The Rev. Dean E. Wolfe, 47, vice rector of the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Dallas since 1997, was elected Bishop Coadjutor of Kansas on July 12.

Bishop-elect Wolfe serves one of the largest Episcopal parishes, and helps supervise a staff of 61 full-time employees. Prior to his call at St. Michael’s, he was associate rector at Trinity, Boston, from 1994 to 1997, and assistant rector of St. Clement’s, Berkeley, Calif., 1992-1994.

The search committee in Kansas nominated only two candidates for the election, Fr. Wolfe and the Rev. J. Blaney Pridgen, III, rector of St. Mary’s, Columbia, S.C. Fr. Pridgen narrowly trailed Fr. Wolfe after the first ballot, but thereafter supporters of Fr. Pridgen began to switch to Fr. Wolfe.

An additional two candidates canonically resident in the diocese were nominated by petition. The Rev. Robert C. Lord, rector of St. Michael and All Angels’, Mission, was within a few votes of Fr. Wolfe on the first ballot. His support continued to grow throughout the five ballots, albeit at a slower rate than the winner. The Rev. Canon Jo Ann T. Smith, canon to the ordinary, withdrew after the second ballot.

If confirmed by General Convention, bishop-elect Wolfe will be consecrated Nov. 8 at Grace Cathedral in Topeka. He will succeed the Rt. Rev. William E. Smalley as diocesan on Jan. 1.