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The Search For Our 13th Bishop
The Standing and Search Committees of the Diocese of Alabama have begun the sacred journey to call our 13th Bishop — a leader who will guide, inspire, and serve our faith community in the years ahead.
A PRAYER FOR THE ELECTION
OF A BISHOP
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a Bishop for The Diocese of Alabama, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will preach the Gospel, care for your people, equip us for ministry, and lead us forth in fulfillment of the Great Commission; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Alabama encourages every individual and parish to pray for our process, the Search and Transition Committees, and the search for our thirteenth Bishop. We invite you to use this prayer in worship on Sunday mornings, in your individual prayer life, and whenever corporate occasions of prayer call for it.
The Search Process
A Message from your Standing Committee
Regarding the Bishop Search
By Maibeth Porter, President
To the People of the Diocese of Alabama from your Standing Committee:
We prayerfully and with the grace of God bring you the following information about the Search for the Thirteenth Bishop of Alabama.
In February, we posted to the Diocesan website the criteria applied and the names of those chosen as members of the Search Committee.
Since naming the Search Committee, we have also chosen the members of the Transition Committee. The latter group of people satisfies a different set of criteria. They were not chosen based upon representation of various interests or geographic diversity, although there is some. We looked for members with organizational ability, kind hearts, and love. The Transition Committee members will take charge of the Walkabout, election, consecration, and logistics of travel and accommodation for bishop-nominees. Members of the Committee will also shepherd the nominees through the process and follow-up with them afterwards. Most of the members of the Transition Committee reside in the Birmingham area, because the focus of their work will be there.
Committees Hold Retreat at Camp McDowell
While attending the retreat, the Search Committee finalized its plans for 12 Listening Sessions to be held across the Diocese and the questions those attending should consider. The Listening Sessions are designed to educate the Search Committee as it prepares the “Diocesan Profile,” which will be circulated throughout the broader church.
The Profile will be published online on August 20, 2025. The entire Timeline, which was originally published on the Diocesan website, appears at the bottom of this page.
Please keep all committee members in your prayers.
The Diocese of Alabama's search for its next bishop involves three key committees, each with distinct yet interconnected responsibilities. The Standing Committee serves as the ecclesiastical authority during the transition, ensuring canonical requirements are met and overseeing the overall process. The Search Committee focuses on identifying, vetting, and presenting a slate of candidates for consideration by the wider diocese. And the Transition Committee will support the bishop-elect and the diocese as the new leader assumes their role, ensuring a smooth and effective transition. While each committee serves a unique function, their responsibilities may overlap slightly to ensure a cohesive and comprehensive search.
Support for the Process
There are a number of people who will support these committees in their work. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Bishop Lee, the Rev. Kaki O’Flinn, Deacon, who will serve as chaplain throughout the process, Ms. Debbie
Donaldson and Ms. Rosalind Fournier, who will assist with communications, and Ms. Anne Tippett, who will offer Diocesan support to the Transition Committee. They, too, can use your prayers and expressions of gratitude as they take on these responsibilities.
Our Committees
What are Nominee and Petition Candidates?
There are two potential types of candidates. The nominee process is opened on August 28, 2025, and closes on September 22. In that time, potential nominees submit applications, including responses to a questionnaire, for consideration in the search process. After that period closes, potential nominees are reviewed, initial interviews are held, and background checks are completed. The Search Committee works extensively to find the best candidates for the Diocese and invites them to a Discernment Retreat in which the Committee then identifies the top three to five candidates. The names of those candidates are given to the Standing Committee, which then does further vetting through psychological profiles before releasing the slate. Upon the release of the slate of candidates, a five day Petition Period is open to allow any petition candidates to be brought forward. At the close of the Petition Period, petition candidates are added to the slate with the caveat that they too must pass all background checks. Petition candidates are treated exactly the same as nominee candidates, including responding to the questionnaire and being assigned a shepherd. Once their background checks are completed, they may then be cleared to participate in the Walkabout.
What is the
Petition Process?
In order to file as a petition candidate, a person must complete the application, respond to the questionnaire, and identify twelve persons (six clergy and six lay) as well as one youth across a diverse geographical region of our Diocese who will sign their petition. Petition candidates may only put forth their petitions during the Petition Period as defined above. Upon entering the petition process, they are announced at the close of the Petition Period with the caveat that they pass their background checks. Upon successful completion of the background check, the Standing Committee may then clear them to be a part of the Walkabout and Election.
Definition of a Delegate to the Voting Convention
The election of a Bishop takes place within the context of the Diocesan Convention. The Rt. Rev. Glenda Curry did not adjourn our recent convention. The 2025 Diocesan Convention will reconvene at the Cathedral on Saturday, January 24, 2026 for the election, approximately a week and a half before our 2026 Diocesan Convention on February 5-7. In handling the election in this way, we will not be distracted by the details of business we entertain at our annual convention. Each parish will send Certified Voting Delegates to the Walkabout at St. Luke’s - Birmingham on January 3, 2026, as well as to the election. The Certified Voting Delegates are the elected/appointed delegates who physically attended and actually sat on the floor of the 2025 Convention, even if they were the alternates. These people remain the Certified Voting Delegates.
Timeline for the Bishop Search
The following timeline outlines the significant milestones in the process of selecting the next Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama. It provides key dates and stages, from the initial call for election to the final ordination of the Bishop-elect, offering transparency and keeping the diocese informed throughout this important journey.
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December 16, 2024: The Standing Committee adopts resolution to proceed with the transition process, leading to the selection and seating of the 13th Bishop of Alabama. Read the resolution.
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January 30, 2025 – February 1, 2025 – Bishop Curry calls for election of 13th Bishop at Diocesan Convention.
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February – March 2025 – Standing Committee appoints Search Committee and Transition Committee.
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May 9, – May 10, 2025 – Joint Retreat for Standing, Search & Transition Committees.
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June – July 2025 – Listening Sessions are conducted around the diocese.
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August 20, 2025 – Diocesan Profile completed.
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August 28 ‐ September 22, 2025 – Applications & nominations accepted.
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October 2025 – Search Committee interviews applicants.
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November 21‐23, 2025 – Discernment Retreat with potential candidates; top three candidates are identified.
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By November 24, 2025 – Finalists (3–5) submitted to Standing Committee.
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By December 10, 2025 – Psychological evaluations due by candidates.
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December 17, 2025 – Slate of candidates announced by Standing Committee.
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December 17‐21, 2025 – Petition nominations accepted by Standing Committee.
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December 22, 2025 – Petition candidates announced (pending final review and evaluations).
2026
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January 3, 2026 – Walkabout at St. Luke’s Birmingham for clergy and convention delegates.
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January 24, 2026 – Electing Convention at Cathedral Church of the Advent.
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June 26‐27, 2026 – Ordination of Bishop‐elect by Presiding Bishop (pending consents & approval).
Additional timeline details are included in the calendar below.