The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan has today announced the election of The Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry, Rector of All Saints’, Chicago, as its 11th bishop diocesan.
Perry is the first woman and first openly gay priest to be elected bishop since the diocese was formed in 1836. This also marked the first time in the history of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan that the slate of candidates was comprised entirely of women.
Perry was elected on the fifth ballot of the Special Electing Convention held today in Detroit. She received 64 clergy votes and 118 lay votes. A minimum of 55 clergy votes and 94 lay votes were necessary for election on that ballot.
The other nominees were:
- The Rev. Dr. Grace Burton-Edwards, Rector, St. Thomas, Columbus, GA
- The Rev. Canon Paula Clark, Canon to The Ordinary & Canon for Clergy Development, Multicultural Ministries and Justice, Diocese of Washington
- The Rev. Canon Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Canon to The Ordinary, Diocese of Colorado
“I am in awe of the trust you have placed in me, and I will, with God’s help, do all I can to live up to this trust and this honor, ” Perry said following her election, “I am so excited about the ministry we are going to do together. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Perry holds a holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in NYC. She was ordained deacon and priest in 1990 in the Diocese of Newark. Perry and her spouse currently reside in Chicago and will relocate to Michigan this year.
Pending the consent of a majority of the bishops with jurisdiction and a majority of the Diocesan Standing Committees, Perry will be ordained and consecrated on February 8, 2020 in the Diocese of Michigan. The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, will serve as the chief consecrator.
Perry will succeed the Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., who has served as bishop since 2000 and will retire in at the end of 2019.
The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan is comprised of 75 congregations and over 16,000 baptized members.
Another gay-partnered bishopess! ?: An additional headache for ++ Welby, a nightmare for Lambeth 2020, and above all, bad news to 75 episcopal congregations destined to head downhill.
Please someone explain how they justify ignoring scripture. Have I missed something?
Fr K, you are too kind in using the phrase ”ignoring scripture” in asking to explain how Mrs Perry came to be elected (to becoming a ”bishopess” outside the apostolic tradition without valid orders or, according to the Scriptures, any credentials). If I were you, I’d say they’d rejected, scorned and pooh-poohed the Scriptures! ?
For TEC Scripture is irrelevant; what matter to them most are the politics and the votes. ?
Soon, TEC Michigan is to have a Clowness leading 75 congregations with some 16,000 baptised downhill.
Well, the diocese’s direction for the last 10 years has been downhill (off about 20% 2007-17). Actually, like most TEC dioceses, it has been declining for longer than 10 years, but the 10 year numbers are conveniently available. So the worst she could do in that regard is accelerate it a bit.
Very true!
I believe that this lady has been nominated numerous times…always a bridesmaid, never a bride so to speak. If at first you don’t succeed try, try, try, try, try again and someone is bound to give in!
You’ll find this along the same road the likes of Hobby, Hunter, and Duncan insist everyone transverse. Enjoy.
I notice that the bishop-elect has a spouse. I hope he is a good man. NB This is sarcasm.
By spouse, they meant another woman. As a lesbian she’s committed to sodomy.
Oh dear! I’ve done it again!
I don’t know what’s happened to everyone’s sense of humor around here. Maybe we can get Kevin to add “smileys” so people will know when we are kidding.
Sarcasm perhaps? The article above makes it crystal clear:
“Perry is the first woman and first openly gay priest to be elected bishop since the diocese was formed in 1836. ”
Disgusting.
Given that now there are four gay-partnered so-called bishops and bishopesses clowns to attend Lambeth, I wonder whether Welby would have a special toast at the Lambeth Conference Dinber to welcome these clowns to the Communion.