BISHOP'S ELECTION, 

UPPER SOUTH CAROLINA,

25 SEPTEMBER 2021:

    DANIEL RICHARDS CHOSEN !

8:30 a.m. EDT

Good morning reader. It is a glorious day in more ways than one.

The convention of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina will make its choice today for the IX bishop of the diocese, to succeed the present beloved bishop, Andrew Waldo. It is not quite accurate to say the convention will elect the next bishop because the choice has to be submitted to the bishops and standing committees of the whole Episcopal Church for majority approval before he can be the next  bishop. So, the correct term for the person chosen today is "bishop elect." 

See today's agenda here . The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m., EDT. It will be livestreamed from Trinity Cathedral, Columbia.

There are five nominees for bishop:

1---Furman Buchanan; St. Peter's, Greenville SC

2---Seth Donald; St. Michael and All Angels, Lake Charles LA

3---Lonnie Lacy; St. Anne's, Tifton GA

4---Daniel Richards; Ascension, Paradise Valley AZ

5---Jemonde Taylor; St. Ambrose, Raleigh NC

Buchanan is the only nominee presently in the diocese of USC. Taylor is the only nominee "of color." There is no female nominee.

I will return at 10:00 a.m. with running commentary.

10:10. My livestream is not live.

10:30. Still no livestream. Perhaps someone from diocese could comment in Facebook chat room.

10:40. Diocese informs us there is no clergy quorum. Meeting delayed. Livestream will not start until meeting starts. The failure of the clergy to take this election seriously is an embarrassment.

10:48. Livestream begins on diocesan website.

11:00. Still waiting. Livestream was on momentarily, now off again. Wondering what will happen if no quorum of clergy is reached.

11:15. One hour and fifteen minutes. Still waiting. 

11:30. Diocese reports lack of quorum of clergy. 2/3 of active and retired clergy must be present. At the moment, the number below quorum is 10. Diocese says it is working on making quorum.

12:00 p.m. Still waiting on meeting to start. Two hours. No report from diocese on status of quorum. Wondering now how much longer before a postponement is called.

12:30. Crickets. 

1:00. A report says the First Ballot is being counted. No livestream.

1:07. One report says no election on First Ballot.

FIRST BALLOT:

                      Lay         Clergy

Buchanan     33            39

Donald            7              5

Lacy              42            16

Richards       55            17

Taylor            39            17

SECOND BALLOT

Buchanan      38           44

Lacy               31           15

Richards        70           23

Taylor             36           11

The race appears to be between Buchanan and Richards. The clergy and laity are split, more clergy for B and more laity for R. Lacy and Taylor appear to be fading.

Needed for election:  Laity---89; Clergy---55.

THIRD BALLOT

Buchanan      44           45

Lacy               18             6

Richards        87           37

Taylor            21             5

Most movement towards Richards. He needs 2 more in Lay order and 18 more in Clergy order to secure the election. Lacy and Taylor withdrew.

Interesting to note Buchanan remains first choice among clergy while Richards remains leading among laity.  

FOURTH BALLOT

Buchanan     47          42

Richards      124         50

Richards has carried the Lay Order. He needs 5 more votes to secure the Clergy Order and the election.

BUCHANAN WITHDRAWS.

RICHARDS WINS. (A Fifth Ballot will be necessary as a formality.)

DANIEL RICHARDS CHOSEN AS NEXT BISHOP-ELECT OF THE DIOCESE OF UPPER SOUTH CAROLINA!