House Resolution 117

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING RIGHT REVEREND BRIAN R. SEAGE FOR HIS WONDERFUL, SELFLESS SERVICE AS BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, a community is nothing without its ministerial clergy, who seek the very heart of God and intercede on behalf of its congregation, parishioners and local communities, and Right Reverend Brian R. Seage, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the State of Mississippi has far exceeded the call of stewardship, as he has devoted his life to the ministry; and

WHEREAS, elected on May 3, 2014, at Jackson's St. Andrew's Cathedral, receiving the required consents from a majority of bishops and standing committees of the Episcopal Church, Right Reverend Brian R. Seage, succeeded the Right Reverend Duncan M. Gray, III, as the 10th bishop of Mississippi upon Gray's retirement in February 2015; and

WHEREAS, holding an undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University and a master's of divinity from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Bishop Seage, who entered the sacred and divine order of priesthood in 1998, served as curate at St. John's Episcopal Church of Ocean Springs from 1997-1998, and then as rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Diamondhead from 1998 through 2005, where he also served on the board of trustees for Coast Episcopal School; and

WHEREAS, during his service as curate and rector, Bishop Seage shepherded the growth of attendance and programming in the parish, completing a successful building program and doubling the average Sunday attendance during his ministerial tenure at St. Thomas; and

WHEREAS, called to serve as rector for St. Columb's Episcopal Church in Ridgeland in 2005, Bishop Seage was elected as bishop coadjutor during his tenure at St. Columb's while simultaneously fulfilling the roll as dean of the Central Convocation of the Diocese of Mississippi, where he helped coordinate and enable the ministry of Episcopal clergy in Central Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, prior to entering the ministry to further aid other clerics in proclaiming the love and mercy of His Holiness, Bishop Seage served as director of youth ministry for St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in his native home of Thousand Oaks, California, where he managed a team of volunteers to support both the junior high and senior high youth groups, assisted with chapel at St. Patrick's Day School, and coordinated the congregation's Habitat for Humanity program; and

WHEREAS, Right Reverend Seage served the Diocese of Mississippi as a Fresh Start facilitator in addition to being a member of the diocese's Executive Committee from 2006 through 2009, as well as a member of the diocesan Restructure Task Force before his 2014 election to bishop, a position which allows him to oversee 89 congregations, three colleges and multiple day schools throughout the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, during his episcopacy, Bishop Seage has been a camp director at Camp Bratton-Green every summer since 2006, while also serving on the Gray Center Board of Managers; and

WHEREAS, while on his Emmaus Walk, Bishop Seage, who has given extraordinary and dedicated leadership during his episcopacy, has benefitted from the Ecclesiastical counsel of holiness offered by his wife, Kyle, who serves as rector at St. Philip's in Jackson, and received the doting affection of their daughters, Katie and Betsy; and

WHEREAS, men of faith such as Bishop Seage are rare in these times of social and moral decline in America but nevertheless serve to uphold everything that is good and right about a country that has its very founding premised upon spiritual foundation in God as the sovereign deity; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize such outstanding Godly leaders such as Bishop Seage, who has dedicated his life of ministry to compelling many souls to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, bringing glory and honor to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and honor the dedication of Right Reverend Brian R. Seage to his community, to the Lord, and to the State of Mississippi as Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Mississippi, congratulate him upon the occasion of his retirement, and express sincere wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Right Reverend Brian R. Seage and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.