Our Diocese

The Diocese of North Carolina was formed in 1817, and permission to create a separate diocese in Eastern North Carolina was given by the General Convention meeting in Philadelphia on Oct. 9, 1883. The primary convention was held in Christ Church, New Bern, with 21 clergymen and66 laymen present, representing 24 parishes. At this convention, the new diocese was named "East Carolina," and the delegates unanimously elected the Rev. Dr. Alfred A. Watson as the first Bishop. He was consecrated at St. James Church, Wilmington, on April 17, 1884.

Bishop Watson presided over his first annual convention on May 14, 1884, at St. Peter's Church, Washington, stressing unity of effort to justify the diocese's separate existence from the Diocese of North Carolina. A constitution and canons were ratified in 1885, the official seal was adopted in 1893 and the Bishop's residence was established in Wilmington.

Adequate support from a relatively poor, rural and agricultural area for diocesan missions and clergy was a continuing problem. Help was received from the women in the diocese, organizations, and individuals in other dioceses and from the National Church. The Bishop's Fund was established in 1886 for the support of diocesan missions and poorly paid clergy. The Woman's Auxiliary was organized in 1888 and held its first United Thank Offering in 1889.

Bishop Watson set for the diocese the goal of a militant Christian mission and wrestled with the constant problems of financial and spiritual support. The Bishop, who was in failing health, requested a coadjutor on May 26, 1904, and on that day the council elected the Rev. Robert Strange, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Richmond, VA. He was consecrated in St. James Church, Wilmington, on Nov. 1, 1904.

In his first address, Bishop Strange set the keynote for his episcopacy by calling for de-emphasis of sectarianism within and outside the Church. He advocated support of public educational institutions and established church schools, and urged a renewed missionary effort, recognizing the ever-present problems of men and money to carry out this work.

In 1907, the diocesan newspaper, "The Mission Herald," was published and was adopted as the official organ of the diocese. Bishop Strange led the diocese into an era of awakening to change and laid a sound foundation for future growth. He became ill and died on Aug. 23, 1914. On Oct. 7, 1914, on the 20th ballot, the Rev. Thomas C. Darst was elected Bishop of East Carolina and was consecrated on Jan. 6, 1915, in St. James Church, Wilmington.

During Bishop Darst's episcopacy, the spirit of unity and a new determination to press forward was evident in the diocese. In 1925, the Young Peoples Service League (since 1979 called the Episcopal Youth Community) was organized. The Camp Leach property on the Pamlico River below Washington was acquired as a summer conference and training center. In 1937, a constitutional change was made to permit the election of women delegates to the diocesan convention.

During the Bishop's address in 1935, Bishop Darst noted that East Carolina, with only 15 self-supporting parishes, had conducted "the largest diocesan missions program per capita of any diocese in the entire South. "

A new black institution under diocesan sponsorship, the Good Shepherd Hospital at New Bern, opened in 1938 with support both from within and outside the diocese, notably from the Woman's Auxiliary. This "unique venture in interracial cooperation, " consisting of a building and equipment valued at $68,00O, and free of debt, was incorporated in 1943.

During two World Wars, Bishop Darst exhorted his congregation to provide fighting men, money, and chaplains. The clergy and laity alike were called upon to help provide the spiritual leadership needed for the world in this time of transition. Organization, he said, could not "take the place of the spirit of God. " In a world of heightened tension, he stressed the need for "dignity and beauty of worship," for a "quiet confidence in the overshadowing power of God" and for "belief in the inherent goodness of man. "

East Carolina was the first diocese to present a specific program for evangelism to the National Commission on Evangelism, and Bishop Darst served as the first chairman from 1925 to 1934. His inspiring leadership of the "Bishop's Crusade for Spiritual Awakening," a nationwide campaign, was generally acknowledged, and he was in great demand as a speaker. Bishop Darst made the decision to retire in 1945, and on May 24, 1945, the Rev. Thomas H. Wright was unanimously elected Bishop. He was consecrated at St. James Church, Wilmington, on Oct. 5, 1945.

Bishop Wright brought vigor, vision and militant leadership equal to the changing conditions of the postwar world to the diocese. He believed that the Church held the answers to the world's needs if its people would but draw on its resources, practice the Gospel and proclaim it to the world courageously. ~

In 1948, the diocese acquired the Bogue Sound property at Atlantic Beach known as the Qwentin Roosevelt Memorial Site, to be used as a campsite and conference center. This led to the formation of a Camps and Conference Board to oversee the supervision of Camp Leach, the Hoffinan Center on Bogue Sound and, in 1956, the new Camp Oceanside on Topsail Island for black campers.

The College Work Commission was established in 1954 to direct that developing and significant area of diocesan life. Through local parishes work was carried on among students at East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State College, Flora MacDonald College, and Wilmington College. Beyond its boundaries, the diocese responded to solicitations from the University of the South at Sewanee, St. Augustine's College, and St. Mary's School in Raleigh, and the Thompson Orphanage in Charlotte.

In 1954, the diocese became self-supporting, and in 1957 the Episcopal Foundation was organized to provide an endowment to carry out the work of the diocese, especially to help worthy young men and women prepare for religious work and to supplement clerical salaries, as well as to receive and manage the properties of the diocese. The minimum clergy salary set in 1961 by the Department of Missions was one of the highest in the Church at the time.

