As previously reported in From the Field, the election of Canon Frank Logue to serve as the 11th Bishop of Georgia requires the consent of the other dioceses of the Episcopal Church. The process to permit the majority of the dioceses of the Episcopal Church to consent to the election of the Rev. Canon Frank Logue as 11th Bishop of Georgia began December 19, 2019. On that day, the Episcopal Church's Office of Pastoral Development reported to the President of our Standing Committee, the Very Rev. Ted Clarkson, that with the required reports in hand, we could send packets out to the other 110 diocesan standing committees. On the same day, the General Convention Office staff contacted the bishops with jurisdiction in the 111 dioceses of the Episcopal Church via email to likewise request their consent. 

As of January 21, we have received formal consents from 35 Standing Committees with 21 more needed to have a simple majority. The pace of consents arriving to the Diocese is picking up speed with ten arriving in the first two days of this week. The Diocese does not track the bishop consents, but those usually go faster as they require the vote of an individual diocesan bishop rather than a committee that must meet, deliberate, and vote. The Presiding Bishop's staff will notify us when they have received the consents of more than half of the bishops with jurisdiction.

Canons allow 120 days for this consent process, which often concludes sooner. Once the General Convention Office receives consents from more than half of the bishops and standing committees, we will move from saving the date for the ordination and consecration to making final plans and sending invitations. Pending consents, the liturgy will begin at 11 AM on May 30th at the Johnny Mercer Theater in Savannah's Civic Center.