The Diocese of North Carolina reports that its standing committee has appointed the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, bishop suffragan since June 2013, as bishop pro tem as Bishop Michael Curry prepares for his service as presiding bishop:
She will serve in this position from the time Bishop Curry resigns his jurisdiction as Bishop of North Carolina and assumes his office as Presiding Bishop on November 1 until the election and consecration of the next Bishop Diocesan. From the point that the formal nomination and search process begins, a typical search for a Bishop Diocesan takes 18-24 months. That period has not yet started.
As Bishop Pro Tem, Bishop Hodges-Copple becomes the ecclesiastical authority, or “chief executive and pastoral officer,” for the Diocese of North Carolina. She will work with a subcommittee of the Standing Committee in the coming weeks to determine exactly what responsibilities she will carry, and what will be the responsibilities of an assisting bishop, the search for which will begin in the next few months.
“Our diocese is healthy and thriving, and the Standing Committee agreed this option was the natural one as it allows all of the great work being done throughout the diocese to continue without interruption,” said the Rev. Jim Melnyk, president of the Standing Committee. “With so many strong ministries in place, we wanted both to keep and strengthen the momentum they’ve got going.”
The Times They Are A’changin’ from The Episcopal Diocese of NC on Vimeo.
