(L-R) Presiding bishop nominees: the Rt. Rev. Scott J. Barker, the Rt. Rev. Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe, the Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P. Gutierréz, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe and the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright

In addition to their many other responsibilities, members of the deputation from the Diocese of Central Florida to the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church will participate in a historic event: the choice of a new presiding bishop. As the governing body of The Episcopal Church, this year’s General Convention, set for June 23-28 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky, will formally receive the names of the nominees on June 25 during a joint session of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies. On June 26, the bishops will elect, and the deputies will be asked to confirm, the church’s 28th presiding bishop, who will succeed the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry in this role upon his Nov. 1 retirement.

The names of four candidates for the position were released April 2, with the announcement of a fifth candidate, received by petition, made two weeks later. Candidates are as follows: the Rt. Rev. Scott J. Barker, bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska; the Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P. Gutierréz, bishop of Pennsylvania; the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of the Diocese of Western New York; the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta; and the Rt. Rev. Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe, bishop of the Diocese of Central New York, added as a candidate by petition. View brief videos featuring each nominee at this link.

The election of the presiding bishop is the major focus of this General Convention, said the Rev. Phyllis Bartle, rector of St. Jude’s, Orange City, and longtime chair of Central Florida’s deputation. “That person, whichever one of the candidates it will be, is going to set the tone for The Episcopal Church going forward. … Presiding Bishop Curry’s focus has been on love, with love being the big tent to keep us all together. I think that’s been his greatest strength. There hasn’t been a lot of division; he has couched everything in love.”

Although Bartle, as a member of the House of Deputies, will not have a vote in the election of the presiding bishop, she and some of her fellow Central Florida deputies plan to attend a meet-and-greet with the five candidates the day before the Convention begins. “I’m looking forward to hearing from them,” she said. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, bishop, and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Dabney Smith, assisting bishop, will have the opportunity on April 24 at to meet the presiding bishop nominees in what Holcomb described as “a day of interviews, discernment and Q&A.”

“This is a really wonderful opportunity that the bishops have, either to be there in person or Zoom in,” Holcomb said. “They’re making it available to all the bishops.”

In addition to the two bishops, members of the diocesan deputation to the General Convention are as follows:

Clerical Order: The Rev. Phyllis Bartle, deputation leader; the Rev. Canon Scott Holcombe; the Rev. Sara Oxley; the Rev. Dr. José Rodríguez. Alternates, who will also attend: The Rev. Kay Mueller, the Rev. Laura Cook and the Very Rev. Deke Miller.

Lay Order: Mrs. Emily Fletcher, Mrs. Mary Kay Predmore, Mrs. Heather Rodríguez, Mrs. Heidi White. No alternates remain for the lay order.

In addition, the Rev. Canon Dr. Dan Smith will travel with the deputation to manage its Convention meeting space, which will “free up the deputies to be about Convention business,” Bartle said.

So far, the diocesan deputation has held two meetings, one in September and one on March 26. The group will gather again at a Province IV meeting at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on May 8-10.

However, several members of the deputation have also been tasked with serving on various legislative committees. Holcomb is the newly appointed secretary for the Formation and Discipleship Committee of the House of Bishops, which has already held multiple hearings as a part of its work. Other committee appointments include: The Rev. Phyllis Bartle, Evangelism and the Future Church; the Rev. Sara Oxley, Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations; Mrs. Heather Rodríguez, secretary, World Mission; and Mrs. Heidi White, Accessibility and Inclusion.

For Bartle, the Convention experience will be bittersweet; she plans to retire before the 2027 General Convention, her seventh to attend as a deputy. She is eager for the opportunity to serve the broader church and the diocese as well as to reconnect with friends.

“One of the things I look forward to is meeting up with old friends,” she said. “I’ve made friends by attending the General Conventions, but I’ve also reconnected with some of my seminary classmates who are actively involved.”

As she looks back through her years of service, she sees the difference the Central Florida deputation has made and will continue to make.

“I have served on the Task Force on Communion Across Differences,” Bartle explained, adding that this entity has asked the 2024 General Convention to consider five resolutions (read more at this link) with resulting positive press. She is also excited to have a higher number of Central Florida’s deputies serving on committees than in previous years, noting that “It gives a fuller representation of the entire Episcopal Church to have representation from all sides of the issues.”

As in past years, as Bartle and the diocesan deputation look forward to the General Convention, they also recognize the need for spiritual support. “I would be most appreciative of prayer for a peace-filled, joy-filled gathering,” she said.