Last March I noted here that United Methodists, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics in north Alabama would all be getting new bishops soon.

Baring an announcement from Rome this week, Episcopalians will be the first to announce their choice. The election of a bishop coadjutor for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama will take place this Saturday, January 18, 2019, the feast day of the Confession of St. Peter, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in downtown Birmingham. The new bishop will be consecrated on June 27, 2020 at the Cathedral and become the Twevlth Bishop of Alabama upon the retirement of Bishop Kee Sloan at the end of 2020.

The election takes place in the context of a celebration of the Holy Eucharist and will be live-streamed on the diocesan website and Facebook page. The election will take place midway through the liturgy, after the Peace, and before the celebration of the eucharist. There are four candidates and to be elected a candidate must receive a majority of both clergy and lay delegates on the same ballot. Elections can take multiple ballots. For full details on the process and the candidates, see the webpage for the transition process.

Even though Episcopalians will be the first to announce who their new bishop is, the new United Methodist bishop will take office prior to the bishop coadjutor becoming diocesan bishop. The new Roman Catholic bishop might take office sooner as well.