Updated January 19, 2020
The Rev. Dr. Glenda Curry was elected bishop coadjutor to become the twelfth diocesan bishop at the electing convention held on January 18, 2020, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. Curry is the first woman elected bishop in the Diocese of Alabama. She will succeed the Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan upon his retirement at the end of 2020.
—————-
The Rev. Allisoin Sandlin Liles is on the slate of candidates for election as the 12th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. The other two candidates are the Rev. Dr. Glenda S.Curry and the Rev. Evan D. Garner. More than thirty people had expressed interest in discerning whether they felt called to be in Alabama’s search process.
Liles is the third woman priest from this diocese to be a candidate for election as bishop. The Rev. Carlye Hughes and the Rev. Janet Waggoner have also been selected for slates. Hughes, former rector of Trinity, Fort Worth, was elected bishop of Newark in May, 2018.
The Standing Committee wrote, “We, the Standing Committee, give praise and thanks for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in guiding and identifying this slate of candidates. We believe the manner of life, gifts, and sense of call for each of these candidates illustrates their potential and possibility in meeting the needs and desires expressed in the Diocesan Profile.”
Allison liles
This is the information posted on the Alabama website:
“The Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles is currently the priest-in-charge at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Hurst, Texas, and serves as the editor of Grow Christians, a ministry of Forward Movement. She has served churches in Washington, D.C., Alabama, Virginia, and Texas; and served as the executive director of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. Allison received her M.Div from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2006.
“Allison writes, ‘The Diocese of Alabama and I are deeply connected. I was baptized, confirmed, ordained, and married surrounded by the stain glass windows and hardwood floors of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Decatur. I learned how to live as a disciple of Christ on Summer Staff at Camp McDowell. I first heard God calling me to the priesthood during a Vocare retreat within Stough Lodge. I spent my formative years as a priest being shaped by Holy Trinity Church in Auburn and St. Thomas Church in Huntsville. Though I haven’t lived in Alabama since 2012, I still consider the Diocese of Alabama to be my spiritual home.’
“Allison is married to the Rev. Eric Liles, the Associate for Formation at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas. They are the parents of two elementary-aged children.”
Timeline
Bishop Search Timeline Revised November 1, 2019
August 28, 2019 Profile Released; Nominations Opened
September 20, 2019 Nomination Period Closed
December 1, 2019 Candidates Announced; Petition Period Opened
December 5, 2019 Petition Period Closed
December 6, 2019 Petition Candidates Announced
January 4, 2020 Walk-About at St. Luke’s, Birmingham
January 18, 2020 Election at Advent, Birmingham
June 27, 2020 Ordination/Consecration of Bishop Coadjutor at Advent, Birmingham
God of wisdom and peace, you have gathered your faithful people, men and women of every nation, age, and color, in this diocese to humbly serve you: Look graciously on your Church and so guide the holy imagination of those who shall choose a bishop for this diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries by igniting in us creative compassion and inspiring us to a relentless proclamation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.