada Muslim Community Abdul Barghouthi, Bahai leader Trip Barthel, Reverend Onie Cooper of Second Baptist Church, and Native American faith leader Reynalda James.
While Rajan Zed read blessing Sanskrit shlokas (hymns) from oldest existing scripture Rig-Veda, composed around 1,500 BCE, Reynalda James brought special water from Pyramid Lake to bless Bishop Edwards. Some of these leaders of various faiths embraced the new Bishop, while others shook hands with him welcoming him to Nevada and wishing him best in his mission. His wife Linda, a law professor at Mercer, watched.
Bishop Edwards has been a lawyer, has studied at Harvard Divinity School, and has worked with homeless in New York City. He presides over Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, which comprises of 34 congregations in Nevada and Arizona. Reverend Laurie Chappelle of St. Catherine of Siena Episcopal Church organized this Service.
