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NEW JERSEY: Bishop informs diocese of Parkinson disease diagnosis
The announcement came in an August 1 letter made available to the entire diocese via its regular "2 Times a Month" bulletin insert. The letter was also emailed August 2 to clergy in the diocese, both canonically resident and licensed.
Councell, 58, noted in the letter that Parkinson is a progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling movement, muscle control and balance. He wrote that the disease is progressing very slowly in him.
"My symptoms are mild; e.g., a tremor in my right hand and some slowness and stiffness in movement," he wrote. "I'm happy to report that medication is helping to control those symptoms. There is every reason to expect that I can continue in this ministry as long as I wish to serve. I have every intention to do just that, by the grace of our God and with the help of your prayers."
Councell also wrote that he prayed that the announcement and his condition "will not distract us from the vision that we have developed or the work that our Lord is calling us to do" to enact that vision.
Councell was ordained and consecrated as the 11th bishop of New Jersey on October 18, 2003.
Based in Trenton, the Diocese of New Jersey is the second oldest diocese in the Episcopal Church with 53,100 Episcopalians and 159 churches in 14 of the state's 21 counties.
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