from 1955 to 1972, the diocese was led by john seville higgins, who started campus ministries and a number of other missions. bishop frederick h. belden led the church through the transitions occasioned by the ordination of women to the priesthood, ordaining jo-ann j. drake to the transitional diaconate in 1977 and to the priesthood in 1978, (patrica a. smith, ordained deacon by bishop belden in 1976, continued her studies for the priesthood and was ordained in 1980) and adoption of the 1979 book of common prayer. belden was succeeded by george hunt, who served as bishop from 1980 to 1994. hunt led a crusade for accountability by the state government on the issues of corruption, organized crime and gambling. he also insisted that the process for ordination in the diocese not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. in 1996, geralyn wolf was consecrated, becoming one of the few women serving as a diocesan bishop.