Suffragan Bishop Election · 2026

Electing C4SO’s Next Suffragan Bishop

C4SO is growing, and so is our leadership team. As part of that growth, we are beginning the process of electing a new Suffragan Bishop, a role the whole diocese will help affirm.

The screening committee, in collaboration with Bishop Jeff, has identified Kris McDaniel as the candidate for C4SO’s next Suffragan Bishop.

Suffragan Bishop Candidate

Meet Kris McDaniel

The Rev. Canon Dr. Kristopher Wayne McDaniel
Founding Rector, Trinity Anglican Church (Atlanta, GA) · Canon for Church Multiplication, C4SO

Kris McDaniel is the founding pastor of Trinity Anglican Church, located in Atlanta, Ga. He has a heart for spiritual renewal, church planting and developing leaders. In addition to his work at Trinity, Kris serves C4SO as Canon for Church Multiplication. Kris holds a master’s degree from Richmont Graduate University, as well as a Doctor of Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Karyn, have three adult children.

The part-time Suffragan Bishop role is designed for a rector to fulfill alongside their parish responsibilities. Thus, if elected, Kris will remain Lead Pastor at Trinity.

ONE SHEET

RESUME

SPIRITUAL
AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Contact
Kris →

ONE SHEET

RESUME

SPIRITUAL
AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Contact
Kris →

Screening Committee

Who’s guiding the search

Clergy

Derek Axelson HeadshotDerek Axelson

Good Shepherd Nashville

Kara Barrett HeadshotKara Barrett

All Souls Seattle

Travis Lowe HeadshotTravis Lowe

Trinity Tampa

Lay

Katherine Duderstadt HeadshotKatherine Duderstadt

Christ Church Mission · Dir. of Ministry

Headshot PlaceholderAngela Rotello

Restoration · Dir. of NextGen

Jacinta Read HeadshotJacinta Read

Vintage Pasadena · Connections Pastor

The Process

Steps in the Election Process

We’ll walk you through each step as it comes, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions along the way. The election will take place at the 2026 Diocesan Convention, and each C4SO church will appoint lay delegates to vote yes or no on the new Suffragan Bishop.

1

Permission secured Complete

C4SO has already received the necessary approval from the ACNA to elect a Suffragan Bishop.

2

Screening committee appointed Complete

The diocesan office will appoint a screening committee to oversee the search.

3

Candidate identified Complete

The committee will recommend and vet one candidate in collaboration with Bishop Jeff.

4

Getting to know the candidate

The diocese will have several opportunities to meet the candidate, ask questions and share any concerns.

5

Diocesan vote Nov 7, 2026

Clergy and lay delegates will vote on the candidate at the Diocesan Convention.

6

College of Bishops approval

The College of Bishops will give final approval at their January meeting.

7

Consecration

The new Suffragan Bishop will be consecrated in early 2027.

The election takes place at the 2026 Diocesan Convention on November 7. Every clergyperson is automatically a delegate with voting privileges, and each C4SO church will appoint lay delegates to cast a vote.

How You Can Be Part of the Process

Every voice in C4SO matters

Clergy, lay leaders and congregation members — here’s what you can do now.

1

Pray

Ask God for a wise, trusted leader who will invest in the health and growth of our congregations and be present with our churches in person.

2

Stay informed

Check back here to find out what’s happening at each step of the process.

3

Engage when the time comes

Look for opportunities to meet the candidate and ask questions before the vote at the Diocesan Convention in November 2026.

FAQ

Suffragan Bishop Election: FAQ

The health and growth of the diocese has made it necessary to expand our leadership team. Bishop Jeff first appointed the Very Rev. Drew Henley as our Canon to the Ordinary (effective August 1) to give clergy a responsive, pastorally grounded point of contact. The Suffragan Bishop is the next piece of that team, focused on planting new churches and forming clergy for the work ahead.

He will be a seasoned, proven leader who invests in clergy growth, calling and capacity. His primary focus is planting churches and clergy formation. He will travel regularly to be present with C4SO churches in person and get to know our congregations and their people directly. This part-time role is designed for a rector to fulfill alongside their parish responsibilities.

Bishop Jeff appointed the Canon to the Ordinary directly, but the Suffragan Bishop is different: He requires the affirmation of the broader diocese through an election vote. He will carry episcopal authority and belongs to C4SO in a unique, communal way.

For the Suffragan Bishop election, nominations will be made by our screening committee in collaboration with Bishop Jeff. Because of the close working relationship between Diocesan and Suffragan Bishops, it is imperative that nominations be made from an intimate knowledge of the job requirements and Bishop Jeff’s priorities.

C4SO’s canons require the Executive Leadership Team to nominate a minimum of two candidates for a Diocesan Bishop election (Title II, Canon 6, §1). However, neither C4SO’s canons nor ACNA’s canons require a specific number of candidates for a Suffragan Bishop election. That decision is left to the diocese, and most dioceses typically present one candidate for Suffragan Bishop. C4SO will follow these norms, with the screening committee undertaking a rigorous vetting process, and then presenting one candidate believed to be best for the role.

  1. C4SO has already obtained the necessary permission from the ACNA to elect a Suffragan Bishop.
  2. Bishop Jeff has appointed a screening committee of clergy and lay people from C4SO parishes.
  3. The screening committee has recommended and vetted a suitable candidate in collaboration with Bishop Jeff.
  4. Clergy and lay delegates will have several opportunities to get to know the candidate and ask questions or share concerns.
  5. Clergy and lay delegates will vote at the Diocesan Convention.
  6. The College of Bishops will give final approval at their January meeting.
  7. The new Suffragan Bishop will be consecrated in early 2027.

Bishop Emeritus Steve Breedlove of the Diocese of Christ Our Hope is serving as our impartial Episcopal Advisor, making sure we fulfill all necessary provincial requirements. Chief Operating Officer Eric Vinson will walk alongside the screening committee to provide a double layer of accountability.

Clergy and lay delegates will vote on the candidate at the Diocesan Convention. All resident clergy are automatically delegates, and rectors of C4SO churches will select two or more lay delegates from their parish according to size.

The vote will take place at the Diocesan Convention on November 7, 2026.

Early 2027, following final approval from the College of Bishops at their January meeting.

Yes. If you are a clergyperson or an appointed lay delegate for your church, you will have an opportunity to get to know the candidate and ask questions or raise concerns before the vote at the Diocesan Convention.

As the process unfolds, we will walk you through each step on this landing page, email (Subscribe to our newsletter) and social media (@dioceseofc4so). Follow the process on this landing page for updates.

Continue praying for the election of a wise and trusted Suffragan Bishop—one who will travel regularly to be present with C4SO churches in person and focus on the health and growth of congregations across the diocese.

Questions?

Questions about this process? We’re here to help.