The Diocese of Maine has elected the Rev. Thomas James Brown as its 10th bishop. Brown, rector of Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, Mass., is the third person elected as a bishop of the Episcopal Church after speaking openly of living in a same-sex partnership.
Brown was elected on the third ballot, receiving a majority of clergy and lay delegate votes representing 60 year-round congregations and 20 summer chapels. The other nominees were:
- The Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon, rector of St. Thomas Church in Sun Valley, Idaho;
- The Rev. Canon Anne Mallonee, executive vice president and chief ecclesiastical officer of the Church Pension Group in New York;
- The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, rector of Trinity Church in Everett, Wash.;
- The Rev. Canon Janet C. Waggoner, canon to the ordinary, transition ministry officer, and administrative officer in the Diocese of Fort Worth.
Brown will succeed the Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, who has served the diocese since 2008 and will retire in June.
“I give God thanks and praise for this call, and the opportunity to continue building the church in Maine on Christ the solid rock,” Brown said to convention delegates. “Bishop Lane and his family, along with the diocesan staff, and every congregation are in my prayers as they continue in the holy work of transition. To God be the glory.”
The consecration service is scheduled for June 22 at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
