Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church and pour out your Holy Spirit upon all who will participate in the process of choosing a bishop for this diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; Grant that all who are called to this sacred office may be filled with the truth of your doctrine, clothed in holiness of life, and devoted to your glory and the flourishing of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ, the shepherd and bishop of our souls, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, For the Election of a Bishop and For the Ministry (Ember Days)
This page serves as a central location for all resources supporting the Diocese of Tennessee’s process to elect a Bishop Diocesan. It will be continually updated with new information as the process progresses over this year and next. Please revisit frequently for the latest updates.
All people of the diocese are invited and encouraged to participate in one of the eight Listening Sessions, hosted by parishes across the diocese.
The purpose of the listening sessions is for the members of the Search Committee to listen to the voices of the people of the Diocese. What they hear will guide their discernment of where and how God is working in our Diocese, where God may be leading us, and the kind of bishop that God may be calling to work along-side of us when Bishop John retires in January 2027.
These three questions will guide our discernment:
While it is helpful for purposes of hospitality to have a rough idea of how many people to expect at each session, a reservation isn’t required for you to attend any of these sessions. Your input is far more desired than your RSVP!
Click on the name of the church to make a reservation.
December 4, 6:00pm (Thursday) St. Philip’s, Nashville
85 Fairway Drive, Nashville, TN 37214
Parking is on-site. Greeters will be present to direct you to the meeting room (Dimmick Hall or nave).
Check on sign up site to confirm childcare availability.
December 6, 10:00am (Saturday) Church of the Epiphany, Lebanon
1500 Hickory Ridge Road, Lebanon, TN 37087
Park in the adjoining lot. Enter the red doors for the nave.
Childcare will be available.
December 13, 11:00am (Saturday) St. Anselm’s, Nashville
2008 Meharry Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208
Parking: on-site in the church’s lot, the lot next door at the Looby house, or on Meharry Blvd in front of the church. Greeters will be present to direct you to the meeting room.
The Standing Committee has established two important committees and has appointed people to serve on each in order to help guide the diocese through a healthy, transparent, faithful, joyful, and prayerful process. These two committees play very different, yet equally vital roles.
The Search Committee is responsible for listening to the diocese in a structured way and then communicating our gifts and needs in the form of a diocesan profile; recruiting, receiving, and discerning nominations for bishop; and presenting a slate of candidates to the Standing Committee.
The Transition Committee is responsible for welcoming and hosting candidates in the diocese, celebrating Bishop Bauerschmidt, and events surrounding the electing convention and ordination weekend.
October 2025 – March 2026
April – June 2026
June – July 2026
August — December 2026
January 22-23, 2027
