What is a Presiding Bishop?
In the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, the Presiding Bishop is the chief pastor of the national church. This person has the responsibility for initiating, developing and articulating policy and strategy, overseeing the administration of the national church staff and speaking for the church on issues of concern and interest. The role and importance of the office has grown over time. Originally, the Presiding Bishop was simply the senior diocesan bishop who presided over the House of Bishops. In 1919, the office was transformed into an elected one and in the 1940s the decision was made that the Presiding Bishop should resign any other jurisdictions for which he or she might have pastoral responsibility.
Who is the Presiding Bishop now?
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori has held the position since she was elected in 2006 and invested and seated as Presiding Bishop in a service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. She is the first woman to hold the position. Her term as Presiding Bishop will end on November 1, 2015. The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Bishop of North Carolina, became the Presiding Bishop Elect on June 27, 2015, during the General Convention. He will be the first person of African Ancestry to hold the position.
Want to know more about the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry?
Check out these sources…
- Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus by Michael Curry (Book)
- https://www.facebook.com/bishopcurry?fref=ts (Facebook)
- https://twitter.com/bishopcurry (Twitter)