Utah Bishop on Court’s Lifting the Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

December 21, 2013

[Episcopal Diocese of Utah]  As the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, I rejoice that U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby has struck down Utah’s Amendment 3.  All people should have the right to due process and equal protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment. Gay and lesbian people are human beings with hopes, dreams, and the need for love. I celebrate that now they will have access to the same fulfillment enjoyed by heterosexual people. They are people made in the image of God.

Many people will find this ruling difficult. The change that this represents will cause them heartache, frustration, and a feeling that our country is going in the wrong direction. Understanding, compassion and prayer for people who deplore this decision is important. They are people made in the image of God. I will be offering my prayers for them.

We are one people. We are one state. We can and must work to make Utah into the place where all people are treated with respect and dignity, and where God is seen in the face of each and every person. As the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, I will continue to welcome all people into The Episcopal Church.

Bishop Scott B. Hayashi

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About Bishop Hayashi

Nov. 6, 2010 Photo

The Right Reverend Scott B. Hayashi was consecrated as the Eleventh Bishop of Utah on November 6, 2010, following his election in May, 2010.

Bishop Hayashi served as Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Chicago, for five years, prior to his Utah election. In his Chicago position, he acted as the Bishop’s confidante, Chief of Staff to 20 employees, deployment officer, consultant on congregational development, as leader of Diocesan Council, and as general troubleshooter for the diocese. Prior to holding that position, Scott was a parish priest from 1984-2005, serving in parishes in Washington, Ogden, Utah, and California.

Bishop Hayashi was the youngest of 3 children from an unchurched family from Tacoma, Washington, and he is the only active Christian from this nuclear family. His desire to know and to understand spirituality in general led him to a longing to know Christ when he was 15-years old. He has been engaged in critical Bible study since his conversion.

Hayashi attended Harvard Divinity School where he met his wife, Amy, who was then a student at Episcopal Divinity School. They have been married for 29 years and have three daughters ages 27, 23, and 15. His undergraduate work was at the University of Washington where he received a Bachelor of Social Work degree. He also obtained a Certificate of Theology from CDSP in 1984.

The Bishop was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Spokane in 1984. In addition to his work in the Diocese of Chicago, he has acted as a Conference Leader for CREDO since 1999 and has worked with nearly 600 clergy of The Episcopal Church in the area of wellness and development. He has served in rural, urban and suburban parishes, thus drawing on a variety of experience in a broad spectrum of the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Hayashi has fought for the dignity of all humans in our immigration laws, health care for all, rights for all who are made in God’s image, and respect for those of other faith traditions.

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Statement by General Seminary's President on Bishop Suffragan-Elect Allen Shin

On Saturday, December 7, the Rev. Allen K. Shin (General Theological Seminary Class of 1996, STM 2001) was declared the bishop suffragan-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of New York at a special election held at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. 

Shin, who is currently rector of St. John's Church, Huntington, New York, was elected by a majority of the active clergy and by a majority of the lay delegates who participated in the election.

"Alan is a great leader of the Church," praised the Very Rev. Kurt H. Dunkle, Dean and President of The General Theological Seminary. "Many recognized him as such this past Saturday. General is proud to send forth its beloved son into the wider Church, well prepared 17 years ago on this very Close."

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Bp. Provenzano: "Blessings on the Diocese of New York at the Election of a Bishop Suffragan"

The clergy and people of the Diocese of Long Island extend to all our sisters and brother in the Diocese of New York our sincere congratulations on the election of one of our beloved priests, Fr. Allen K.  Shin, as the bishop suffragan-elect of New York.  

May the love, grace, mercy and joy of Jesus Christ continue to bless the Diocese of New York as it moves forward in mission. 

The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano 

Bishop of Long Island

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The Rev. Allen K. Shin Elected Bishop Suffragan on 4th Ballot

Bishop Suffragan-Elect

At 2:40 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, at the special election convention held at Manhattan’s Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, the Rev. Allen K. Shin was declared the bishop suffragan-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

The new bishop suffragan will work alongside and under the direction of the 16th Bishop of New York, the Rt. Rev. Andrew M.L. Dietsche. Shin, who is currently rector of St. John’s Church, Huntington, LI, NY was elected on the 4th round of balloting by a majority of the active clergy of the diocese in attendance at convention and of the lay delegates in attendance from congregations of the diocese.

Shin was one of five candidates nominated in early October by the Committee to Elect a Bishop, which began work following the call for the election of a suffragan by Bishop Dietsche’s predecessor as diocesan, Bishop Mark S. Sisk, at the diocese’s annual convention in November 2012. Bishop Sisk retired, and Bishop Dietsche was installed as XVI Bishop of New York, on February 2, 2013.

The bishop suffragan-elect must now receive the consent of a majority both of the other diocesan bishops of the Episcopal Church and of the standing committees of the Church’s dioceses, before being consecrated in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

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Current Position:

2010 – Present
Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Huntington, LI, NY

Previous Ministries and Positions:

2005 – 2010
Fellow and Chaplain, Keble College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

2002 – 2005
Honorary Assistant, All Saints Church, Margaret Street, London

1996 – 2001
Curate/Assistant, Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, 
New York, NY

1996 – 1999
Assistant Officer, Episcopal Asian American Ministry, Episcopal Church Center, New York, NY

Education:

2001 – 2005
Post-Graduate Research in Patristic Studies, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

2001
Master of Sacred Theology, General Theological Seminary, New York, NY

1996
Master of Divinity, General Theological Seminary, New York, NY

1983
Bachelor of Art, Music/Vocal Performance, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

Ordination:

12/07/1996
Ordination to Priesthood, Diocese of New York

06/15/1996
Ordination to Diaconate, Diocese of Chicago

Highlights of Diocesan, National Offices and Community Leadership:

• Faculty Member, School for Deacons at Mercer School of Theology, Diocese of Long Island

• Board Member, Protestant Campus Ministry at Hofstra University, Long Island Council of Churches

• Huntington Inter-faith Clergy Association

• Episcopal Asian America Ministry Commission, Diocese of Long Island

• National Episcopal Korean Ministries Convocation

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