Dio Central NY elects the 11th bishop diocesan

The Diocese of Central New York has elected the 11th bishop diocesan on the 2nd ballot. The Very Revd Dr DeDe Duncan-Probe received more than the required votes for her election.

The candidates for election were: The Revd Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew, Christ Church – Manlius NY, Dio CNY; The Revd Nora Smith, Church of St. Barnabas, – Irvington NY, Dio NY; The Revd Noah H. Evans, Grace Episcopal Church – Medford MA, Dio MA; The Very Revd Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe, St. Peter’s in the Woods – Fairfax Station VA, Dio VA and The Revd Cn Debra Jean Kissinger, Canon for Transition Ministries & Leadership Development, Dio IN.

The first ballot results;
Votes needed for election: Clergy: 37; Lay: 74

Cleaver-Bartholomew: Clergy-7 ; Lay-11
Duncan-Probe: Clergy-26; Lay-56
Evans: Clergy-15 ; Lay-33
Kissinger: Clergy-15 ; Lay-37
Smith: Clergy-8 ; Lay-9

After the first ballot results the Revds Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew & Nora Smith withdrew their names from consideration for the 2nd ballot.

The second ballot results;
Votes needed for election: Clergy:37; Lay:75

Duncan-Probe: Clergy-42 ; Lay-87
Evans: Clergy-13 ; Lay-31
Kissinger: Clergy-17 ; Lay-30

The bishop-elect is currently the rector of St Peter’s in the Woods in Fairfax Station VA where she has served since 2009. She has seen St Peter’s grow from a mission to a parish in the diocese. While serving as rector she has also served the diocese as Dean of diocesan region VII and the Regional Priest of Northern Virginia for the Committee on Congregational Missions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University, a Master of Divinity from The General Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology, completed through The Graduate Theological Foundation House/Oxford University.

My heart is filled with joyful gratitude for God’s mercy and grace, and I am humbled to accept the call to serve as your 11th Bishop. Throughout this discernment process I have been inspired, encouraged, and emboldened by your faithful ministry and your sincere dedication to living the gospel of Jesus Christ in service to others. The honor of joining you in ministry is a profound moment, and I am especially mindful of the people God has called us to serve. May the joy and hope of this day become a source of comfort and strength for many people. I want to express my sincere admiration and gratitude to the other candidates, Dena, Debra, Noah, and Nora. Their faithfulness and friendship in this process has been evident and there is no doubt that our church is strengthened by their vibrant ministries. In this time of transition let us hold one another in prayer and prepare our hearts for the ways in which God is calling us forward in faith. Please know you are on my heart and in my prayers as we rejoice in God’s ongoing work in our midst.

May God be praised in all we do,

DeDe+

Pending confirmation by a majority of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church and by a majority of the Diocesan Standing Committees in the church, the bishop-elect will be consecrated on December 3, 2016.

All of the information for this story and the photo are from the diocesan website for the election of a bishop.