[Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan] The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan elected the Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick to serve as bishop provisional of the diocese during the annual convention on Oct. 20, in Bay City, Michigan.

In a letter to the diocese, the standing committee celebrates the election saying, “It is with great joy that we announce that the Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick has been elected bishop provisional of the Diocese of Eastern Michigan. We are excited to be taking this next step in our diocesan transition and are thrilled to be working with Bishop Waynick as our companion and pastor along the way.”

The election comes after nearly six months without a sitting bishop, following the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley’s resignation to become bishop for pastoral development of The Episcopal Church, a position on the presiding bishop’s staff. 

As bishop provisional, Waynick will serve half-time for one year, spending about two weeks per month in the diocese. She will perform all Episcopal functions including ordinations and confirmations, as well as all other traditional duties of a bishop, including staff supervision, pastoral care for clergy and more. She will also work closely with leaders of the diocese as they begin a formal study process of diocesan mission and ministry.

With her election, Waynick becomes the first female bishop of any Episcopal diocese in the State of Michigan.

Waynick served as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis for 20 years before her retirement in 2017. She began her ordained ministry in the Diocese of Michigan, serving churches in Bloomfield Hills and Pontiac before being elected bishop in 1997. In addition to her ministry in Indianapolis, Waynick served on several General Convention legislative committees, on the abundance committee of the Church Pension Fund and on the task force to revise Title IV Disciplinary Canons. She continues to serve as president of the disciplinary board for bishops and as a governor of the Anglican Centre in Rome. 

The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan is made up of 43 congregations located in the northeast lower peninsula of the state.