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Waiting and praying as the presiding bishop election is underway

St. Mark's Cathedral in downtown Salt Lake City

Today is the day our next presiding bishop is elected. At our morning media briefing, Episcopal Church Public Affairs Officer Neva Rae Fox told us, “This is not a day you want to go to the beach. This is a day you want to stay close.”

At the conclusion of this morning’s Eucharist, the bishops departed first, to the haunting sound of Navajo flute music, as the remainder of the congregation sat in prayerful silence. The bishops boarded buses taking them to St. Mark’s Cathedral, where the election will take place in the context of prayer and reflection.

Once the election has taken place, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will send a delegation to House of Deputies President Jennings to inform her of the name of the bishop who has been elected. Jennings will refer the name to the House of Deputies legislative committee on the Confirmation of the Presiding Bishop without announcing the name to the full House. The legislative committee will make a recommendation to the House of Deputies whether to confirm the election or not confirm, and the House of Deputies will immediately vote on the recommendation. Jennings will then appoint a delegation of deputies to notify the House of Bishops of the action taken.

No communication will permitted from the House of Bishops during the election and until confirmation is received.

After the election is complete, the presiding bishop-elect will come to the House of Deputies. Then at 4 p.m. Mountain / 6 p.m. Eastern Time (or later if the election process takes longer than expected) there also will be a press conference with the presiding bishop-elect. You can watch both these events live on the Media Hub at episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/gc.

Media is not permitted near the cathedral during the election. Instead, we credentialed media were invited to St. Mark’s Cathedral yesterday afternoon, to see and photograph the space where the election will take place (and to enjoy more of the Diocese of Utah's wonderful hospitality). My photographs are in the gallery below.

I will soon leave the media room to go to the press area on the House of Deputies floor to await the results. In the meantime, please join me in praying for our bishops – that they may be given wisdom and discernment; and for the the eventual presiding bishop-elect – that he may be strengthened and supported in his ministry and leadership.

Photo Gallery

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