c. 2006 Religion News Service
COLUMBUS, Ohio _ With so much attention focused on how the Episcopal Church will deal with schism and sexuality at its General Convention here this week, it almost seems an afterthought that the denomination will also choose a new presiding bishop.
One of seven candidates will be elected for a nine-year term to succeed the Most Rev. Frank Griswold and become the American church’s 26th presiding bishop.
In addition to becoming the public face of the Episcopal Church, the presiding bishop combines the roles of “chief operating officer” as well as “chief pastor” to the nation’s 2.3 million Episcopalians.
For the first time, a woman has been nominated _ Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of Las Vegas _ although most consider her a longshot candidate. If elected, she would be the most prominent woman to lead an American church.
In addition to Jefferts Schori, the candidates for presiding bishop are: J. Neil Alexander, bishop of Atlanta; Francisco Duque-Gomez, bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church in Colombia; Edwin Gulick, bishop of Kentucky; Charles Jenkins, bishop of Louisiana; Henry Parsley, bishop of Alabama; and Stacy Sauls, bishop of Lexington.
Alexander, Gulick, Jefferts Schori and Parsely were nominated by a 29-member committee. Duque-Gomez, Jenkins and Saul were nominated by petition.
The presiding bishop’s toughest job may be holding the U.S. church together despite its deep differences over homosexuality, and fending off criticism from sister churches within the Anglican Communion.
The names of the seven candidates will be formally submitted to a joint session of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies _ the church’s chief legislative bodies _ on Saturday (June 17).
The last time a presiding bishop was elected, two supporters were allowed to speak on each candidate’s behalf, though the candidates themselves were not allowed to speak. The joint session then adjourns.
The House of Bishops will convene Sunday morning in a closed session at Trinity Church in Columbus, Ohio. A simple majority of the 311 bishops eligible to vote will determine the winner. Unlike in past elections, the vote tallies will be made public this year, according to the Episcopal News Service.
Upon choosing the bishop-elect, the House of Bishops remains sequestered until the House of Deputies, with its nearly 1,000 lay and clergy delegates from throughout the country, concurs with the choice.
The bishops certify the election after the deputies’ concurrence and the new presiding bishop is introduced to the General Convention, though he or she will not formally assume the office until November.
Recently, Episcopal leaders, including the Very Rev. George Werner, outgoing president of the House of Deputies, have argued for a more democratic process. Werner told the Episcopal News Service that the church should allow open nominations and the House of Deputies should also elect, and not just concur with, the bishops’ choice.
KRE/JL END BURKE Editors: To obtain photos of all seven candidates for presiding bishop, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by last name.
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