Laura was a member of my class at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Congratulations to her and the people of the Diocese of Connecticut.
“The Rev. Dr. Laura Ahrens has been elected suffragan bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. In accordance with Episcopal Church rules, a majority of bishops with jurisdiction as well as the Standing Committees of the other 109 dioceses in the Episcopal Church must now give their consent to this election. If received, Ahrens will be consecrated as a bishop on Saturday, June 30 at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will be the chief consecrator.”
Read the rest here: The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut: News
What is the difference between a suffragan bishop and an assisting bishop?
Simplistically, a Suffragan bishop has tenure and serves the Diocese until he or she decides to retire or translate to a different position.
Suffragans are elected by Diocesan Convention.
Assisting Bishops serve “at the pleasure” of the Diocesan Bishop. Most often they are retired Bishops who have stepped down from the position they were elected to, but who are willing to help out in the life of a different diocese. Lately there have been a number of younger bishops, not retired, who have been serving as long term asisstant bishops.