Electing a New Bishop

As you may have heard by now, Bishop Sam Rodman has announced that he will retire in the spring of 2028 and has therefore called for the election of a new diocesan bishop who will be ordained and consecrated as our next bishop at that time.  This kicks off a lengthy process of consultation and discernment that will be overseen by the diocesan Standing Committee.  In its letter to the diocese the Standing Committee informs us that its members have already begun meeting with consultants to help clarify the path forward.

I have been fortunate to have served under some very good bishops during my time as priest.  Bishop Sam is at the top of that list.  Being the immediate successor of Michael Curry had to have been rather daunting, but Bishop Sam has provided wise, steady, faithful, and caring leadership during some challenging times. His episcopal gifts were particularly evident during the pandemic, as he helped us navigate a very tumultuous time in the life of our diocese.  Near and dear to my heart, he has also been strongly supportive of the campus ministries of the diocese, recognizing the importance of our often under-the-radar ministry to these young adults in an incredibly formative time of their lives.

Since the election of a diocesan bishop happens rather infrequently, I thought it might be helpful to provide a general overview of the process.  This will be the third time in my priestly career of serving in a diocese during the election of a new bishop.  As with the calling of new priest by a congregation, it can involve a mix of anxiety and excitement.  There is some variation in how it works, but there is a general, canonical process that is followed throughout The Episcopal Church. 

There will be a Nominating Committee (aka Search Committee) made up of clergy and lay members of the diocese who will create a diocesan profile and then solicit nominations from throughout The Episcopal Church.  They will do a thorough vetting of the nominations they receive and create a short-list for election (usually three or four candidates). There may also be a petition period when additional candidates may be nominated after the Nominating Committee has put forward its slate. The final candidates will then be presented to the diocese in various ways, including in-person opportunities in various locations for members of the diocese (especially those lay and clergy delegates who will participate in the electing convention) to meet and question the candidates; this is often referred to as a “walk-about”.  

This will all culminate in the Convention in November of 2027 when the new bishop will be elected.  The election then requires consent from a majority of all diocesan Standing Committees and Bishops with jurisdiction in The Episcopal Church; this process happens within a 120-day period.  Once the election has received the required consents, a date for the bishop-elect’s ordination and consecration will be set.  The plan is for the ordination and consecration of our new bishop to occur in the Spring of 2028.  The Standing Committee and Nominating Committee will provide ongoing updates as the process unfolds, which we will include in future Saint Alban’s newsletters. If you are not already, you may want to consider subscribing to the diocesan weekly newsletter. 

Those are the basic mechanics of the process.  More important are the spiritual aspects of the process.  From beginning to end, it will be grounded in prayer and an openness to where the Spirit is calling us in this stage of our diocesan life.  We are entering into a liminal space together, which is not always comfortable but will certainly be life-giving and fruitful.  The fall of 2027 seems far away at this point, but the process that will culminate in the Electing Convention is already well underway.  I offer the following, which I’ve adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, so that we might all begin to enfold the process in prayer:

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: we thank you for the ministry of Bishop Sam Rodman, who has provided wise, caring, and faithful leadership for our diocese over the last decade.  We ask your blessing upon him and his family in the coming months, as he concludes his ministry among us and transitions to retirement.  Look graciously on the Diocese of North Carolina in this season of transition. So guide the hearts and minds of all those who will be involved in choosing our next bishop, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Kevin+