As he stood at the altar of the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation, Bishop John L. Rabb choked up, then dabbed at tears with his handkerchief.
A hymn-filled service Saturday at the North Baltimore cathedral marked Rabb's retirement after more than a decade as bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. In that role, Rabb has been one of the top leaders in the diocese, overseeing ordination of clergy and education.
As visiting and retired bishops, clergy and parishioners from all over Maryland jammed the church on University Parkway, Rabb gave up the responsibilities of his office in a ceremonial handing over of his diocesan crozier, or staff, to Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton, Episcopal bishop of Maryland. Rabb's official resignation took effect Jan. 1.
"Today, we're honoring a man who has given a large part of his life to serving others," Sutton said. "He is a passionate man, passionate about his wife and family, about the city of Baltimore, the diocese of Maryland and the Episcopal church. He is passionate about having compassion and [seeking] justice for those on the bottom rung of society."
Rabb, 66, was elected bishop suffragan of Maryland in March 1998 and consecrated in October of that year. He served for more than a year as bishop in charge, between the retirement of former Maryland Bishop Robert Ihloff and Sutton's consecration in 2008 as bishop of Maryland.
"John is salt of the earth," said Randy Stevens, the head of St. Timothy's School in Stevenson, a diocesan school where Rabb serves as a trustee. "There is a goodness about John that's overwhelming."
On Saturday, representatives of parishes and schools held banners in a procession led by a bagpiper. The two-hour service, celebrated by Bishop Michael W. Creighton, retired bishop of Central Pennsylvania, was filled with tributes to the bishop and his wife, Sharon. It culminated in the unveiling of Rabb's portrait by a Maryland artist, showing a smiling Rabb standing in the pulpit.
During a sermon on the theme of leadership, Rev. Amy Richter, of St. Anne's Church in Annapolis, said Rabb's ministry had been marked by "inspiring teaching, faithful preaching and insightful pastoring."
"Bishop Rabb, you have been a man of prayer among us, an example for us, and we know praying for us also," she said. "Your commitment to ministries in our cities and in the rural parishes of Maryland, your work on behalf of ecumenism, health ministries, Christian formation, all have served the people of this diocese and our Episcopal Church."
In remarks before the unveiling of the portrait, Rev. Peter K. Nord, spiritual leader of the Presbytery of Baltimore, said Rabb will be missed not only within his own diocese but by "we who are ecumenical leaders in this state" because of his commitment to "working with other communities of faith."
As he prepared for the service Saturday morning, Rabb reflected on his work over the years, including efforts to increase the percentage of people under age 30 entering the priesthood.
Attracting younger people to become clergy "has been a real challenge in the Episcopal Church," he said. "We've tried to be proactive and invite people in … as opposed to seeing who shows up."
Lauren Welch, an archdeacon in the diocese, said Rabb has helped to better define the role of deacon in the congregations as leaders who help inspire their congregations to live out their baptism vows.
"He's very loved," Welch said of Rabb.
The Des Moines, Iowa-born Rabb said he was celebrating another milestone on Saturday, the 34th anniversary of his ordination. He began his ministry at the Church of the Ascension in Gaithersburg, where he was assistant rector and priest in charge. He has served as rector of churches in Arbutus and in Atlanta, Ga.
But he said he had mixed emotions about stepping down, including feeling excited about taking on a new role at St. John's Church in Ellicott City. Still, "there's a tinge of sadness today," he said. "I have loved the diocese of Maryland and all its congregations."