The Rev. Canon Dr. Sally French, Bishop-Elect of the Diocese, addresses this past Saturday’s convention.
Five weeks after her election to be the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, the Rev. Canon Dr. Sally French was back at Trinity Cathedral, this time to address the 239th Diocesan Convention on March 4.
The bishop-elect spoke for around eight minutes, and spoke about the transition period for herself and her family, her husband and two teenage children. She also spoke about her growing connection to the Diocese of New Jersey.
“Thank you to this diocese and Convention for my election, for inviting me into partnership with you and for responding to God’s call for us to walk together as bishop and people,” French told the audience of around 250 in person and 400 online. “This call and this diocese are already so precious to me and I am humbled and Overjoyed to be here.”
After French’s brief remarks, Bishop Stokes made good on a promise he had made then-candidate French and the other candidates when they were in the diocese prior to the election.
During his bishop election process, Stokes said, his wife Susan had bought him two baseball caps. “One of which said, ‘Phew, that was close,’ and the other one was a purple hat that said ‘Bishop-Elect.’ . . . I wore it when I came into the Diocese of New Jersey and I am now handing it on to you.”
Much to the delight of the crowd, French tried on the hat and modeled it.
“Thank you Bishop Chip for this wonderful hat that I will wear with joy for the next few months and then replace with a slightly pointier one.”
French is expected to be consecrated as bishop on June 24 at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton.
