
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 30, 1993                   TAG: 9304300256
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

EPISCOPAL BISHOP VEST TREATED FOR ALCOHOLISM

The head of the 35,000-member Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia on Thursday entered a Hampton rehabilitation center for treatment of alcoholism, diocese officials said.

Bishop Frank H. Vest Jr., 57, has been the diocese's leader since 1991.

The diocese said Vest was confronted by fellow clergy last week about concerns over his drinking.

"The bishop readily admitted his own growing awareness he is an alcoholic," said the Rev. Stanley Sawyer, president of the bishop's advisory council and a Virginia Beach rector, who attended the meeting.

The diocese said Vest voluntarily admitted himself to the rehabilitation center. - Associated Press

by CNB