Episcopal Press and News
LOUISIANA: Six candidates nominated to be next bishop
Episcopal News Service. October 1, 2009 [100109-03]
The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana has announced its final list of six candidates to be the diocese's 11th bishop.
The nominees include four priests, one cathedral dean, and Diocese of North Dakota Bishop Michael Smith, who has been assisting Louisiana Bishop Charles Jenkins since 2007.
Jenkins, 57, announced in December that he would retire in January 2010, saying that he has struggled with the emotional trauma of Hurricane Katrina's impact on the diocese in 2005 and its aftermath. He has served in Louisiana since 1997.
The candidates are:
- the Rev. Kurt Dunkle, 48, rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, Florida (Diocese of Florida);
- the Rev. Paul A. Elliott, 57, rector, St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia (Diocese of Atlanta);
- the Rev. Paul A. Johnson, 48, rector, Christ Episcopal Church, Glen Allen, Virginia (Diocese of Virginia);
- the Rev. Ken Ritter, 48, rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Diocese of Louisiana);
- the Rt. Rev. Michael G. Smith, 54, bishop, Diocese of North Dakota; and
- the Very Rev. Morris K. Thompson, 53, dean, Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington, Kentucky (Diocese of Lexington).
"We are so pleased with the caliber of outstanding candidates who feel called to lead the Episcopal Church in south Louisiana," said David R. Pitts, chair of the diocesan episcopate committee, the group charged with oversight of the nomination process.
More information and full biographies are available here.
The election will be held on December 5 at Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans. Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4), a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan Standing Committees must consent to the bishop-elect's ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of the election. The ordination and consecration is set for May 8, 2010.
The Diocese of Louisiana covers all of south Louisiana, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and includes approximately 18,000 Episcopalians worshipping in 53 congregations.