![]() Lay and clergy delegates will join together on Saturday, May 1, beginning at 9 am for a Special Meeting of Convention to be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 9 am for the purposes of the Election of the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. The entire convention will be shared live on the Diocesan YouTube page beginning at 9 am at this link. The Convention will begin with a service of Morning Prayer, with a homily offered by the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley, Jr., who serves as Visiting Bishop for the diocese. To review the agenda for the Convention, visit this link. The five candidates on the slate for this election are as follows (listed in alphabetical order by last name, click on each name for more information about each candidate):
Find more information about the slate of candidates, as well as detailed information about the entire bishop search process and the Electing Convention, on the Bishop Search website at this link: scbishopsearch.org. ![]() To access the Bishop Election event through our app, please download our official app for all things related to convention and access the desktop version to join our sessions. Follow the steps below to get started. If you downloaded the app for the Diocesan Convention in the Fall: Open the Diocese of South Carolina app in your phone or tablet.
If you have not previously downloaded the app:
To access the desktop version of our virtual event, please click here: https://download.socio.events/event/OTMwMw%3D%3D to sign up or login (with the same email you used to register), and start browsing. Questions? Email Andrea McKellar at [email protected]. A Prayer for the Election of a Bishop Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 818) ![]() This Saturday, more than 100 lay and clergy delegates will join together virtually to elect the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. The entire convention will be shared live on the Diocesan YouTube page beginning at 9 am at this link. The five candidates on the slate for this election are as follows (listed in alphabetical order by last name, click on each name for more information about each candidate):
Please join us in prayer for the candidates, the delegates, leadership, and all of the Diocese of South Carolina. Learn more about the Electing Convention, and the process outlined in our own Constitution and Canons which will guide this election on the Bishop Search website at this link: scbishopsearch.org/electing-convention. If you have any questions about the election, as a delegate or a member of the diocese, send it to [email protected]. Find more information about the slate of candidates, as well as detailed information about the entire bishop search process, on the Bishop Search website at this link: scbishopsearch.org. ![]() Pursuant to the Constitution of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (The Diocese of South Carolina), the Standing Committee has called a Special Meeting of Convention to be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 9 am for the purposes of the Election of the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. As set forth in Article VI, Section 7 of the Constitution of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, Convention voting will be by Orders with the clergy voting individually and the lay delegates voting by churches (“a majority from each parish having one vote and each mission having one-half vote”). To elect a Bishop, one candidate must have the required majority in both Orders on the same ballot. A section has been added to the Bishop Search website that explains the Electing Convention in great detail through a series of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). Please visit it at this link. At the Electing Convention, each parish is to provide four lay delegates and up to four alternates. Each mission is to provide two lay delegates and up to two alternates. All canonically-resident clergy who are currently serving a church or institution of the Diocese or, are canonically resident having served a parish or institution of the diocese for five years directly before retirement, have voice, seat, and vote at this convention. All clergy and lay delegates are asked to register here BY TOMORROW, Friday, April 16, 2021. Visitors are welcome to register, but all proceedings will be shared live on the Diocesan YouTube page on May 1 beginning at 9 am. Only registered delegates will participate on the online convention through Zoom. By registering, you will receive all emails about the upcoming election, including information about pre-convention meetings and training sessions. Preconvention Meetings Offered to Delegates There will be virtual Preconvention Meetings to discuss the format of convention, voting, and technology. These will be held on Zoom on the following days and times:
It is strongly encouraged that all delegates attend at least one of these sessions. Zoom links for these sessions will be sent to all registered delegates very soon. You may also email your questions to [email protected]. ![]() Whether participating live or watching the recorded videos on their own time, hundreds of people from throughout the diocese learned more about the five candidates for the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina this week through the three-day virtual event known as Candidate Conversations (In the photo, Jeanette Spencer, a member of Calvary, Charleston, and the Very Rev. Dr. Adam Shoemaker, rector of St. Stephen's, Charleston, both members of the Bishop Search Transition Committee, moderated the Wednesday morning session with the five candidates.). From Monday through Wednesday, people of the diocese watched panel discussions with the candidates where they answered 4-5 questions in a live video conference each day, and then they joined in the evening for breakout sessions that provided an opportunity to meet and listen to each candidate one at a time. Throughout the event, churches from around the diocese joined together to offer morning prayer, noonday prayer and evening prayer for each daily session. Youth of the diocese closed the three-day event with Compline on Wednesday evening. Candidate Conversations hopefully served as a wonderful opportunity for the candidates to learn more about the diocese and for people to learn more about them. This will be particularly helpful for those who will serve as lay and clergy delegates at the Electing Convention on May 1, 2021. For those who were unable to watch the events live, the panel discussions from each of the three days were recorded and can be watched on the Diocesan YouTube account at this playlist. Learn more about the candidates, including interviews, resumes, application essay answers and more, on the Bishop Search website at this link. Join Zoom Meeting for the Candidate Conversations at this link: http://bit.ly/CandidateConversations Meeting ID: 891 0367 6508 Passcode: 596991 Click link above, or visit www.zoom.com and/or dial the following number and enter the information above: +1 646 876 9923 ![]() Candidate Conversations are into the third and final day today, Wednesday, April 14. This three-day virtual event is the main instrument of discernment we are using in the search for our next Bishop. These Conversations have been organized by the Transition Committee to provide a forum for the people of the diocese to hear directly from the candidates about issues affecting our common life, and to help the candidates learn more about what matters most to people in the diocese. Today will follow the same schedule as the other two days:
