William D. Borders (1974-1989)
On May 2, 1968, Pope Paul named him the first Bishop of Orlando, and
he was ordained to the episcopate on June 14, entering his new diocese
three days later.
In Orlando, Bishop Borders acted vigorously to implement the
directives of the Second Vatican Council, with particular emphasis on
those having to do with collegiality or shared responsibility. Under
his guidance, diocesan and parish councils, boards of education, and
similar commissions were established, and he created a Social Services
Board to correlate the work of already existing agencies.He developed a comprehensive educational program aimed at coordinating
efforts in Catholic Schools, the campus ministry apostolate, and
religious education at all levels. Multiservice centers for the poor
and for migrant workers were set up at various places in the diocese.
His transfer to Baltimore in 1974 heightened his efforts to govern and
serve in a truly collegial manner. He divided the Archdiocese into
three vicariates and appointed his three auxiliary Bishops as vicars
over them, with delegated authority to act in his name in most
matters. He reorganized the Archdiocesan Central Services, naming
cabinet level Secretaries to carry out the administrative work of the
Archdiocese and thus free him for more pastoral concerns. He clarified
and strengthened the role of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. He
combined the old Board of Consultors and the more recent Senate of
Priests into a newly formed priests Council to advise him on priestly
and pastoral matters.
He also initiated a Department of Pastoral Planning and Management
looking to the future needs of the Archdiocese, an Office of Fund
Development to carry out an effective stewardship program, and a
vigorous evangelization effort to reach the unchurched of the
Archdiocese.
He published his teachings in a book, Spiritual Living in Secular
Society, for leaders and people in the pews as they face the moral
challenges of the Third Millennium. Archbishop Borders submitted his
resignation to Pope John Paul II on his 75th birthday. It was accepted
some months later, and on April 6, 1989, he was succeeded by Most
Reverend William H. Keeler.
Books by William D. Borders
- Spiritual Living in Secular Society: The Teachings of Archbishop
William D. Borders
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Scripture In The Church
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