Bishop Wright's personal interest encouraged the diocese to undertake more efforts in the areas of missions, social service, race relations, college work, the armed forces, world peace and relief. A diocesan Director of Religious Education was named in 1962. Commissions on outreach, mutual responsibility and interdependence, long-range planning and liturgy were formed, and the diocese began a relationship with the Diocese of Melanesia.

In 1968, Bishop Wright called for a coadjutor to help with the workload. The Rev. Hunley A. Elebash, Executive Secretary of the Diocese, was elected on the fourth ballot out of 25 nominees. He was consecrated in St. James Church, Wilmington, on Oct. 2, 1968, and succeeded as diocesan on Jan. 1, 1973, following the retirement of Bishop Wright.

Bishop Elebash began his episcopacy with 71 churches (32 parishes; seven aided parishes; and 32 missions), 49 clergy and 11,277 communicants. By stating his belief clearly that people must grow in their will and usefulness to God and their fellow man, the Bishop helped guide the diocese through the unrest of the Church in the 1970's, over the proposed Prayer Book, ordination of women and ordination of homosexuals.

In 1976, a special convention was called to study, and learn about the new Prayer Book. The first renewal conference was held in 1977, and the first woman priest in the diocese was ordained. His conviction that many people should share in the program and budget process led to the formation of an active Department of Christian Education, stewardship meetings around the diocese, a permanent Convention Committee and a Commission on Evangelism. Coalition Sixteen was formed in 1976, which provided a team ministry to administer 16 missions in the Northeastern section of the diocese.

Following open-heart surgery in 1979, Bishop Elebash called for a coadjutor, and on June 9, 1979, the Very Rev. B. Sidney Sanders, Dean of St. Andrew's Cathedral, Jackson, Miss., was elected Bishop Coadjutor on the second ballot. He was consecrated at St. Mary's Church, Kinston, on Oct. 26, 1979.

During the next four years, Bishops Elebash and Sanders led the diocese into the 1980s, exhorting the congregations to remain steadfast in troubled times, aspire to a simpler lifestyle, protect the environment and practice servant ministry.

The first capital funds drive in more than 20 years, "Venture in East Carolina," took place in 1979 in conjunction with the National Church's "Venture in Mission." By March 30, 1980, $939,000 had been received, surpassing the diocesan goal of $800,000. This money was used to strengthen the diocesan program and ministry, camps and conferences, new congregations and rejuvenation of old congregations, as well as companionship with those beyond diocesan boundaries.

Bishop Elebash retired on Aug. 1, 1983, and Bishop Sanders became the diocesan.
In the belief that the diocesan headquarters should be more centrally located, Bishop Sanders moved the office from Wilmington to Kinston in 1983, and a new diocesan house was built in 1986.

The Bishop strongly believes in the power of the individual to make changes and has shared with the diocese the immeasurable greatness of God's power in his own life. He has espoused the extensive use of rich liturgy and the 1979 Prayer Book, the healing ministry and freestanding altars so that the priest can face the people while celebrating the Eucharist. In 1987, a Diocesan Youth Coordinator was hired and youth were invited to participate in the diocesan convention.

During his ministry in East Carolina, Bishop Sanders emphasized stewardship, help for migrants and the development of a camp and conference center. Prison ministries, migrant ministries and urban ministries have all had active participation. Since it began in 1986, the Diocesan Resource Center has become an increasingly valuable center for the distribution of printed and audio-visual material across the diocese.

A capital funds drive, ''Our Shared Vision," raised more than $2,000,000 for Trinity Center, the diocesan camp and conference center, which opened in June 1986 on Bogue Banks. Annual events such as Cursillo, Happening and New Beginnings for young people, parish retreats, a music workshop and clergy-spouse conferences, as well as a successful camp program, have made Trinity Center an integral part of diocesan life.

In 1987, the first Vocational Deacon was ordained, the diocesan staff was integrated and the diocese began to strive toward a goal of giving 50-percent of the annual budget to work outside the diocese. A Stewardship Development Office was opened, and in 1992 the Bishop called for an every member canvass. The Coalition of Black Episcopalians was formed to strengthen the ministries of the small black churches in the diocese. Now named the Episcopal Consultative Commission (ECC), this group has sponsored many programs and workshops throughout the diocese. The Racism Commission, formed in 1993, implements systemic changes for racial equality, representation and sensitivity. During this Decade of Evangelism, a Commission on Evangelism and Renewal was formed that began evangelism pilot projects involving many churches in the diocese.

In 1993, a deanery structure was instituted that divided the diocese into five areas, and an Assistant Bishop was added to the diocesan staff. Also in that year, the diocese entered into a relationship with Puerto Rico as a Companion Diocese, and in 1994 San Mateo, formerly St. Matthews, in Yeatesville, became a church center ministering to the growing Spanish-speaking community.

In 1995 Bishop Sanders called for the election of a Bishop Coadjutor. The Rev. Canon Clifton Daniel, 3rd was elected and consecrated in 1996. Upon Bishop Sanders death in June of 1997 Bishop Daniel became the 7th bishop of East Carolina.

The cornerstones of the last 17 years have been servant ministries and stewardship activities that teach people to live as givers. There are now 74 churches and 1 8,O20 baptized members.

***The Committee on History and Archives is currently revising this history.