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):

• The Reverend Geoffrey M. St. John Hoare, rector, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C.
• The Reverend Kevin Allen Johnson, rector, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Arlington, Texas
• The Reverend Canon Terence Alexander Lee, rector, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, New York, New York
• The Venerable Calhoun Walpole, archdeacon, Diocese of South Carolina; vicar and subdean, Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, South Carolina
• The Reverend Canon Ruth M. Woodliff-Stanley, canon for strategic change, Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania & Western New York; senior vice president for strategic change, Episcopal Church Building Fund

The results of the first ballot, as well as any subsequent ballots, will be posted on the Bishop Search website (link below, there will be a page for Election Results), as well as the Diocesan Facebook page and Twitter account. 
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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 the Annual Convention event opens, click on the icon on the upper left corner (it looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing to the left), and click on the Election of the XV Bishop event.
• If the Events tab opens first, choose Election of the XV Bishop.  

If you have not previously downloaded the app: 

• Download the official Diocese of South Carolina Event App for iPhone or Android by visiting this website: https://download.socio.events/event/OTMwMw%3D%3D
• After the app is installed, please select "Sign Up" and setup your Profile. Important: Use the same email for the app that you used to register.
• In the search bar, search for Election of the XV Bishop
• Select "Join Now" to begin.
• 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! 

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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].

​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):

• The Reverend Geoffrey M. St. John Hoare, rector, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C.
• The Reverend Kevin Allen Johnson, rector, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Arlington, Texas
• The Reverend Canon Terence Alexander Lee, rector, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, New York, New York
• The Venerable Calhoun Walpole, archdeacon, Diocese of South Carolina; vicar and subdean, Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, South Carolina
• The Reverend Canon Ruth M. Woodliff-Stanley, canon for strategic change, Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania & Western New York; senior vice president for strategic change, Episcopal Church Building Fund

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.

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: 

• 9 am: Morning Prayer & Introduction
• 10 am: Panel Discussion 
• 12 pm: Noonday Prayer
• Extended afternoon break 
• 5 pm: Evening Prayer
• 5:30 - 8 pm: Breakout sessions with each candidate

​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:

• Bishop candidate interviews: https://bit.ly/XVBishopCandidates
• Candidate introductory videos: https://bit.ly/CandidateIntros

 
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.

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:

• Bishop candidate interviews: https://bit.ly/XVBishopCandidates
• Candidate introductory videos: https://bit.ly/CandidateIntros

 
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.