Leader, Pastor, Teacher
Bishop John L. Rabb Resigns as Bishop Suffragan of Maryland
Service of Thanksgiving for the Ministry of the Rt. Rev. John L. Rabb and Mrs. Sharon Rabb
By Sharon Tillman, director of communications, Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
Voices were raised to the rafters of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore, as more than 600 well-wishers celebrated the ministry of the Rt. Rev. John L. Rabb and his service as bishop suffragan to the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland since 1998, with hymns, words and more than a few tears.
The Jan. 8 service was a fitting tribute to a man whose “ministry has been marked by inspiring teaching, faithful preaching, insightful pastoring,” the Rev. Dr. Amy Richter, preacher and rector of St. Anne’s Parish, Annapolis, stated in her sermon (View the sermon on our YouTube channel).
The service bulletin cover featured a rendition of St. Francis of Assisi by local artist William Wilson with the opening line from A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, BCP, p. 833, “Lord make us instruments of your peace.” St. Francis and this line are central to the ministry of Bishop Rabb and a constant throughout his work and life.
Fitting is the comparison drawn between To Kill a Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch and Bishop Rabb in the program notes by Christie Dumler. “In the American classic…it took the tolerance, courage and compassion of a deeply principled man, Atticus Finch, to defend an innocent man destined, because of the social attitudes of the time, to be found guilty. Bishop Rabb is a lot like Atticus Finch. He too has the tolerance, courage and compassion of a deeply principled man to minister to the innocents in a world of change.”
Bishop Rabb’s Franciscan ideals were woven throughout the service. In a reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians (4:1-10, 23), Paul writes: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.”
In her sermon, Richter said of Bishop Rabb, “your commitment to ministry in our cities and in the parishes of rural Maryland, your work on behalf of ecumenism, health ministries, Christian formation, all have served the people of this diocese and our Episcopal Church. You have exhorted the priest, deacons, and all the people of God to continue our call to study, to pray, preach, and proclaim with boldness, trusting in the goodness and power of the God whom we serve.”
Mrs. Sharon Rabb was also honored as a leader for instituting a FOCUS (Families of Clergy United in Support) chapter in Maryland. Richter said of Sharon Rabb, “Sharon…has exercised her own leadership of clergy families in our diocese and her own faithful membership and participation here in her home parish [Cathedral of the Incarnation].”
Along with the Liturgy were tributes, gifts and the unveiling of Bishop Rabb’s portrait. The portrait, painted by Sam Robinson, will hang in the Diocesan Center’s Peabody Room along with the portraits of other retired bishops.
The Rev. Scott Bellows, rector of St. David’s Church, Baltimore, and former Standing Committee president, presided over the presentations to the bishop saying, “You have resigned as bishop suffragan, but your episcopacy has not ended. You will continue to be a deacon, priest and bishop of this church. You will continue to share with us the Gospel. You are a man of truth – truth of scripture; importance of the canons. You are tradition living and breathing. God will continue to surround you in your life.”
The Rt. Rev. Robert W. Ihloff, retired bishop of Maryland, spoke of his and Bishop Rabb’s “shared episcopacy.” “I could go into your office and scream and you would know exactly what that meant.” With a bow to his colleague, he added “My gratitude for the ways we shared ministry.”
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of Maryland, spoke of Bishop Rabb as a passionate man. He listed all the things the bishop is passionate about: “his wife and family, this city [Baltimore], the diocese, the Episcopal Church, preaching, Anglican theology and practice, Franciscan spirituality, and justice for those on the bottom rung of society.” Bishop Sutton thanked his colleague for his help in making the transition from canon to bishop.
Having the final word was Bishop Rabb, who also celebrates the 34th anniversary of his ordination today. He recalled that he was ordained by Bishop William Creighton, father of Bishop Michael Creighton, who was today’s Celebrant and close friend of Bishop Rabb’s. He recounted discerning entering the bishop search for Maryland in the late 1990s. He was in Atlanta when the opportunity to be bishop in Maryland arose. He told a close friend that he was concerned about being able to love a diocese like you can love a congregation. He wanted to be close to those he served. Through tears Bishop Rabb proclaimed to the congregation, “Yes, you can love a diocese!”
Read Bishop Rabb’s complete biography.
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