Las Vegas priest elected Episcopal bishop of western New York

Monday, Dec. 7, 1998 | 8:38 a.m.

The Rev. J. Michael Garrison, a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Las Vegas, was elected in a special convention in St. Paul's Cathedral on Saturday.

Garrison, 53, was one of seven candidates for the post. His election is subject to approval by a majority of the 200-member national House of Bishops and by more than 100 dioceses across the nation.

Garrison's consecration has been tentatively scheduled for April 24. Bishop David C. Bowman intends to retire from the post Dec. 31.

"I feel humbled by the trust the people of western New York have placed in me," Garrison told The Buffalo News.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Garrison has worked in Nevada for nearly 25 years. Bowman said Garrison's involvement with small parishes in Nevada "will stand him in good stead" in western New York, where many of the 67 Episcopal parishes are considered small.

The vicar for Development of Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Las Vegas, Garrison is currently regional vicar for six congregations. He and his wife, Carol, have six children.

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