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Bishop Search

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church and pour out your Holy Spirit upon all who will participate in the process of choosing a bishop for this diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; Grant that all who are called to this sacred office may be filled with the truth of your doctrine, clothed in holiness of life, and devoted to your glory and the flourishing of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ, the shepherd and bishop of our souls, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, For the Election of a Bishop and For the Ministry (Ember Days)

 

This page serves as a central location for all resources supporting the Diocese of Tennessee’s process to elect a Bishop Diocesan. It will be continually updated with new information as the process progresses over this year and next. Please revisit frequently for the latest updates.

Thank You, Members of the Diocese!

Your feedback has been incredibly important, and part of the Search Committee’s discernment moving forward will be to properly situate and understand the voice of the diocese together with Holy Scripture and the Book of Common Prayer tradition. Collectively, these elements will guide the development of the Diocesan Profile and the application process. Once the profile has been created, it will be reviewed by the Standing Committee before being released publicly in mid-March. Between now and then, the Bishop Search Committee will be quietly hard at work.

Role and Identity of a Bishop

References made in the video:

News & Announcements

Search & Transition Committees

The Standing Committee has established two important committees and has appointed people to serve on each in order to help guide the diocese through a healthy, transparent, faithful, joyful, and prayerful process. These two committees play very different, yet equally vital roles.

The Search Committee is responsible for listening to the diocese in a structured way and then communicating our gifts and needs in the form of a diocesan profile; recruiting, receiving, and discerning nominations for bishop; and presenting a slate of candidates to the Standing Committee.

The Transition Committee is responsible for welcoming and hosting candidates in the diocese, celebrating Bishop Bauerschmidt, and events surrounding the electing convention and ordination weekend.

Timeline

October 2025 – March 2026

  • Search Committee leads intentional listening process including survey and listening sessions
  • January 23-24: Diocesan Convention at St. Bartholomew’s (Nashville). Resolution establishing nominating and electing process. Commissioning of Search and Transition Committees.
  • Diocesan Profile developed • Application period opens

April – June 2026

  • Application period closes • Interviews and selection of semi-finalists • Background, medical, and psych paperwork is received on all semi-finalists • Discernment retreat with semi-finalists

June – July 2026

  • Search Committee submits slate to Standing Committee  •  Petition period (two weeks) • Standing Committee announces final slate

August — December 2026

  • Meet and greets
  • August 22: Electing Convention at Christ Church Cathedral
  • Consent period of 120 days after Electing Convention and Certification of Election

January 22-23, 2027

  • Bishop Consecration