Mississippi diocese elects Brian R. Seage as bishop coadjutor

By Scott Lenoir
Posted May 5, 2014
The Very Rev. Brian Seage and his wife, the Rev. Kyle Seage. Photo: Jim Carrington

The Very Rev. Brian Seage and his wife, the Rev. Kyle Seage. Photo: Jim Carrington

[Episcopal News Service] The Very Rev. Brian R. Seage was elected on May 3 as bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, pending the required consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction and standing committees of the Episcopal Church.

Seage, 50, rector of St. Columb’s Episcopal Church in Ridgeland, Mississippi, was elected on the fifth ballot out of a field of five nominees. He received 121 votes of 182 cast in the lay order and 67 of 115 cast in the clergy order. An election on that ballot required 92 in the lay order and 58 in the clergy order.

The election was held during the diocese’s reconvened 187th annual convention at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi.

Pending a successful consent process, Seage will succeed the Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray, III, who will retire in February 2015.

Under the canons (III.11.4) of the Episcopal Church, 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.

Seage has been rector of St. Columb’s in Ridgeland since 2005. He holds an undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University and a Master of Divinity degree from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. He has been a priest since 1998.

From 1997-98, Seage served as curate at St. John’s, Ocean Springs, and then as rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Diamondhead from 1998-2005, growing both attendance and programming in the parish. A successful building program was completed and average Sunday attendance doubled during his ministry at St. Thomas.

In 2005, Seage moved to St. Columb’s in Ridgeland, a rapidly growing area of the diocese. St. Columb’s attendance and programming has grown, and a large building project has been completed.

Before entering the priesthood, Seage served as director of youth ministry for St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in his native Thousand Oaks, California, where he managed a team of volunteers to support both the junior high and senior high youth groups, assisted with chapel at St. Patrick’s Day School, and coordinated the congregation’s Habitat for Humanity program.

In the Diocese of Mississippi, Seage serves as a Fresh State Facilitator, a post he’s held since 2007. He served on the Executive Committee from 2006 through 2009 and was also part of the diocese’s Restructure Task Force. He has been a summer camp director at Camp Bratton Green each summer since 2006 and also served on the Gray Center Board of Managers. While at St. Thomas, he served on the board of trustees for Coast Episcopal School. He has also been part of search committees for leadership roles at Gray Center and Coast Episcopal.

He and his wife, Kyle, who is rector at St. Philip’s in Jackson, are parents to two daughters, Katie and Betsy.

The ordination and consecration is due to take place Sept. 27 at The Jackson Convention Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will be the chief consecrator.

“To be called to this office by the people of the Diocese of Mississippi on behalf of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is humbling beyond words,” said Seage. “The people of this diocese have ministered to my family and me in so many amazing ways. It is an honor to join with the faithful of this diocese in this new relationship.”

The other nominees were:

  • The Very Rev. Michael J. Battle, vicar, St. Titus Episcopal Church, Durham, North Carolina;
  • The Rev. Marian Dulaney Fortner, rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi;
  • The Rev. R. Stan Runnels, rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Day School, Kansas City, Missouri; and
  • The Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, rector, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Denver, Colorado.

Information about all the nominees is available at the diocesan website.

The Diocese of Mississippi is composed of approximately 19,000 active baptized members worshiping in 83 congregations throughout the state.

— The Rev. Scott Lenoir is the editor of the Mississippi Episcopalian.


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Comments (7)

  1. William A. Flint, PhD says:

    Congratulations to Brian and family. I know you will be a fine bishop. I wish you the best with this old Irish saying as you travel among the people of Mississippi:
    “Be they kings, or poets, or farmers,
    They’re a people of great worth,
    They keep company with the angels,
    And bring a bit of heaven here to earth”

    God bless you, your grace.

  2. Jan Jones says:

    We are so proud to have known Brian and his family for over 30 years. We rejoice along with all the people of Mississippi and the Diocese of Los Angeles at his election. May the peace and love of God continue to fill your life to overflowing!!!
    Love to all the Seages!!!
    Dan & Jan Jones

  3. Sharon Lexau says:

    Dear Brian, Kyle & girls, I was so pleased to hear that you will be Bishop Of Mississippi. I’m so proud to have known you as a good friend of my daughter’s , at St. Pat’s CA,. There was a great youth group and all of you have gone on to be very successful in your family life as well as professionally. I know I’ve told you that one of the best statements you made, as a youth leader, was when you were busy with a bake sale was “calories for Christ don’t count”. I have repeated this statement many times. God has Bless you and your family. Lots of Love
    Sharon Lexau, Lisa Geiger & family , Leslie Meyers and family

  4. Vicki Perkins says:

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
    They are a very fortunate people to have one of the sweetest families I have ever seen come and go from Seminary of the Southwest. I am so happy for ALL of you.

  5. William A. Flint, PhD says:

    Brian will be the 4th Bishop to be elected from St. Columb’s. One went on to become the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

    1. Steven Lee says:

      I never knew Bishop Allin was at St. Columb’s! When was he there?

  6. Linda Allen says:

    Congratulations Brian. I am thrilled, but not surprised. God has blessed you with your wife and darling daughters, and now He has blessed your Diocese by choosing you as their leader.
    Love, Linda Allen

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