Electing and Seating PB27

Adapted from the Office of Public Affairs

The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has issued a fourth essay that explains the steps that will take step during and after General Convention. The process begins on Convention’s second legislative day.

June 24
The nominees for Presiding Bishop will be presented to a joint gathering of bishops and deputies, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. (all Convention hours are MDT). Deputies, bishops, and alternate deputies will be guaranteed seating; registered visitors to General Convention will have access until the hall reaches capacity. A live stream will be available through General Convention’s Media Hub.

After introductions of each nominee, each will have three minutes for opening remarks. Nominees will then respond to questions prepared by the joint nominating committee, questions from participants in General Convention, and questions from Episcopalians in every province. The nominees will be allotted two minutes for each response.

The joint gathering will conclude with a closing statement from each nominee.

June 26
During another joint session of bishops and deputies, the joint nominating committee will formally nominate the four bishops it has selected “for the consideration of the two Houses in the choice of a Presiding Bishop” (Canon 1.2.1.f). There will not be any other nominations from the floor because no bishop or deputy indicated any intent to nominate any other bishop in accordance with the procedures set by the nominating committee. The joint session is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

June 27
After the Convention Eucharist at 9:30 a.m., bishops with seat, voice, and vote will gather at St. Mark’s Cathedral for the election. The bishops cast ballots until a presiding bishop is elected. A majority of all bishops (excluding retired bishops not present) is required to carry the election. The vote totals for each ballot are public and must be provided to the House of Deputies.

Once there is an election, the presiding bishop sends a deputation from the House of Bishops with the name to the president of the House of Deputies. The president refers the name to the House of Deputies Legislative Committee on the Confirmation of the Presiding Bishop without announcing the name to the House of Deputies.

The legislative committee, chaired by Deputy Lynn V. Schmissrauter from the Diocese of East Tennessee, will then make a recommendation to the House of Deputies on whether to confirm the choice of the House of Bishops, and the House of Deputies will vote immediately on the recommendation. A delegation from the House of Deputies will then notify the House of Bishops of the result.

The bishops remain in the cathedral and must refrain from any communication outside the cathedral throughout the election.

Once the House of Bishops receives the confirmation, the presiding bishop-elect is then presented to the House of Deputies, along with his family members who are present at the Convention.

July 3
The presiding bishop-elect will be the preacher at the closing General Convention Eucharist on July 3, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will be the celebrant at this closing Eucharist, which will be live-streamed.

November 1
In an investiture that begins at noon (EST), the 27th presiding bishop will be seated in the cathedra at Washington National Cathedral. Details of this service are under the supervision of the Presiding Bishop Transition and Installation Committee appointed by Executive Council. The service will be live-streamed.

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