The Bishop Search Website is: www.europebishopsearch.org
Search Update #3 -
Jan. 23, 2018
Search Update #2 -
Dec. 16, 2017
Search Update #1 -
Nov. 12, 2017
The Episcopal Church in Europe
The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe is one of four Anglican jurisdictions in continental Europe. (The other Anglican jurisdictions in Europe are: the Lusitanian Church of Portugal, the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain, and the Church of England's Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe.) The Convocation is the jurisdiction of the Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry. The Episcopal Church is one of 39 provinces of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church is present in 16 countries around the world.
The Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, a suffragan bishop to the Presiding Bishop, is based at The American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris. There are congregations in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria. The Convocation functions both as a European Church with a legal corporate structure based in France, as well as being a diocesan-like jurisdiction of the Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Church has been present in Europe since 1815. The Convocation was created by a Canon of General Convention in 1859, and Bishops in Charge were appointed by the Presiding Bishop. Some were diocesan Bishops or recently retired Bishops, who exercised oversight on a part-time basis. Bishops in Charge have been resident in Europe since 1960.
The first full-time resident Bishop in Charge was the Rt. Rev. Edmond Browning (1971-1974). The first Bishop in Charge to be elected by the Convocation itself and the first to be ordained and consecrated in Europe is our present Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon, who was elected in 2001 and consecrated in St. Paul's Within the Walls Episcopal Church in Rome on November 18, 2001.
Bishop Whalon announced his intention to resign as Bishop in Charge effective July 31, 2019. This has initiated a Search Process for our second elected Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe.
Prayer for the Convocation
O God, we pray for the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe as we discern and elect a Bishop to serve your people, build up your Church and proclaim boldly the Gospel to the world. Send us, we pray, an Apostle who is a wise counsellor, a merciful pastor, filled with your joy and grace. May your servant have the abundant gifts needed to lead your flock and the strength and courage to administer them. And may we renew and rededicate our lives to your will and service. All this we pray in the Name of our Great High Priest and Servant of the servants of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Timetable of the Search for our next Bishop in Charge
October 2016 - Convocation Convention in Fürstenried Palace, Munich, Germany
- Bishop Whalon announces his intention to resign as Bishop in Charge effective July 2019
- Strategic planning process begun with small groups activity at convention
- Strategic Plan committees is appointed and commissioned
Winter and Spring 2016/2017
- Strategic plan is developed with input from all significant groups in the convocation and full-communion partners in Europe
September 2017
- Strategic plan is approved by the Council of Advice
October 2017 - Convocation Convention in Wiesbaden, Germany
- Strategic Plan is presented to Convention
- The Search/Nomination Committee and Transition Committee are commissioned
November 2017
- Search/Nomination and Transition Committees organize themselves
- In consultation with the Presiding Bishop's Office, a Search Consultant is engaged by the Council of Advice
Winter 2017/18
- Meeting of Search/Nomination and Transition Committees and Search Consultant, in Paris, December 1-2.
- Input from congregations and parishioners is received by congregational forums and online surveys.
- Search Profile is written by Search/Nomination Committee and approved by Council of Advice
- The Position is announced in various church venues
Spring 2018
- Nominations for Bishop are received
- Nominees are vetted and a shortlist of candidates is compiled
June 30, 2018
- List of Candidates from Search/Nomination Committee is made public
- Three week window (July 1-20) is made available for additional nominations to be made, according to nomination protocol.
August 15, 2018
- Final list of Candidates is made public
September 27-30, 2018
- Presentation of Bishop Candidates in Paris, Munich, and Rome
October 19, 2018 - Convocation Convention in Waterloo Belgium
- Election of the Bishop in Charge
Following the Election
- The Standing Committees of all the Episcopal dioceses and all diocesan bishops are asked to approve the election. This process can take several months.
- The Presiding Bishop, deo volente, receives notice that consents have been received from a majority of bishops and standing committees of the Episcopal Church.
- The bishop-elect begins her/his transition to assume office.
April 6, 2019
- Ordination and Consecration of the new Bishop in Charge at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris