In December 2011 the Rev. Mary White, Rector of St. Andrew's, attended a meeting with Diocese of Albany Bishop William Love, Diocese of Central New York Bishop Gladstone (Skip) Adams, and several other rectors from the Diocese of Albany. At this meeting Bishop Love agreed to entertain parish requests for Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight (DEPO) in certain cases.

In a letter to the Parish on February 2, 2012 the Rector announced to the Parish that she was interested in pursuing DEPO “in order to send a clear message that we mean what we say in our mission statement.” She indicated her intention to present it to the Vestry for a vote later that month after the conduct of three Sunday forums on the question during the ensuing three weeks.

The Vestry agreed with the Rector at its February meeting and undertook to prepare a formal resolution for possible adoption at its meeting in March. The Vestry resolution of March 19 was passed unanimously. (A copy of this Vestry resolution suitable for printing is here.)

After a quiet period for the observance of Holy Week and Easter there was a special meeting of the Parish on Easter III, Sunday, April 22, during which the Parish voted 90 to 1 to ratify the Vestry resolution of March 19 requesting DEPO.

As provided in the House of Bishops guidelines, Caring for all the Churches, the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry met with Bishop Love on May 21, and at the conclusion of that meeting executed a document in which the parish and the Bishop agree to a DEPO arrangement. On May 29 Bishop Gladstone (Skip) Adams Jr. of the Diocese of Central New York during a meeting with the Rector agreed to serve as visiting bishop.