[Episcopal News Service] Bishop Catherine M. Waynick of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis has announced that she plans to retire two years from now and has called for the election of her successor.

Waynick expects to retire as a new bishop is ordained and consecrated on April  22, 2017. Waynick’s successor will be elected at the diocesan convention in October 2016.

Waynick has served the Indianapolis diocese as its 10th bishop since 1997. By the time of her retirement, Waynick will be 69. The Episcopal Church requires all clergy and bishops to retire, technically to resign, when they reach the age of 72.

In a letter to the diocese, Waynick said that her 18 years as bishop have been a joy and a blessing, but that in retirement she looks forward to spending more time with her husband Larry.

Links to her letter, her biographical information, photos and information on the search can be found here.