Dear Friends in Christ,
By the grace of God, our bishop election process is nearly complete. We are writing today to provide an overview of its final stage, called the consent process, that is unfolding now.
As you know, on September 30, clergy and lay delegates elected the Rev. Canon Kristin Uffelman White to be the Tenth Bishop of Southern Ohio. We give thanks to God for Canon White and for all of the nominees who discerned with our diocese for so many months, and for the Nominating and Transition Committees whose faithful work has brought us to this new season.
In the Episcopal Church, a bishop election requires not only a successful electing convention, but also the consent of a majority of bishops with jurisdiction and a majority of standing committees of dioceses across the church. Consent to the election of bishops, which dates to the earliest days of the Episcopal Church, is mandated by Article II Section 2 of the church’s Constitution and Canons and outlined in Canon III.11.3.
The process of consenting to Canon White’s election began early last week, when we asked standing committees across the church for consent to our election, assuring them that we had received proof of her ordinations as deacon and priest, a testimonial signed by convention delegates and clergy that she was “duly and lawfully elected,” and certificates from a medical doctor and psychiatrist who had performed required examinations. We also notified the Presiding Bishop’s office that we had these required materials. In turn, his staff requested consent from bishops with jurisdiction.
Bishops and standing committees now have 120 days to provide their consent to our election, although we have every hope that our consent process will conclude successfully much sooner than that. When the required majority of consents has been received, the Presiding Bishop’s office will notify us and issue an announcement to the entire church. At that point, Canon White will become Bishop-elect White.
As the consent process continues, the Transition Committee will continue planning the ordination of the Tenth Bishop of Southern Ohio, scheduled to take place on February 17 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, and will assist Canon White as she makes plans to move to our diocese and begin her ministry with us.
In the meantime, we look forward to seeing many of you at the business session of the 149th Annual Convention on November 11 in Portsmouth. Until then, please pray for Canon White and her family; for Bishop Smith and his family as he continues to lead our diocese; and for all the diocesan leaders whose ministry is making this bishop transition possible. We give thanks to God for all of them and for you.
Yours faithfully,
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Southern Ohio
Dr. James Allsop, President
Dr. Elizabeth Barker
The Rev. Jed Dearing, Secretary
Mr. Barry Feist
The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn
The Rev. David Kendall-Sperry, Vice President
