[Episcopal News Service] The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware has announced a slate of five nominees to stand for election as the 11th bishop of the diocese.

The five nominees are:

• The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, bishop suffragan, Diocese of Connecticut;
• The Very Rev. Michael Battle, Herbert Thompson Professorial Chair of Church and Society and director of the Desmond Tutu Center at The General Theological Seminary, New York, New York;
• The Rev. Kevin S. Brown, rector, Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, Charlotte, North Carolina;
• The Rev. Patricia S. Downing, rector, Trinity and Old Swedes Parish, Wilmington, Delaware;  and
• The Rev. Scott A. Gunn, executive director, Forward Movement, Cincinnati, Ohio.

The electing convention is set for July 15. The 11^th bishop will succeed the Rt. Rev. Wayne Wright, who retired in February. Until the next bishop is ordained and consecrated Dec. 9, the Standing Committee is the ecclesiastical authority in the diocese. Retired Diocese of Easton Bishop James J. “Bud” Shand, who served the Diocese of Easton, has been handling episcopal duties such as confirmations and retired Maryland Bishop Robert Ihloff will help out in the summer, according to Delaware Communications Manager Cynde Bimbi

Wright had served the diocese since his ordination and consecration on June 20, 1998.

The standing committee said that the slate is the result of an eight-month discernment process that began with the compilation of a diocesan profile. That profile began with input from more than 600 surveys and 29 town-hall meetings throughout the diocese.

A petition process for submitting additional names is open until May 13.