Greeting from Bishop Larry Benfield, Assisting Bishop for NWPA

It is my honor to have arrived to work among you as the assisting bishop for the Diocese of
Northwestern Pennsylvania. I made my first congregational visit this past Sunday, and I am
scheduled to make another one this coming Sunday. I look forward to the good work that
we can do together as we prepare for the election of your next bishop and as we continue
to find ways to proclaim the message of God’s love as shown in the life of Jesus Christ.
First, a little background. Most recently, I served as bishop of Arkansas for seventeen years,
a diocese with several small congregations in rural communities, as well as larger
congregations in the central and northwestern parts of the state. Previously, I worked as
rector of a congregation in downtown Little Rock, along with earlier work in two
congregations in Arkansas and, even earlier, as a chaplain at Texas A&M University. Before
my vocation in the church, I was a commercial banker in Houston, Texas. I grew up in East
Tennessee, and I have at least one Pennsylvania connection, my time in graduate school in
Philadelphia. And yes, I realize that Philadelphia is far distant from Erie in many ways.
My plan is to be present in the diocese one week per month, with Sunday visits bookending
my weekdays in the diocesan office. For the rest of each month, I will be available long
distance for Zoom meetings and other related work. While in the diocese, my goal is to visit
as many congregations as possible, provide needed pastoral and administrative oversight,
and assist the diocesan staff as it refocuses its work now that Northwestern Pennsylvania is
no longer in a partnership with Western New York.
It is humbling that your Standing Committee has asked me to provide leadership during
this important time in the life of the diocese. Even after on a couple of days here, I already
see that there is enthusiasm for finding ways to bring good news to the many people who
hunger for it. It is what your diocesan staff, Standing Committee, and Diocesan Council will
find ways to do. I am thrilled to assist in that work.

Faithfully,

Larry Benfield