All are welcome and invited to attend any or all sessions of this event. For more information, visit the Bishop Search website at this link: scbishopsearch.org/candidate-conversations. Day 1 Panel Discussions can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/eFhO_IUsNOQ Day 2 Panel Discussions can be viewed at this link: https://youtu.be/qI4Ix1Lu_oA Join Zoom Meeting for the Candidate Conversations at this link: http://bit.ly/CandidateConversations Meeting ID: 891 0367 6508 Passcode: 596991 Click link above, or dial the following number and enter the information above: +1 646 876 9923 ![]() Nearly 100 people participated in the first day of Candidate Conversations, the three-day virtual event held in place of the traditional "Walkabouts" that are usually a part of a bishop election process. These fully-online and virtual forums are taking place on Zoom and provide an opportunity for the people of the diocese to hear directly from the candidates about issues affecting our common life, and to help the candidates learn more about what matters most to people in the diocese. Yesterday, the candidates answered five questions about a variety of topics during the morning panel discussions. The morning session was recorded and can be viewed at this link. The evening breakout sessions were more informal and gave the candidates an opportunity to have more informal discussions with people of the diocese while each were in their own "breakout" room. Those sessions were not recorded, but similar sessions will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The same sessions will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday April 13-14, 2021. People may watch and participate the Candidate Conversations on Zoom, but those daily sessions will also be shared live on the Diocesan YouTube channel at this link: www.youtube.com/c/DioceseofSC. People will only be able to view the evening breakout sessions through the Zoom link below: Join Zoom Meeting for the Candidate Conversations at this link: http://bit.ly/CandidateConversations Meeting ID: 891 0367 6508 Passcode: 596991 Click link above, or dial the following number and enter the information above: +1 646 876 9923 Learn more about the five candidates by visiting each candidate’s page at this link: https://scbishopsearch.org/candidates. On the page for each candidate, you will find a short bio, résumé, and application essays, as well as each candidate’s introductory video, and a recent interview conducted by a member of the Bishop Search Committee. Alternately, you can view all videos at these links:
Who can participate as an attendee? All are welcome and invited to participate in any or all parts of the three-day event. All portions of the Candidate Conversations, including all of the Daily Office services, are open to anyone who would like to attend. Canonically-resident clergy and lay delegates to the electing convention are strongly encouraged to attend. The morning panel sessions will be streamed live on the Diocesan YouTube channel and a link will be shared on the Diocesan Facebook page. Learn more about Candidate Conversations at this link: scbishopsearch.org/candidate-conversations. Login information for all sessions on Zoom, April 12-14, 2021 Join Zoom Meeting for the Candidate Conversations by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/CandidateConversations Meeting ID: 891 0367 6508 Passcode: 596991 Click link above, or dial the following number and enter the information above: +1 646 876 9923 Download this form to take notes during the sessions. Candidate Conversations will be held April 12-14 in place of the traditional "Walkabouts" that are usually a part of a bishop election process. These fully-online and virtual forums will take place on Zoom and will provide an opportunity for the people of the diocese to hear directly from the candidates about issues affecting our common life, and to help the candidates learn more about what matters most to people in the diocese.
Learn more about the five candidates by visiting each candidate’s page at this link: https://scbishopsearch.org/candidates. On the page for each candidate, you will find a short bio, résumé, and application essays, as well as each candidate’s introductory video, and a recent interview conducted by a member of the Bishop Search Committee. Alternately, you can view all videos at these links:
The Candidate Conversations will consist of a series of morning panel discussions (each day at 10 am) and early evening “breakout” sessions (each day from 5:30-8 pm). In the morning panel discussions, each candidate will have the opportunity to respond in turn to questions asked by the moderators. The evening “breakout” sessions will be more informal opportunities to spend time with each candidate. All are welcome and invited to participate in any or all parts of the three-day event. People may watch and participate the Candidate Conversations on Zoom, but those daily sessions will also be shared live on the Diocesan YouTube channel at this link: www.youtube.com/c/DioceseofSC. People will only be able to view the evening breakout sessions through the Zoom link below: Join Zoom Meeting for the Candidate Conversations at this link: http://bit.ly/CandidateConversations Meeting ID: 891 0367 6508 Passcode: 596991 Click link above, or dial the following number and enter the information above: +1 646 876 9923 Who can participate as an attendee? All portions of the Candidate Conversations, including all of the Daily Office services, are open to anyone who would like to attend. Canonically-resident clergy and lay delegates to the electing convention are strongly encouraged to attend. The morning panel sessions will be streamed live on the Diocesan YouTube channel and a link will be shared on the Diocesan Facebook page. Learn more about Candidate Conversations at this link: scbishopsearch.org/candidate-conversations. ![]() During Holy Week, Elsa McDowell, a member of the Diocese and a retired journalist with the Charleston Post & Courier (who also served on the Bishop Search Committee), conducted 20-30 minute video interviews on Zoom with each of the five candidates on the slate for the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. These interviews are a great opportunity to learn more about the candidates as we are just over three weeks away from the election on Saturday, May 1 at 9 am. Candidates were each asked the same six questions, which were provided in advance. The interviews can be watched on the Diocesan YouTube page at this link. While only the registered lay and clergy delegates will cast votes at the upcoming Electing Convention, all members of the diocese are encouraged to learn more about these candidates, and share your thoughts with your church's delegates. For more information on the candidates and the bishop search process, visit the Bishop Search Website at this link: scbishopsearch.org. |
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March 2025
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