Bailey elected as Navajoland Bishop

The House of Bishops voted 104 in favor with one abstention to elect the Rev. Canon David Bailey to be the Bishop of Navajoland. Since Navajoland is an area mission, the HOB picked the bishop, rather than having a vote in Navajoland. However, the Presiding Bishop had asked that Bailey not only be the HOB choice, but that his service would also be the will of the people.  Members of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland held a special convocation and gave their support to Bailey, which paved the way for the overwhelming HOB vote. Bailey leaves the Diocese of Utah after 12 years of service. His new post will be headquartered in Farmington, New Mexico. Navajoland serves the reservation which covers a land area about the size of Virginia, with churches scattered over Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

In the early 1970's, Navajoland was carved out of several dioceses, including the Diocese of Utah. Our historic Utah churches in Bluff, Oljato, and Montezuma Creek were reasigned to Navajoland. Utah has offered outreach to Navajoland since the beginning. Most recently, in conjunction with Navajoland, the Diocese of Utah Communication Office created a video outlining the extrodinary ministry, stories and history of the people of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland. It is an uplifting and poignant look at fellow Episcopalians in our region. Churches in Utah are welcomed to get a DVD to show at study groups and coffee hours. Email Craig Wirth at the Diocesan Offices for a copy.