The Episcopal Church avoided a showdown last week with the Anglican Communion after the Diocese of Minnesota passed on electing a partnered lesbian priest as bishop.On Oct 31 the diocesan synod elected the Rev Brian Prior of Spokane, Washington as the ninth Bishop of Minnesota on the fifth ballot.
Among the five candidates standing for election was the Rev Bonnie Perry, rector of All Saints Church in Chicago.
An openly gay priest, Ms Perry has lived with her partner Congregationalist minister the Rev Susan Harlow for 22 years.
Ms Perry, who stood for election as Bishop of California in 2006, was nominated following the 2009 General Convention’s decision to end the ban on gay bishops requested by the wider Anglican Communion.
In Minnesota, she polled fifth in the first round of voting, fourth in the second round, fifth in the third round, and then withdrew from the election before the fourth round of voting.
The election of the Episcopal Church’s next ‘gay’ bishop may occur on Dec 5, as two gay priests, the Rev John Kirkley of San Francisco and the Rev Canon Mary Glasspool of Baltimore are standing for election for the two open suffragan bishop positions in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
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