The House of Bishops elected the Rev. Luis Fernando Ruiz, rector of the Catedral de San Pablo in Bogotá, Colombia, as Bishop of Central Ecuador on the first ballot. The March 17 election was held as the bishops met at KanugaConferenceCenter in North Carolina.
 
Fr. Ruiz received 102 of the 117 ballots cast. A simple majority of the votes cast by the bishops was necessary for the election. Since the election was held within 120 days of General Convention in July, it will be presented to the House of Deputies for confirmation. Following approval at General Convention, the consecration is slated for Aug. 1.
 
Fr. Ruiz has served several churches in the Diocese of Colombia which, along with Central Ecuador, is among the eight international dioceses of The Episcopal Church. He has been a member of various committees and commissions, and was a deputy to the General Convention in 2006, 2003 and 1991. As a lawyer, he held various posts in the Colombian judicial system, including Family and Juvenile Court judge, and taught aspects of law in various universities.
 
The other candidates were: the Rev. Thomas Mansella, language services coordinator for the Episcopal Church; and the Rev. Canon Servio R. Moscoso, rector of Iglesia San José, Elizabeth, N.J. Fr. Mansella had withdrawn his name but reconsidered and his name was reinstated Feb. 16.
 
Three other candidates—the Rev. Rosalí Fernández-Pola, vicar of Misión San Mateo Apóstol y Evangelista, Peñuelas, Puerto Rico; the Very Rev. Ashton Jacinto Brooks, dean of All Saints’ Cathedral, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; and the Rev. Carlos Sandovol, rector of St. Simon’s, Miami—withdrew their names from the original slate of nominees.
 
Episcopal News Service contributed to this report.
 
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