Press Room

Episcopal Bishop Urges Faithful to Vote Their Conscience; Supports Marriage Equality, DREAM Act; Not Expanded Gambling

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of Maryland For Immediate Release
November 1, 2012

Baltimore -- The Right Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, thinks all citizens in Maryland should vote their consciences on the ballot questions in the current election Nov. 6. But writing in a pastoral letter to clergy and lay members of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, Bishop Sutton makes the case for marriage equality (Question 6) and the DREAM Act (Question 4). He explains why he opposes expanded gambling (Question 7).

Follow this link to read the entire press release

Episcopal Priest Launches Walk across Maryland

The Journey Begins June 3

A procession of banners. Baltimore -- The Rev. Canon Scott Slater, an Episcopal priest, is preparing to walk the length of his diocesan jurisdiction. Canon Slater serves the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland as Canon to the Ordinary, or executive assistant to the bishop. Following nine years as rector of Church of the Good Shepherd in Towson, he began serving on the bishops' staff in July of 2010. He assists the two bishops in a variety of administrative and programmatic capacities.

Canon Slater began preparing for his walk by talking with people in various congregations in the diocese and getting their reactions and ideas. He determined that 30 miles per day was the most that was reasonable to be able to accomplish, and he will cover the 320 miles in four stages. He begins his journey on Sunday, June 3, 2012, from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Oakland and will walk for six days to the Bishop Claggett Center near Frederick. The Bishop Claggett Center is the diocesan camp and conference center. Later in the summer, he will walk for two days from Claggett into Baltimore. He will then do a one day walk from Baltimore to St. John's Episcopal Church in Havre de Grace. Then in late September he will complete the last three-day leg from Baltimore to St. Peter's Episcopal Chapel on Solomons Island.

Tragedy at St. Peter's Church, Ellicott City

Funeral Arrangements Announced for Church Shooting Victims

The Rev. Dr. Mary-Marguerite Kohn
Co-rector, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Ellicott City
Tuesday, May 8, 3 pm
Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, celebrant
The Rt. Rev. John L. Rabb, preacher
Download Bishop Rabb's sermon (Adobe PDF)

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Mary-Marguerite’s name to St. Peter’s Church to be dispersed by her family to several organizations and ministries she supported. Visit the St. Peter's Church website for more information

Ms. Brenda Brewington
Administrative Assistant, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Ellicott City
Thursday, May 10, 1:30 pm
St. John’s Parish, Ellicott City
Interment follows at St. John’s Parish Cemetery

Members Gather May 6 to Begin Healing, Forgiveness

The congregation of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Ellicott City, Maryland, gathered today, Sunday, May 6, for Sunday services, but this was no ordinary service. This service of healing was held in the church’s sanctuary, just steps from where two colleagues, Brenda Brewington and the Rev. Dr. Mary-Marguerite Kohn, had been fatally shot in the church office on Thursday, May 3, by a homeless man who was a frequent visitor to the church’s food pantry.

Before the service the Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of Maryland, and the Rev. Kirk Kubicek, co-rector of St. Peter’s Church, along with other clergy in attendance, said prayers of healing over the office space.

The bishop and co-rector officiated at the service to a standing-room-only congregation of current and past church members, and family and friends of the victims. This service was held to help the congregation begin healing from the tragic shooting and to begin the process of forgiveness. “We are followers of Christ,” Bishop Sutton said while addressing the congregation, “and the process of forgiveness has begun.”

During the service, Bishop Sutton expressed his grief and sorrow, and that of the Episcopal Churches of Maryland, and beyond, to the congregation. He addressed the emotions being felt by so many in the wake of this tragedy: grief, sorrow, fear and anger. “While we are angry at the shooter, we know he was a child of God and we pray for him. However, many are angry with a society that can’t keep guns from unstable people.” Bishop Sutton added, “We will continue to minister to the poor and we will not do it from behind bullet-proof glass.”

In his sermon, Kubicek said, “Brenda and Mary-Marguerite were doing the Lord’s work. They were serving the Lord directly. ‘When I was hungry, you fed me…’ Like nearly every day of the week Brenda was leading a profoundly hungry person to the food pantry. In a matter of a few moments it was all over. We will never understand.”

The congregation gathered for a reception following the service. Grief counselors have been available to members of the congregation throughout the crisis.

May 5 Statement from Diocesan Convention

RESOLVED: That the 228th Convention of the Diocese of Maryland, taking council together on May 4-5 in the year of our Lord 2012, expresses our profound grief and shock regarding the violent event that took place at St. Peter’s Ellicott City on Thursday, May 3, resulting in the immediate death of Brenda Brewington, Administrative Assistant; and the fatal wounding of the Rev. Dr. Mary Marguerite Kohn, Co-Rector; who were shot by Douglas Jones, a homeless man, who then took his own life.

