Bishop Search
The Diocese of Upper South Carolina is in the process of discernment in its search for its next bishop.
On June 6, 2020, Bishop Waldo asked for and received the Standing Committee’s consent to call for the election of the IX Bishop of Upper South Carolina at a special Convention on Saturday, September 25, 2021. The new bishop will be elected by clergy and lay delegates from across the diocese at the special electing convention, and the consecration of the new bishop is scheduled for February 26, 2022.
Nominating Committee Applications
The Standing Committee has begun the process of asking the question, “Whom is God revealing our next bishop to be?” A critical step in this process is to form a Nominating Committee that is representative of our diocese and committed to balancing the canonical and practical requirements of the work to be done with the spiritual work to be done. On Saturday, July 18, 2020, the Standing Committee approved a Nominating Committee member profile and an application to serve on the Nominating Committee. You can view the approved profile and the application at the following links:
Nominating Committee Application
Click here to download a PDF version of the timeline 2020
June 6 July 18 August 21 September 12 September 26 September 26 – December 5 November 6 - 7 December 12 2021
February 26 March 1 - August 13 June 19-20 August 14 August 28 September 11-12 September 25 September 27 November 5-6 2022
January 1 February 26Bishop Search Timeline
Bishop Waldo announces intent to resign and retire effective December 31, 2021
Standing Committee to post application for Nominating Committee members
Applications for Nominating Committee are closed
Standing Committee names Nominating Committee
Retreat for Nominating Committee and Standing Committee
Listening sessions conducted throughout the diocese
Diocesan Convention: Standing Committee provides update of the nominating process
Profile of prospective bishop and candidate application posted
Candidate applications close
Nominating Committee reviews candidate materials, references, conducts interviews, and completes site visits
Nominating Committee retreat with potential candidates
Nominating Committee presents a slate of finalists. The Standing Committee reviews and approves finalists and posts materials to the website
Period of nomination by petition closes
Candidate walkabouts are conducted
Electing Convention at Trinity Cathedral, Columbia
Period for Certification of Election and receipt of Diocesan Consents begins
Diocesan Convention to include a celebration of Bishop Waldo’s Episcopate
Bishop Waldo begins retirement and Standing Committee becomes interim Ecclesiastical Authority
Consecration of the IX Bishop of Upper South Carolina
“For everything there is a season, 6 June 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Throughout the seasons of history, a great cloud of witnesses is filled with faithful women, men, and children who have met times similar to our own with steadfastness and persistence. St. Paul knew his own biggest challenge to bring the good news of God in Christ Jesus to the nations would take several lifetimes. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth,” he wrote to the church in Corinth. Our work as disciples is constantly one of “some planting and others tending,” as we put to use our many gifts in the one Spirit for the good of all.
Early in 2019, I began discussions with my family, some of my bishop colleagues, and the Presiding Bishop about a horizon for me to request the support of the Standing Committee to call for the election of the Ninth Bishop of Upper South Carolina.
This day, I have asked for and received the Standing Committee’s consent to call for the election of the ninth Bishop of Upper South Carolina at a special Convention on Saturday, 25 September, 2021. My resignation as your Bishop will take effect on 31 December 2021, about 19 months from now. This date was set late last fall in consultation with the Presiding Bishop’s office, and the decision to announce at today’s Diocesan Executive Committee meeting was made this past February, in consultation with the Rev. Stephen Rhoades, President of the Standing Committee.
In this season of my own family’s life, I am called to make time for my children and grandchildren in ways we have not previously been able, and while my health is excellent. Later this month, I will celebrate 32 years of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, which followed nine years in a vocation as a performing musician and teacher. The next season in my family’s life is approaching. Following the timeline established by the Standing Committee, the Nominating Committee for the Ninth Bishop of Upper South Carolina, once called, will have the task of discerning whom God is persuading to serve his Church in this capacity, in this place, for the next season of your common life—who will lead you in following God’s call.
In the coming months, we will have ample opportunity to reflect on the important work we have done together in God’s gracious hands. We have learned much about how to be in deeper dialogue on difficult issues, like same-sex blessings/marriage and racial reconciliation. We have built relationships to support public education through parish-school partnerships and advocacy. We have worked to create and live into norms of transparency and mature discipleship across the Diocese. We have changed the face of the college of clergy within the Diocese, now having the highest percentage of women in charge of congregations in the entire Episcopal Church.
We have learned much about being the Church during this pandemic, and yet we are just getting started in understanding—and are just now planting seeds for—a Church that will emerge energized, newly skilled in technology, freshly longing for in-person relationships, and even more deeply centered in and grounded upon the love of God in Christ Jesus.
We are continuing to work on strengthening youth and campus/young adult ministry and leadership development, and to create a stronger, more flexible and higher capacity camping and retreat ministry at Gravatt Camp and Conference Center.
Most of you have heard me speak or preach or tell stories about events and people who shaped my passion and understanding around issues of race and reconciliation—stories from my childhood in Alabama and ever since. Today’s conflicts around racial justice are urgent signs of the critical work we still have to do—addressing injustice, economic inequality, education inequity, and discrimination. Polarized politics and pandemic have only accentuated the importance and difficulty of this work to which God calls us, and yet we have much more work in learning how to grow in Christian maturity during a time of conflict and alienation. Indeed, disciples of Jesus—across time—have strived to embrace and live Jesus’ words, “Love one another, as I have loved you.”
Our Centennial Campaign: From Generation to Generation in the Church, with its goals to renew the Episcopal Church Home at York Place, Gravatt Camp & Conference Center, and Canterbury Campus Ministries is still underway, even though we recognize it will take longer than planned. Each goal will play an important healing and restorative role in the life of this Diocese for many years to come.
In other words, we remain a Church focused on making, equipping and sending mature disciples. This is and continues to be our vocation, our call from God.
We have plenty of time in the months ahead to engage this work, and for the whole diocesan community to imagine who you will be, and where you will go when you turn the next episcopal bend in the river. In the meantime, I intend to remain fully engaged, excited about our shared work as fellow travelers and laborers in God’s mission.
In 2009, when I was still a nominee for Bishop, I traveled here from Minnesota for the November “walkabouts”—the all-day Q&A sessions in Columbia and Greenville with people from across the Diocese—with an uncertain heart about my call to be here. I had heard that, even in the midst of theological turmoil in the Church, this was a Diocese that simply wanted to stay together. At the walkabouts, many of you articulated that deep desire over and over again, in one way or another. Your love and care for one another, your commitment to the good news of God in Christ, and your passion for ministry was palpable. By this point, I was listening. Awakened. Persuaded that, should I be elected, we could—for a season—serve God together in gladness and devotion. And we have. These continue to be some of the most inspiring, fruitfully challenging, and spiritually rich years of my life.
In gratitude, love and hope, I remain faithfully yours,
The Rt. Rev. W. Andrew WaldoA Letter from Bishop Waldo
and a time for every matter under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
A PRAYER FOR OUR DIOCESE
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (A Prayer for Our Diocese from The Book of Common Prayer)
A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (A Prayer for Guidance from The Book of Common Prayer)
LATEST TRANSITION NEWS
Application open for EDUSC Nominating Committee
Bishop Andrew Waldo Announces Plan to Retire, Calls for Election of Next Bishop
