The Rt. Rev. Richard S.O. Chang, Bishop of Hawaii and secretary of the House of Bishops, recently explained in detail how the house will conduct the consent process for recently elected bishops at General Convention. Both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies will be asked to give consent to 10 elections, including the first bishop-elect to publicly acknowledge himself as a sexually active homosexual person.

Only bishops with jurisdiction are eligible to vote. There are currently 106 diocesan ordinaries (Milwaukee, Montana and New Jersey are vacant), meaning at least 54 must agree in order for consecration to proceed. There are no abstentions. Ballots either not returned or returned unmarked count as “no” votes and will not change the minimum total necessary for consent.

Bishops eligible to vote but unable to attend convention may request a consent form and vote by mail. As of July 23, five days past the deadline for requesting an absentee consent form, the Episcopal Church Center reported no such requests.

A roll call, or publication of the individual member voting results, is not included in the details released by the secretary. However, a formal request for the results is anticipated.