2020-09-01 Akiyama

CONGRATULATIONS BISHOP-ELECT DIANA AKIYAMA!

On August 29, 2020, in a virtual Electing Convention, the Diocese of Oregon voted for their 11th bishop to succeed the Rt. Rev. Michael Hanley, who will retire in January 2021. When it was announced that our very own, the Rev. Dr. Diana Akiyama, had been elected, the Bishop wasted no time expressing his joy for the Bishop-Elect on Facebook! Her response reflected the profound and mutual respect they have for each other.

"This is spectacular news! As her Bishop, I know she will make a great Bishop and I will delight in welcoming Diana into the House of Bishops. God's People in the Diocese of Oregon (and the entire Episcopal Church) will be blessed by her ministry as we have (especially me) in the Diocese of Hawai'i!" - Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick on Facebook

"You will always be "my bishop." My spiritual and vocational horizon opened up and thrived under your astute and loving care and guidance." - Bishop-Elect Diana Akiyama on Facebook

Diana will have the distinction of being the first Japanese-American woman Bishop in The Episcopal Church, but she is no stranger to shattering glass ceilings. In 1988, she became the first Japanese-American woman to be ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. Like many "trail blazers" the road was fraught with obstacles and challenges, overcome by her passion, persistence, incredible mind, and most importantly, her deep and abiding faith.

It was during her role as a panelist in the Diocese's Renewal weekend last year with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, that many in attendance learned about the sting of discrimination and racism she faced growing up. Her moving testimony was a powerful example of the event's theme, "Reconciliation."

Diana was born and raised in Wheeler, Oregon, and lived in the Japanese-American community of Hood River. In response to a question in the bishop interview process, she stated that she "was shaped by the history of anti-Japanese sentiment in that area. In addition, being the daughter of an interracial couple has given me an embodied understanding of the term 'cross-cultural.' To the Japanese community, I was not fully one of them. To the caucasian community, I was not fully one of them. As a result, I nurtured a spiritual center from which to engage the assumptions, tensions and unease of others. I learned very early how to connect with people across differences by demonstrating the content of my character and respecting theirs." (Diocese of Oregon website)

Along with Diana's impressive education and training (M.Div., Ph.D., Religion and Social Ethics) she has served as a priest, teacher, advocate, volunteer, and pioneer (to name a few). Her professional and personal life experiences combined, have equipped her to lead with great clarity, compassion, and spirit, especially during these times of conflict and uncertainty.

While her return to Oregon will be a homecoming of sorts, here in Hawai'i she will be deeply missed. Diana has been serving as Vicar of St. Augustine's on the Big Island since 2015, and also the Dean of Waiolaihui'ia, the Diocese's formation program. The three-year program is currently in its third round of classes that are "structured to enable people with full-time jobs to participate in training one weekend a month for three years." She has helped raise up several priests and deacons in the Diocese who have great respect and admiration for their Dean.

"My experience with Diana+ through the lens of our local formation program, Waiolaihui'ia, was exceptional. She showed herself to be strong, decisive, mission focused, focusing on the whole, while being inclusive, compassionate, and a gatherer of souls. I am proud to call her mentor, colleague, and friend. And I am so proud of her!" - The Rev. Mark Haworth, Halau Wa'a Episcopal, Waiolaihui'ia Class of 2017

"Diana led us through our discernment year. She welcomed our ideas of God and faith, gave them weight and consideration. If correction was needed to be in line with Anglican beliefs, it was thoughtful, gentle, and swift. She has been an encouraging leader. Being with her for over a year of learning and growth, [I think I can speak for our group] that we love her and rejoice for her and the people of Oregon." - Suzanne Kobayashi, Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, Postulant for Ordination

From Bishop-Elect Diana Akiyama:

I am deeply grateful for the privilege to serve the Episcopal Church in Hawai’i these past seven years. In particular, I’m grateful to Bishop Fitzpatrick for his support, insights, encouragement and trust. When I arrived on the Big Island, I was open and curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in shaping my ministry as a priest in the church. In a very short period of time, I enjoyed the hospitality and collegial support of the Rev David Stout. David’s faithfulness as a colleague and friend continues to be a blessing to me. Since then, meeting and working with the clergy of this diocese has been a journey into friendship, collegial support, theological wisdom and mutual
respect. This diocese is extremely rich in depth and breadth with its clergy and lay leaders.

Serving as the dean of Waiolaihui’ia was a true privilege - the work of formation and theological education is grounded in relationships and respect, and I am humbled by the respect and trust of the students and graduates of the program. It has been so rewarding to walk with them as they moved through the process of discernment, formation and ordination.

My time in this diocese has been rich and generative in ways I could never have imagined. I will always have a deep feeling of connection and sense of “home” here, especially on the Big Island. The warmth and Christian love with which I have been received by the good people of St. Augustine’s as well as throughout the diocese have formed me indelibly.

Life with 'Ohana at St. Augustine's...

Clergy & Dean Life...

The Diocese of Hawai'i joins in the celebration of Bishop-Elect Diana Akiyama's new ministry...

Congratulations & Godspeed!

Read more about Bishop-Elect Diana Akiyama: Episcopal News Service, Diocese of Oregon Seach website

Sybil Nishioka, Editor and Communications Contractor, Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i
(Photos: At top, the Rev. Diana Akiyama delivers a sermon in the Cathedral of St. Andrew at the ordination of six transitional deacons in 2017, by S, Nishioka; black and white photos contributed by D. Akiyama; clergy life slideshow, S. Nishioka, B. DeGooyer, and others.)