March 16, 2019
Today’s meeting of the Electoral Synod of the Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway was unable to achieve a majority vote for a new Bishop to succeed the Rt Rev Dr Gregor Duncan who retired in October 2018.
The Electoral Synod comprises clergy within the Diocese and Lay Representatives from each congregation across the Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway and is chaired by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Rev Mark Strange who says “Today, following a lengthy process of discernment, interview and ballot, the Electoral Synod of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway felt unable to elect a bishop from the names presented to them.
“I will issue a fresh mandate in the next few days and the process will begin again.
“Please pray for those who offered themselves and for those still charged with finding the next Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway”.
I understand that the media are decrying the Glasgow convention for “failing” to elect Kelvin Holdsworth as bishop. The Times headline reads: “Scotland stalls on appointment of first gay bishop” (inserting that into your browser search should locate the article). This is the same fellow who instructed his congregation to pray that Prince George would be “born” gay, and who replaced the epistle with a reading from the Koran that denied the divinity of Christ.
Of course, the SEC bishops want to see him elected, so they can be as indignant as TEC bishops over the non-invitation of gay spouses, and pass meaningless resolutions about it, and go anyway.
In that case, the failure to elect a bishop should be viewed as a blessing. Not that I imagine the next effort will produce a robust orthodox believer …
Will be interesting to see if they submit his name again on the next go-round. I’m not sure how this works in the SEC. So I am unclear on whether they get a whole new slate of candidates, or if they just have more ballots for the original group. Can anyone enlighten?
There will be another failed election, after which Mr Strange and the other bishops will appoint Kelvin.