The Governance of The Episcopal Church: This information is another in an ongoing series discussing the governance of The Episcopal Church. Also, Episcopal Church lingo and terms are used; check the websites listed at the end for any necessary explanations.

In the next four months â€" September 1 to December 31 - the Episcopal Church will witness the consecrations of three bishops, the elections of three bishops, and the canonical consent process for four bishops-elect.

Consecrations
Three consecrations of bishops, all pending a successful canonical consent process, are slated for September to December. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will officiate at all the consecrations.

October 8: Diocese of Nebraska: the Rev. Scott Barker elected June 4: http://www.episcopal-ne.org/

November 12: Diocese of Washington: the Rev. Dr. Mariann Edgar Budde, elected June 18: www.edow.org

November 15: Diocese of Haiti; election date in early fall to be determined http://www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org/

Elections
During September to December, three bishop elections are scheduled:

October 29: Diocese of New York Coadjutor: www.dioceseny.org

November 19: Diocese of Central Florida: www.cfdiocese.org

Fall election date to be determined: Diocese of Haiti Suffragan; www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org

Canonical Consent Process
The canonical consent process is currently underway for two bishops-elect. The deadlines are:

November 12: The Rev. Dr. Mariann Edgar Budde, Diocese of Washington, elected June 18

November 16: The Rev. Scott Barker, Diocese of Nebraska, elected June 4

The canonical consent process will begin shortly for the Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, Diocese of Alabama, elected Diocesan Bishop July 16

The canonical consent process will begin after the election for the Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Haiti.

A recap of the process
Upon election, the successful candidate is a Bishop-Elect. Following some procedural matters including examinations, formal notices are then sent to bishops with jurisdiction (diocesan bishops only) with separate notices to the standing committees of each of the dioceses in The Episcopal Church. These notices require their own actions and signatures.

In order for a Bishop-Elect to become a bishop, under Cannon III.11.4, 6 of The Episcopal Church, a majority of bishops with jurisdiction AND the majority of diocesan standing committees must consent to the bishop-elect’s ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of the election. These actions are done separately.

Once the Presiding Bishop receives the necessary consents, she shall “without delay” notify the electing diocese and the bishop-elect without waiting for the expiration of the 120-day period, and “shall,” upon acceptance of the election by the bishop-elect, “take order for the ordination.”

However, if the majority of the diocesan bishops do not consent, and/or the majority of the standing committees do not consent, the Presiding Bishop, in accordance with Canon III.11.5, is required to declare the election null and void. In those cases, a person elected by the diocese will not be ordained.

(See When Is A Bishop A Bishop?: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/when-bishop-bishop )

The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 16 nations. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org

Diocese of Alabama: www.dioala.org/
Diocese of Central Florida: www.cfdiocese.org
Diocese of Haiti: www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org
Diocese of Nebraska http://www.episcopal-ne.org/
Diocese of New York www.dioceseny.org
Diocese of Washington: www.edow.org

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