May – August 2010 Consecrations, Elections and Consents in The Episcopal Church

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 – May 1 to August 31- The Episcopal Church will witness the consecration of seven bishops, the election of two bishops, and the canonical consent processes for three bishops-elect with two canonical consent processes not yet underway.

Consecrations

Seven consecrations for bishops, some still pending successful completion of the canonical consent process, are slated for May to August. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori plans to officiate at all the consecrations.

May 8: Diocese of Louisiana, the Very Rev. Morris K. Thompson http://www.edola.org/

May 15: Diocese of Los Angeles, the Rev. Dr. Diane Jardine Bruce http://ladiocese.org/

May 15: Diocese of Los Angeles, the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool http://ladiocese.org/

May 22: Diocese of Upper South Carolina, the Rev. W. Andrew Waldo http://www.edusc.org/

June 19: Federal Ministries, the Rev. Dr. James “Jay” Magness http://www.ecusa-chaplain.org/ (pending successful completion of the canonical consent process)

July 31: Diocese of Wyoming, the Rev. John Sheridan Smylie

http://wyomingdiocese.org/ (pending successful completion of the canonical consent process)

August 7: Navajoland, the Rev. Canon David Bailey http://episcopal-navajo.org/ (pending successful completion of the canonical consent process)

Elections

During May – August, two bishop elections are scheduled:

May 22: Diocese of Utah http://www.episcopal-ut.org/

June 5: Diocese of Kentucky http://www.episcopalky.org/

Canonical Consent Process

The canonical consent process is currently underway for three bishops-elect; the canonical consent process will begin shortly for two bishops-elect. The deadlines are:

July 28: Navajoland, the Rev. Canon David Bailey, elected March 24 http://episcopal-navajo.org/

August 13: Federal Ministries, the Rev. Dr. James “Jay” Magness, elected March 24 http://www.ecusa-chaplain.org/

August 13 for bishops with jurisdiction and August 15 for standing committees: Diocese of Wyoming, the Rev. John Sheridan Smylie, elected March 20

http://wyomingdiocese.org/

The following canonical consent processes have not begun as of yet:

Diocese of Alaska: the Rev. Mark Andrew Lattime, elected on April 10.

http://www.episcopalak.org/

Diocese of Rio Grande: the Rev. Dr. Michael Louis Vono, elected on April 24 http://www.dioceserg.org/

In the following canonical consent processes, the bishops-elect have received the necessary majority of consents. However, the canonical consent process is not closed and consents continue to be accepted up to and including the deadline date.

May 5: Diocese of Oregon, the Rev. Dr. Michael Joseph Hanley http://www.diocese-oregon.org/

May 5: Diocese of Los Angeles, the Rev. Canon Mary Douglas Glasspool http://ladiocese.org/

May 8: Diocese of Louisiana, the Very Rev. Morris K. Thompson http://www.edola.org/

May 8: Diocese of Los Angeles, the Rev. Dr. Diane Jardine Bruce http://ladiocese.org/

May 8: Diocese of Upper South Carolina, the Rev. W. Andrew Waldo http://www.edusc.org/

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, Canon III.11.4 (a) of The Episcopal Church mandates that a majority of diocesan bishops AND a majority of diocesan standing committees must consent to the Bishop-Elect”s ordination as bishop. These actions – done separately – must be completed within 120 days from the day notice of the election was sent to the proper parties.

If the Bishop-Elect receives a majority (at least 50% plus 1) of consents from the diocesan bishops as well as a majority from the standing committees, the Bishop-Elect is one step closer. Following a successful consent process, ordination and celebration are in order.

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 )

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.

Diocese of Alaska http://www.episcopalak.org/

Diocese of Kentucky http://www.episcopalky.org/

Diocese of Los Angeles http://ladiocese.org/

Diocese of Louisiana http://www.edola.org/

Diocese of Oregon http://www.diocese-oregon.org/

Diocese of Rio Grande http://www.dioceserg.org /

Diocese of Upper South Carolina http://www.edusc.org/

Diocese of Utah http://www.episcopal-ut.org/

Diocese of Wyoming http://wyomingdiocese.org/

Federal Ministries http://www.ecusa-chaplain.org/

Navajoland http://episcopal-navajo.org/

The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org

IamEpiscopalian: http://www.iamepiscopalian.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/episcopalian

Twitter: http://twitter.com/iamepiscopalian

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/TECtube

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