On 31st January 1998 The Very Revd Mark David Haverland, PhD., was consecrated as IV Bishop of the Diocese of the South, USA.
The Metropolitan, The Most Revd Michael Dean Stephens was chief consecrator, with the Right Revd John T Cahoon Jr. (Mid Atlantic States) and The Right Revd Victor Manuel Cruz-Blanco (New Granada) as Co-consecrators.
Joining in with the laying on of hands were The Rt Revd James Bromley (Australia), The Rt Revd Joseph P. Deyman (Midwest), and The Rt Revd James O. Mote (Holy Trinity, retired).
Bishop Haverland succeeds the late, The Most Revd William O. Lewis, who died on 23rd September 1997.
The service took place in St Stephens Church, Athens, Georgia, USA and the congregation numbered an estimated 225 persons.