[Diocese of Easton] The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton has announced a slate of four nominees to stand for election as 11th bishop of the diocese. They are:

• The Rev. Kathryn A. Andonian, rector, Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville, Pennsylvania
• The Very Rev. Brian Grantz, Cathedral of Saint James, South Bend, Indiana
• The Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray, assistant bishop, Diocese of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
• The Rev. John A. Mennell, rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Montclair, New Jersey

More information about each of the nominees is available on the candidates page. A special issue of the Eastern Shore Episcopalian will be published with information on the nominees and the election process.

This slate is the result of a discernment process conducted by the Diocesan Nominating Committee which is composed of lay and clergy members from across the diocese. We offer our deep respect and gratitude for the extraordinary commitment to prayerful discernment undertaken by our Nominating Committee. They have worked tirelessly in order to discern and present a group of people that they are confident would be wonderful and appropriately gifted candidates to serve as our next Bishop.

We are grateful to all those who offered themselves in discernment as possible candidates. While we do not know the identities of the scores of individuals, we do know that each of them provided valued perspectives that enriched the process of discernment for the Nominating committee.

A petition process for submitting additional names is open from April 15 – 20. Complete information about the petition process and the petition form are available on the petition forms page. If any petition candidates are received, they will be announced by the Standing Committee and added to the slate pending the required background checks. Due to the time required to complete the required background checks, the Standing Committee asks that any petition candidates indicate their intention by immediately emailing the Committee President, The Rev. Kevin M. Cross, with name, address & contact phone.

With the announcement of  the slate, a Transition Committee, comprising lay and clergy members from across the diocese, will implement the next stages of the election process. The nominees will participate in a series of “walk-abouts” around the diocese May 23-25. View the full schedule. These open meetings will give the people of the diocese an opportunity to meet and learn more about the nominees.

The election will take place on Saturday, June 11 at 10am at Trinity Cathedral, 314 North Street, Easton, MD. Canonically resident clergy of the diocese and lay delegates will vote separately as “orders.” A majority vote in each of the two orders (clergy and lay delegates) is required for the election of the new bishop.

Pending consent from a majority of the Episcopal Church’s diocesan bishops and a majority of dioceses (via their Standing Committees), the consecration of the bishop-elect is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 15 at the Top Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD with the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding.

This is an exciting time for our Diocese and we are grateful for your continued discernment, prayer, and participation. Please pray that all of us will be inspired by the Holy Spirit to discern clearly whom God is calling to be our next Bishop and to work with her/him to joyfully continue the “Jesus Movement” in the Diocese of Easton.