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January – April 2012 consecrations, elections and consents in the Episcopal Church

December 12, 2011
Office of Public Affairs

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

In the next four month’s, January 1 to April 30, 2012 – the Episcopal Church will witness the investiture of one bishop, the consecrations of two bishops, the elections of three bishops, and the canonical consent process for four bishops-elect.

Consecrations
One investiture and two consecrations of bishops, with two pending a successful canonical consent process, are slated for January to April. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will officiate at the investiture and consecrations.

January 7:  Diocese of Alabama: investiture of Bishop Suffragan the Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan as Diocesan bishop; elected July 16

March 10: Diocese New York: consecration of the Rev. Andrew Dietsche as Bishop Coadjutor; elected November 19

March 24: Diocese of Central Florida: consecration of the Rev. Gregory Brewer as Bishop; elected November 19

Elections
During January to April, three bishop elections are scheduled:

April 21: Diocese of Pittsburgh

April 21: Diocese of Virginia, Bishop Suffragan election

April 21: Diocese of Western Louisiana

Canonical Consent Process
The Presiding Bishop’s office notified the Diocese of Alabama that Sloan has received the necessary majority of consents.  However, consents will continue to be accepted up to and including the January 26 deadline date.

The canonical consent process is currently underway for two bishops-elect. The deadline is:

April 6: The Rev. Andrew Dietsche, Diocese New York, elected Bishop Coadjutor November 19

April 6: The Rev. Gregory Brewer, Diocese of Central Florida, elected Bishop November 19

The canonical consent process has not begun for:

The Rev. Canon Ogé Beauvoir, Diocese of Haiti, elected Bishop Suffragan November 25

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/newsline_116177_ENG_HTM.htm )


Links
The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org
Diocese of Alabama: www.dioala.org/ 
Diocese of Central Florida: 
www.cfdiocese.org
Diocese of Haiti: 
http://www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org/
Diocese of New York 
www.dioceseny.org
Diocese of Pittsburgh 
http://www.episcopalpgh.org/
Diocese of Virginia 
http://www.thediocese.net/
Diocese of Western Louisiana http://www.diocesewla.org/