[Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida press release] The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida has announced its slate of nominees for bishop coadjutor of the diocese. The nominees were presented to the Standing Committee by the Bishop Coadjutor Search Committee, which was tasked with leading the process, which began seven months ago.

The nominees are:

• The Rev. Michael J. Battle, vicar, St. Titus Episcopal Church, Durham, North Carolina;
• The Very Rev. Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe, rector, St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church, Fairfax Station, Virginia;
• The Very Rev. Peter Eaton, dean, St. John’s Cathedral, Denver, Colorado;
• The Rev. John C. N. Hall, rector, St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Sarasota, Florida; and
• The Rev. Allen F. Robinson, rector, St. James Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland.

Detailed information about each nominee can be found online here.

A bishop coadjutor is elected to replace the diocesan bishop upon retirement. The Rt. Rev. Leopold Frade, the third (and current) diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Southeast Florida will retire in January 2016. The election of bishop coadjutor for the Diocese of Southeast Florida will occur in January 2015.

The next step in the process of the election is the petition period, which opens Oct. 14. During this time, clergy are able self-nominate as a possible additional nominee. This two-week petition process ends on Oct. 28. Complete information about this process and the application are both available on the diocesan website.

After the petition period ends, and additional nominees are vetted by the Standing Committee, a series of meet-and-greets, commonly called “walkabouts,” will be held around the diocese. This allows members of the diocese to learn more about the nominees for bishop coadjutor. The walkabouts will be announced at a later date and will be held at various locations around the diocese.

The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida includes 76 congregations, with approximately 38,000 parishioners, from Key West north to Jensen Beach and west to Clewiston. The mission of the Diocese of Southeast Florida is to make known to all people the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including all, excluding none.