Kym Lucas was consecrated May 18 as bishop of the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Photo: Episcopal Church in Colorado

[Episcopal Church in Colorado] The Rev. Kimberly (Kym) Lucas was ordained and consecrated as the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Church in Colorado on May 18 at Saint John’s Cathedral in Denver. Lucas became the first woman bishop as well as the first African American bishop in the diocese’s 132-year history.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry led the service as chief consecrator. The Very Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and canon theologian at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, was the preacher. Following the service, a celebratory reception was held on the lawn at Saint John’s Cathedral.

On May 19, the newly consecrated bishop was formally welcomed and seated at Saint John’s Cathedral at the 10:30 a.m. service. Her seating in the cathedra, or bishop’s chair, is symbolic of the bishop’s office.

Lucas was chosen as the bishop during its 131st Annual Convention on Oct. 27. Lucas has served as rector of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Washington since January 2012. Previously, she was rector of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, from 2005 to 2011.

Lucas grew up in Spring Lake, North Carolina, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Wake Forest University. She received her Master of Divinity, New Testament, at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Lucas and her husband, Mark Retherford, have four children.

Lucas succeeded the Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill, who had served for 15 years. The Episcopal Church in Colorado was established in 1887 and has approximately 30,000 members across 96 parishes and missions in Colorado.