Bishops lacking for two religions

Stacy J. Willis

Thursday, May 25, 2000 | 11 a.m.

Two of the state's prominent religious bodies are lacking bishops -- leaving leadership of nearly 400,000 faithful to an Episcopalian layperson and a Catholic monsignor.

Lifelong housewife Ginny Hastings never expected to run a statewide religious organization.

But the sudden death last September of longtime Nevada Episcopal Bishop Stewart Zabriskie left the diocese reins in her hands.

Zabriskie, 62, died of heart failure. He had been bishop since 1986.

As president of the diocese' primary administrative committee -- a volunteer position -- she was ushered into leadership of the statewide, 34-church diocese until a new bishop is selected by election. "I didn't know how to run a diocese. No way," said Hastings, 56. "I'm a housewife, a mother of two and grandmother of three. But I have a lot of help."

Seven months later, layperson Hastings is still at the helm of the diocese, shifting through legal matters, personnel issues and church finances.

It's a full-time job that Hastings is doing without pay.

"You just learn. You just kind of take a deep breath and jump in," she said. "I've had a lot of help."

Two miles away from the state Episcopal diocese offices in central Las Vegas, a core group of Roman Catholic priests Wednesday elected a temporary administrator to fill the vacated Las Vegas Catholic bishop's chair.

In April, former Las Vegas Bishop Daniel Walsh was reassigned by the Pope to take over a troubled Santa Rosa, Calif., diocese. He left the 380,000-member Las Vegas Catholic community early this month. Monsignor Patrick Leary was named diocesan administrator until the Pope names a new Las Vegas bishop -- an event expected late this summer or early fall.

Leary, who was ordained in 1976, most recently has served as rector of Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Catholics believe the bishop is the successor of Jesus' apostles, sent to guide followers as a representative of Christ.

As the Catholic diocesan administrator, Leary can perform most of the duties of a bishop -- but he cannot ordain priests.

The Episcopal Church's bishops are selected by convention vote. A nominating committee is expected to produce a list of four candidates this August. Final votes are cast in October.

"I cannot do pastoral things, such as if there is a problem with one of the priests," said Hastings. "But I get a lot of help from clergy."

In October, when a new bishop is installed in the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, Hastings will finish out her two remaining years on the Standing Committee -- a group of three clergy and three laypersons who have ecclesiastical authority over the diocese.

"And after that, I'm going to be a full-time grandma," she said.