A THIRD attempt is under way to appoint a bishop for the Episcopal diocese of Florida, after a pause of more than a year for “healing and discernment”.
The announcement of another attempt at electing the diocese’s ninth bishop was made on 31 March by the diocesan standing committee. It has called a special meeting of the Diocesan Convention, in June, to agree a nomination process. A timeline suggests that a new bishop could be consecrated in early 2027.
The earlier process to appoint a successor to the now retired Bishop John Howard was acrimonious, and failed after two elections, following formal objections of discrimination and failure of process, and, finally, a refusal by other dioceses to give consent to the elected candidate, the Revd Charlie Holt (News, 21 June 2024, 4 October 2024).
A retired bishop trained in conflict resolution was brought into the diocese last year, as part of a healing and reconciliation process. Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves led on a series of “listening events” including a day of prayer and a clergy conference, to try and heal divisions (News, 9 February 2024).
On 31 March, the Revd Sarah Minton, president of the diocese of Florida Standing Committee, announced that, after “months of prayer and digging in Scripture, meeting with diocesan leadership, the standing committee is officially calling for the Bishop election”.
She ended her video message to the diocese saying: “Hang in there . . . we are so excited about what God has in store for the future. Let’s go!”
The diocese has been without a bishop since October 2023, when Bishop Howard retired. He is now facing possible disciplinary action under the Episcopal Church’s Title IV canons over accusations of discrimination against LGBTQ+ clergy and financial impropriety.
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Dr Sean Rowe, said in February that he was negotiating an accord that “promotes healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation”.
