Process for Nominations by Petition

Overview

The following process is based upon similar processes adopted in the dioceses of California, Easton, Maryland, Massachusetts, Newark, North Carolina, Olympia, South Dakota, Southern Virginia and Western North Carolina. Some language is adopted with thanks.

The canons of The Episcopal Church provide for an election process in which laity and clergy are empowered by the Holy Spirit to discern and raise up new episcopal leadership. No one person or group knows whom God will use, the people consenting, to lead this diocese. Rather, the invitation to leadership is a process of discerning a call.

The principal method for calling nominees for election in the Diocese of Florida is discernment work carried out by the Bishop Search Committee (the “Search Committee”). This committee, comprised of a diverse and faithful group of lay persons and clergy, is appointed to carry out the task of forming a slate of nominees for election.

The petition process, by contrast, is intended to address the circumstance when a person called to candidacy has not been vetted in the Search Committee process or was not identified by it as one of the slate of nominees. The petition process also opens an opportunity for the diocese to continue discerning the person God is calling to be our next bishop.

The petition process is an opportunity for nominees to be considered after the preliminary slate is announced, providing enough time to have each petition nominee go through all aspects of the vetting process, including interviews, reference checks and background checks required by the diocese and The Episcopal Church. The practice of nominations from the floor of the electing convention is not allowed.

A petitioner has seven days after the preliminary slate of nominees is announced to submit all required documentation described below. The complete nomination petition must be scanned and submitted electronically to standingcommittee@diocesefl.org by 11:59 a.m. of July 15, 2026.

The decision of whether a petition nominee will continue in the process or be added to the slate will be made by the Standing Committee of the diocese and is not appealable.

Instructions

There should be one lead nominator, lay or ordained, who should complete and sign the nomination petition cover page including the list of who will be submitting supporting signatures. No one may self-nominate.
The nomination should include at least two letters of recommendation from signatories, including one from a member of the clergy, and one from a layperson, describing the Christian faith, character, leadership, skills, and pastoral heart of the nominee.
All petition signers must fill out a petition signature page; these must be collected by the lead nominator and submitted electronically as one complete packet.
It is the responsibility of the lead nominator to verify that all signature requirements are met and all pieces of the nomination petition are complete and accurate prior to submission. Once the Petition has been submitted, no more signatures will be accepted.

Petitions for nomination must be signed by:

2 Canonically Resident Clergy (of any order) from each of the 5 regions of the Diocese of Florida, who may not be of the same parish, for a total of 10 clergy.
3 lay delegates to the Special Electing Convention of the Diocese of Florida, as certified with the diocesan office as of July 6th, 2026 from each of the 5 regions of the Diocese of Florida, who may not be of the same parish, for a total of 15 lay delegates.
A minimum of 15 different congregations or missions between clergy and lay delegates

Petition Signatories may not:

Sign more than one petition application
Be from the same household
Be a member of the Search, Transition, or Standing Committees

A complete Nomination Petition will include:

One Nomination Petition Cover Page signed by the lead nominator.
At least two letters of recommendation, from one Clergy and one Layperson,
All signature pages from signatories – minimum 25.
Separately, and also by the deadline, Petition Nominees must complete the application with a cover letter outlining why you believe yourself to be called through the petition process into discernment (max. 500 words).
- Some of these materials may be used for biographical profiles and other information that will be published about the final slate of nominees.
The complete nomination petition must be scanned and submitted electronically to standingcommittee@diocesefl.org by 11:59 a.m. of July 15, 2026.

Those who are nominated by petition:

All Candidates must meet the same qualifications as those established by the Bishop Search Committee for candidates for the office of bishop of Florida:
- Be a priest or bishop in good standing in The Episcopal Church
- Be at least 30 years old
- Have completed at least five years of ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church
- Hold an advanced theological degree
- Candidates should possess a good understanding of the challenges associated with substance use disorders and demonstrate a commitment to both personal and community recovery
Petition nominees may not have already applied through the Search Process.
All persons nominated by petition must successfully complete the same background check and psychological evaluation required of Search Committee candidates.
Petition nominees should also be prepared to be interviewed by the diocesan chancellor regarding certain employment, financial, personal, legal and background information.