The Diocese of Western North Carolina Says Farewell to Bishop José McLoughlin
- Diocese of WNC
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Photos, video editing, and writing by Katie Knowles, Missioner for Communications
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, hundreds of clergy, parishioners, friends, and family gathered to celebrate and honor the Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin and his 10 years of service as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina. Bishop McLoughlin is stepping into a new role as Chief Administrative Officer of the wider Episcopal Church where he will be working closely with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.
The event on Saturday was held at Christ School in Arden, NC - a locale that is special to Bishop José as it was the first place he visited during the Bishop Candidate Meet & Greets in the search for the Seventh Bishop. It was a tailgate themed BBQ, paying homage to Bishop José's love for sports and pop culture.
The program was Emceed by the Rev. David Henson and included a 35 minute video tribute to Bishop José featuring video submissions from people around the diocese and beyond. You can watch the full video tribute below.
Gifts were shared with Bishop José from the diocesan staff and the Standing Committee, and to Laurel from the clergy spouses and partners. Bishop José took the stage to offer thanks and a reflection on his tenure as bishop.
The program ended with the liturgy of "The Ending of a Pastoral Relationship" from the Book of Common Prayer. It was a fitting and meaningful moment of worship to conclude Bishop José's time as chief pastor of the Diocese of Western North Carolina.
This event was full of humor and heart, and it was a beautiful tribute to Bishop José's legacy as the Seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina.
