[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs] In the next four months – January 1 to April 30, 2013 – the Episcopal Church will witness the consecration of one bishop, the elections of two bishops, and the canonical consent process underway for two bishops-elect.

Consecrations
One consecration of a bishop is slated for January to April. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will officiate at the ordination service.

March 16: Diocese of Eau Claire; the Rev. William Jay Lambert elected November 10, pending successful completion of the canonical consent process.

Elections
During January to April, two bishop elections are scheduled:

January 25: Diocese of North Carolina Suffragan

March 9: Diocese of Southwestern Virginia

Canonical Consent Process
The canonical consent process is currently underway for two bishops-elect. The deadline is:

January 31: Diocese of Lexington: the Very Rev. Douglas Hahn, elected August 18

Deadline date not yet set: Diocese of Eau Claire; the Rev. William Jay Lambert elected November 10

A recap of the process
Upon election, the successful candidate is a Bishop-Elect. Following some procedural matters including examinations, formal notices are then sent to bishops with jurisdiction (diocesan bishops only) with separate notices to the standing committees of each of the dioceses in the Episcopal Church. These notices require their own actions and signatures.

In order for a Bishop-Elect to become a bishop, under Cannon III.11.4, 6 of the Episcopal Church, a majority of bishops with jurisdiction AND the majority of diocesan standing committees must consent to the bishop-elect’s ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of the election. These actions are done separately.

Once the Presiding Bishop receives the necessary consents, she shall “without delay” notify the electing diocese and the bishop-elect without waiting for the expiration of the 120-day period, and “shall,” upon acceptance of the election by the bishop-elect, “take order for the ordination.”

However, if the majority of the Diocesan bishops do not consent, and/or the majority of the standing committees do not consent, the Presiding Bishop, in accordance with Canon III.11.5, is required to declare the election null and void. In those cases, a person elected by the diocese will not be ordained.

The Governance of The Episcopal Church: This information is another in an ongoing series discussing the governance of The Episcopal Church.