The search for the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina has resumed, after pausing the process on April 22, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Standing Committee unanimously agreed during a meeting on July 28 to restart the search. While exact dates will be difficult to firmly establish because of the uncertainty of the pandemic, the search will proceed with the expectation of holding an election in the first half of 2021, followed by an Ordination of the new bishop by year’s end.
 
In moving forward, the Search Committee has announced that the period of receiving nominations will begin on Monday, August 31, and close on Thursday, October 15. The Diocesan Profile has been completed and will be shared on the website for the bishop search (www.scbishopsearch.org) on August 31, along with forms for application and nomination.
 
In a time of great uncertainty, Search Committee Chair the Rev. Dr. Philip Linder is looking forward to resuming the search. “We are excited to be moving forward, and hope for the careful and prayerful consideration of all who may feel called to serve as the Fifteenth Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina,” said Linder.
 
While specific dates beyond the period for open nominations will not be set at this time, the overall process will continue to follow the same structure outlined in the timeline on the Bishop Search website. Upcoming events and deadlines will be shared on the website and through Diocesan communications.

As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to impact our daily lives and immediate future, the Rev. Cn. Caleb Lee, President of the Standing Committee of The Diocese of South Carolina, has written an update regarding the current search for the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. A copy of his letter can be viewed here.

The text of the letter is below:

April 22, 2020
 
Dear Faithful People of the Diocese of South Carolina,
 
The COVID-19 pandemic is the most unprecedented national and global crisis in any of our lifetimes and it has presented all of us with unique and unforeseen challenges in almost every aspect of our lives. As we are all well aware, the Church is not excluded from these challenges.

Due to various factors outside of our control, the Standing Committee has made the decision to pause the Search for the XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. This decision was made in consultation with The Reverend Dr. Philip C. Linder, Chair of the Search Committee, and our Search Consultant, The Reverend Canon Rick Callaway. We will reassess this decision on an ongoing basis. Rest assured that there is no one more ready to have a diocesan bishop than members of your Standing Committee!

There are many factors that were considered in this decision. However, our primary reason for making this decision was to safeguard the integrity of the discernment process for possible candidates, the Search Committee, and the diocese. We are not the only diocese with this challenge. There are currently 18 dioceses that have had to modify or postpone part of their search process because of COVID-19.

The good news is that our excellent committee is in full agreement with this decision and are at a point in the process where a pause can be easily managed. By the end of April, the Search Committee will be finished with the Diocesan Profile and all the preparation necessary to begin receiving nominations. Therefore, when your Standing Committee decides to proceed, there will be very little time between that decision and when the Diocesan Profile is published and nominations can be received.

Unfortunately, this means that our current timeline, including the anticipated election at our Annual Convention in November, will have to be altered. Due to the uncertainty of this time we are not able to make a decision about when that will be at this point. However, we plan to proceed as soon as possible.

Our Search Consultant has stated on more than one occasion that our Diocese has one of the most energetic and hardworking search committees with whom he has ever worked. It did not surprise me that he said this. We have great people in this diocese; people who have endured much and yet still rise to unprecedented challenges with grace and unbelievable faithfulness. I speak for your entire Standing Committee when I say that we are very grateful and honored to be serving you during these times, and we remain very excited about our future.  

Faithfully yours,  

The Reverend Canon Caleb J. Lee
President of the Standing Committee

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina has appointed a Bishop Search Committee chaired by the Rev. Dr. Philip Linder. Over the next several months, the Search Committee will work on the search materials and the nomination process for candidates who will be considered in the vote for the Fifteenth Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina at the 230th Diocesan Convention in November 2020.
 
According to canons, the Search Committee includes two clergy and two lay persons from each of the four deaneries of the Diocese. Below is a complete list of the members of the Bishop Search Committee:
 
Pee Dee-Waccamaw Deanery
The Rev. Ryan Currie, Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island
The Rev. Rob Donehue, St. Anne’s, Conway
Doug Billings, Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island
Frances Elmore, St. Catherine’s, Florence
 
Peninsula Deanery
The Rev. Dr. Philip Linder, St. Mark’s, Charleston (chair)
The Rev. Jeff Richardson, Holy Communion, Charleston
Elsa McDowell, Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston
Pat Patrick, St. Stephen’s, Charleston
 
Southern Deanery
The Very Rev. Mark Brinkmann, All Saints, Hilton Head Island
The Rev. Roy Tripp, St. Mark’s, Port Royal
Jane Forsythe, St. Mark’s, Port Royal
Lesley Gilbert, All Saints, Hilton Head Island
 
West Charleston Deanery
The Rev. Dow Sanderson, Good Shepherd, Summerville
The Rev. Fred Thompson, The Episcopal Church on Edisto, Edisto Island
Thad Daise, The Episcopal Church on Edisto, Edisto Island
George Tupper, Good Shepherd, Summerville
 
The Search Committee met last week with the search consultant, the Rev. Canon Rick Callaway, and established the dates for the Listening Sessions throughout the Diocese.
 
The Diocese will share more information on the bishop search process as their work progresses.