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About Bishop Barrett
Bishop Barrett was a strong advocate for issues of justice and peace and was outspoken in his vision for a tolerant and inclusive society. In 1965-66, he headed the national Episcopal Church's House of Bishops committee on the place of women in the ministry and was one of the earliest advocates of their ordination. In 1975, his ordination of four women in a disputed ceremony in Washington D.C. caused him to be temporarily banned from ministry, but helped spur the church's General Convention to approve women's ordination the following year. Bishop Barrett returned to California in 1970 after retiring as Bishop of Rochester. In 1979 he began his close association with St. Alban's as our "bishop in residence," initially while the then-rector, the Rev'd Norman Ishizaki, was on sabbatical, and continuing thereafter as he traveled monthly from his home in Santa Barbara to preach and assist with services. Because of failing health, he ended his visits in early 2000. In December of that year he wrote to parishioners and friends saying he was ready to face death, and he died shortly thereafter at age 92 following his decision to discontinue dialysis. The day before his death he received a formal resolution sent by the 105th annual meeting of the Los Angeles Diocesan Convention commending him and recognizing his leadership and faithful service to the church. Bishop Barrett knew and worked with all of the diocesan, suffragan and assisting bishops of Los Angeles dating from Bishop Joseph Horsfall Johnson, who became the diocese's first bishop in 1896, and for whom St. Alban's Church is a memorial.
Bishop Barrett greets parishioner Nancy Hogan
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