Cathedral News
Posted Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Staff Changes at the Cathedral
At the Sunday Liturgy on March 30 Dean Richard Giles announced his retirement after nine years as dean. He and his wife Sue will return to live in the UK, making their home in Tynemouth in the North East of England. A firm date has yet to fixed (the dean has a house to sell and needs a buyer!), but it will be sometime during the summer of this year.
At the same time Dean Richard announced that Canon Lloyd Casson has agreed to join the cathedral staff, initially as priest associate as from June 15 and, upon Dean Richard’s retirement, as Interim Dean for a period of 12 months.
It is difficult to conceive of a person better qualified for this post, given Canon Lloyd’s distinguished service at the national Cathedral in Washington DC, the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City, Trinity Wall Street, as well as serving as Social Justice Officer for the National Church.
Canon Lloyd believes in cathedrals, and is excited about the kind of liturgical renewal which our cathedral in Philadelphia has pioneered over the last nine years. Canon Lloyd is widely known and respected in our diocese, and his appointment by the Cathedral Chapter has the full backing of the Diocesan Standing Committee.
The Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson
A native Delawarean, Canon Casson is a seasoned Episcopal clergyman with over 40 years experience of providing visionary and sensitive spiritual and administrative leadership for mission and ministry through the parish, diocesan and national levels of the Church, in urban community affairs and world issues, and in ecumenical and interfaith relations locally, nationally and worldwide. In his work, Canon Casson has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, India, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Canon Casson retired in June 2007.
Until his retirement in June 2007, and beginning in February, 1997, Canon Casson served as founding rector of the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew (SsAM) in Wilmington, Delaware. This parish was formed from the union of two historic Episcopal Churches in Wilmington, one with a predominantly white membership and the other predominantly black. During the past ten years, Canon Casson has led the development of a multicultural congregation with a unique and rich style of liturgy, based in the Anglican tradition, but incorporating a wide range of musical styles – ancient, traditional, modern – reflecting many cultures. He has also become known as a pastoral and prophetic voice as preacher and community leader. Under his leadership, Saints Andrew and Matthew has become known far and wide both for their unique worship and compelling preaching, and ministries and programs of pastoral care, music and the arts, social service and advocacy for peace and justice. In addition to these duties, Canon Casson oversaw the administrative and fiscal management of the parish, including a successful capital campaign and an extensive program of capital renovation.
Canon Casson’s ordained ministry began where it had started – in Wilmington, Delaware. Upon his ordination to the Diaconate in 1964, he served as Curate then Associate Rector of St. Andrew’s Church and then as Rector of St. Matthew’s Church, the two congregations which later consolidated to become SsAM. Also during this period his community activities included President of the Wilmington Board of Education, and the leader of a process for bringing representatives of government, business, religious and community representative together to restore order and address critical community issues, during the community unrest and violence occurring in Wilmington in the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Canon Casson was the principal organizer and founding President of Delaware Opportunities Industrialization Center, a job training and placement center for Delaware’s marginalized citizens, and served as President of the Council of Churches of Wilmington and New Castle County.
He left Wilmington in 1972 to become Deputy to the Rector of historic Trinity Parish, Wall Street in New York, where he served until 1976. During this period, he oversaw the work of Trinity’s Chapel Congregations, Camp and Conference Center and Trinity Institute. He was instrumental in guiding the Chapels of St. Luke’s-in-the-Field, The Intercession, and St. Augustine’s into self-governing, independent parishes in the Diocese of New York.
In 1976, he was appointed as Canon Missioner of Washington National Cathedral and Assistant to the Bishop for Community and Ecumenical Affairs in the Diocese of Washington (DC). In these positions he was responsible for bringing the resources of the cathedral and diocese nearer to the congregations and communities of the diocese, and shedding light on national issues and concerns for peace and justice through liturgical events, conferences, workshops and retreats. He also developed mentoring and training programs for clergy engaged in urban mission. During his tour at Washington Cathedral, Canon Casson was a key organizer of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and served as Chair of its first Administrative Group. In 1982, also while at the cathedral, he served as Chaplain and Instructor in Liturgy at the Bishops Training Program of The Anglican Provinces of Africa, Limuru, Kenya.
In 1985 he became the SubDean of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York. As Sub Dean, Casson assisted the Dean as liturgical leader and preacher, to develop or oversee ministries and programs, including staff care and supervision, interface with cathedral artists-in-residents and develop educational, liturgical and other activities for raising awareness and involvement in community issues. As Sub Dean, Canon Casson also served as a liaison to the Bishop of New York in his liturgical and other functions at the Cathedral, and developed and implemented strategies for deepening the relationship and acceptance between the Cathedral and the parishes and units of the Diocese of New York.
Canon Casson was called back to Trinity in 1988, to serve as Vicar of Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel, in New York. Where he was responsible for all aspects ofcongregational life, including liturgy, pastoral care, education, direct community service, advocacy and administration; shared responsibility with other Corporate Officers for management and policy development of Trinity Parish. In 1993 until 1997, he served as Social Justice Officer of the Episcopal Church, based at the Episcopal Church Center in New York. Canon Casson guided the Economic Justice Program of the Episcopal Church, which provided loans, grants and technical resources to enable dioceses and community organizations to invest in community based economic development in local communities. He also developed working groups and other bodies, conferences and resources for encouraging and enabling Episcopalians at all levels to engage in ministries and action for world peace, ending racism and group hatred and prejudice, economic and social justice and the integrity of creation. As a member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff, Canon Casson served as a Church Center liaison to the Dioceses of New Jersey, Delaware, Honduras and Guatemala. Also in 1993, Canon Casson began ministry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery, in New York. He led the congregation to spiritual maturity, financial health and membership growth. Under the Canon’s leadership, St. Mark’s was known for being on the cutting edge of liturgical innovation, drawing upon the resources of its well established and renowned programs of music, theater, poetry and dance. He also helped lead the development of a community action organization for the Lower East Side, and renewed congregational emphasis and involvement in ministries of community service and advocacy. Canon Casson served at St. Mark’s as well as at the Episcopal Church Center, until his call In February, 1997 to the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in Wilmington, Delaware.
Canon Casson has served as Deputy to The Episcopal Church’s General Conventions in 1969 (Special Convention), 1970, 1973, 2003 and 2006, and served as a member of the Executive Council. He was the founding President of the Episcopal Urban Caucus, President of the Church and City Conference, and a key organizer and staff support person of the Urban Bishop’s Coalition, while serving as a deputy to the late Bishop John Walker, then the Coalition’s President. Casson has served as member and President of the Standing Committee in both the Diocese of New York and the Diocese of Delaware. He also served two terms on the Standing Liturgical Commission, and was directly involved in the development of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. He chaired the Commission’s first efforts at creating Expansive Language liturgical texts.
Canon Casson served both on active duty and in the Reserves of the United States Army. He was educated in Wilmington Public Schools, graduating from Howard High School in 1952. He entered the University of Delaware upon returning from active military service in 1957 and graduated in 1961. He received his Master in Divinity Degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1964. He was ordained a Deacon in 1964 and Priest in 1965. He was honored with the degree of Doctor in Divinity from Virginia Seminary in 1988.
Throughout his career he has participated in numerous educational experiences including study at the College of Preachers, Washington D.C., and the University Of Maryland School Of Law. Casson is the recipient of numerous honors ands awards, including the Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Medal of Merit from the University of Delaware.
In retirement, Canon Casson serves as a visiting celebrant and preacher, and continues conducting parish and vestry retreats and workshops in meditation and spiritual growth, congregational development and leadership training.