Sorority honors members
Sigma, a social and service sorority, is part of Beta Sigma Phi, an international organization dedicated to life, learning and friendship. Recently, rituals were held for two members at The Baron and the Beef Restaurant.
A pledge ceremony was held for Kathy Tucker, new member. The Exemplar ceremony was held for Martha Poythress. Exemplar is the third degree of Beta Sigma Phi. To qualify, a member must be in good standing for four years of Ritual of Jewels membership, including participation in regular chapter activities and four years of required cultural programs.
The sorority holds meetings twice a month.
Bridge club names winners
The Fairfield Duplicate Bridge Club played a regular game Jan. 8.
The winners were: Edith Cahn and Nancy Barwick, first place; Tempie Pierce and Emily Exum, second; Lamar Finch and Pearl Schechter, third; and Eva Balknight and Jenny Holt, fourth.
A regular game will be played at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday at Fairfield Center. The club welcomes and encourages all bridge players.
For more club information, call 252-523-6791.
ENC Episcopalians to choose new bishop
The Rev. Clifton Daniel III, bishop of the Episcopal Church’s East Carolina diocese since 1997, has resigned to become bishop provisional of the diocese of Pennsylvania. His resignation becomes effective Feb. 28.
“I do love and treasure our Diocese of East Carolina and count it as a privilege to serve as your bishop for these years,” Daniels said in a statement posted recently at the diocese’s website. “I have confidence in the leadership of the standing committee going forward and in the skills and abilities of a wonderful and dedicated staff at Diocesan House.”
Since the diocese has no coadjutor, or deputy bishop with the right of succession, Daniel’s vacancy will be filled by a church election. In the interim, a six-member standing committee of Episcopal priests and lay members will handle the diocese’s day-to-day affairs.
The diocese will form a search committee to screen candidates. A new bishop will then be chosen by an assembly of priests and lay delegates from Episcopal parishes from across the eastern half of North Carolina.
Daniel graduated from UNC in 1969 and earned a master of divinity in 1972 from Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 1973 and served parishes in Kinston, Ahoskie, Dayton, Ohio, and Bristol, R.I., before being elected bishop coadjutor of East Carolina in 1996. He became full bishop the following year.
In Pennsylvania, Daniel will serve the diocese which covers the city of Philadelphia and four surrounding counties, with more than 22,000 members and 155 congregations.