University students often believe they have to put their faith aside as educated people, she said. "We really want to integrate secular education with faith education and formation. It's the person — not only their opinions or stances — that we're looking for."

Hers is one among the several mainline Protestant denominations that have lost membership in recent years and are looking to reconnect with young people to energize their congregations for the future. The Episcopal Church has also been under fire from conservatives within for allowing ordination of a gay bishop. Some have threatened to break away from the church if such issues are not resolved.

Yet Bishop Irish doesn't equate lost membership with the church's groundbreaking stand on women in ministry or gay issues. "I just think the challenges of our culture being so consumer-oriented and so 'me-first' oriented make some unaware or unresponsive to the challenges of that environment.

"Materialism is damaging not only to the Earth but to people," she said, adding that awareness and support of environmental issues are also among her priorities. She said her diocese has been forward-thinking in planning for its new church center, now under construction next to St. Mark's Cathedral downtown.

"It will be a 'green' building," with energy efficiency built into its design and function. "We're looking at climate change and (environmentally friendly) alternatives as a way of being responsible people."

Bishop Irish had her principle ministry focused on such issues during her time in Washington, D.C. "I think now is the time when people are really willing to take it seriously." She plans to forward the concepts of "simple living" as part of her focus on the commission.

She also hopes to help people see the Bible as "a historical as well as an inspired document. That makes a difference in understanding the text." The Episcopal Church allows for a wide variety of biblical interpretation, which she sees as a plus in helping Christians "grow in the knowledge and love of God."

With the additional responsibilities, Bishop Irish said she'll depend more on local officials to help maintain her ministry in Utah and has no plans to leave any time soon. "I love my work here. It's the perfect place."

She did resign Monday from her post with the local Alliance for Unity, which seeks to foster cooperation among the state's business, educational, political and religious interests. The position takes time and energy she needs to devote elsewhere, she said.

Now in her 11th year as bishop of Utah, she said her new post is "really something my whole life has been training me for in some way or another."

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com