Read Convention's Expression of support, condolence and hope in the midst of tragedy in its entirety

Update, May 5, 2012

Kohn was transported to Shock Trauma and remains on life support in critical condition to support the family intentions to provide the gift of life through organ donation.

May 4, 2012

Baltimore -- The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is saddened beyond words by the shootings May 3 at St. Peter's Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of Maryland, immediately offered prayers for the victims in the chapel of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore, when he learned the news later that evening. Clergy of the diocesan staff have been present with the parish and members of the St. Peter’s staff, and have said prayers over the victims. The diocese holds the victims, their families, and the people and staff of St. Peter's Church and pre-school in its continued prayers. A nearby Episcopal church, St. John's Parish in Ellicott City, opened their doors late Thursday evening to offer a place of support and prayer.

Howard County police are investigating the shooting. According to them, two women, Brenda Brewington, administrative assistant, and the Rev. Mary-Marguerite Kohn, co-rector of the parish were found shot inside the church office yesterday just after 5 pm. A custodian called 911.

Brewington was pronounced dead at the scene. Kohn was transported to Shock Trauma in critical condition.

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is a Christian community of 22,000 households in 112 congregations covering 10 counties and Baltimore City. Please visit www.episcopalmaryland.org for more information. The Episcopal Church is a community of 2.4 million members in 100 nationwide dioceses, 10 overseas dioceses and six extra-provincial territories; www.episcopalchurch.org. The Anglican Communion is a global community of 77 million Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces, including The Episcopal Church; www.anglicancommunion.org.

Please contact Sharon Tillman, stillman@episcopalmaryland.org, 410-467-1399 (office), 410-746-5251 (mobile) with any questions.

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland Reacts to Civil Marriage Protection Act Vote

BALTIMORE, MD – On Thursday, February 23, the Maryland General Assembly voted 25-22 in favor of Senate Bill 241, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, which is summarized as: “Altering a provision of law to establish that only a marriage between two individuals who are not otherwise prohibited from marrying is valid in the State; prohibiting an official of a religious institution or body authorized to solemnize marriages from being required to solemnize any marriage in violation of the constitutional right to free exercise of religion; etc.” The law is scheduled to go into effect Jan.1, 2013.

The Episcopal Church acts as an agent of the state when its clergy officiate at marriages. The Church also has its own theology and canons, or laws, regarding what Christian marriage is. Our Episcopal Church governing body, the triennial General Convention, passed Resolution C056 at its last meeting in 2009, allowing bishops to provide “generous pastoral response” to members in dioceses where the civil authority has legalized same-gender marriage. The resolution also called for the collection and development of theological and liturgical resources for blessing same-gender unions for review by the next General Convention in 2012.

Download and read the entire press release (Adobe PDF)

The Episcopal Churches of Maryland
Property Agreement Reached

January 18, 2012

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland has reached an agreement with the Anglican Use Congregation at Mount Calvary, Baltimore, over real and personal property. On October 24, 2010, a majority of members of Mount Calvary voted to leave the Episcopal Church and join the Roman Catholic Church through the newly established Anglican Ordinariate.

Read the entire Press Release

Members of Mount Calvary Episcopal Church Elect to Leave the Episcopal Church

BALTIMORE, MD – On Sunday, October 24, members of Mount Calvary Episcopal Church, Baltimore, voted to separate from the Episcopal community and become an Anglican-use parish within the Roman Catholic Church. Mount Calvary parishioners voted on two resolutions – the first to leave the Episcopal Church and the second to seek entry into the Roman Catholic Church as an Anglican-use parish.

Read the entire press release (Adobe PDF)

The Consecration of the XIV Bishop of Maryland

The Consecration of the Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton took place on Saturday, June 28, at the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. More than 3,000 people, including 30 bishops from throughout the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion, attended. This festive occasion featured a combined choir of nearly 300 voices and a grand procession of more than 100 banners, representing churches and organizations from across the diocese.

Watch the Service on Demand

Full Service (with Prelude)
Full Service (without Prelude)
The Sermon

Click here to download Saturday's Order of Service in Adobe PDF format

Members of the Press: Download the complete Press Kit in Adobe PDF format.

Election of the XIV Bishop of Maryland

The Rev. Canon Eugene T. Sutton On Saturday March 29, at St. James’ Church, Lafayette Square in Baltimore, ballots were cast, hymns were sung and the in spirit of the Episcopal Church the Rev. Canon Eugene Taylor Sutton was elected to be the 14th Bishop of Maryland.

Download the Press Announcement in MS Word format

Click here to download the Press Kit for the Electing Convention.

Additional information about this election can be found here.

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