On April 26, clergy and lay delegates across the diocese voted to elect the Rev. Canon Dr. Jeff Bailey as C4SO’s next Diocesan Bishop. While the election marked a joyful and hopeful moment—celebrated in person during the recent Clergy Conference—the process is not yet complete.
The next step comes on June 17, when the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) will meet during the Provincial Council at Trinity Anglican Seminary in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. There, the Bishops will interview Bishop-Elect Jeff and decide whether to consent to his election—a requirement under the ACNA Canons for all episcopal elections.
“I am humbled and grateful for the confidence the C4SO community has placed in me,” Bishop-Elect Jeff says. “I view this role as a sacred calling to serve not only our diocese but the wider Church, and I enter this next phase with open hands and a prayerful heart.”
Consent from the College of Bishops is more than a formality; it is a cornerstone of episcopal accountability and unity. As the ACNA Canons affirm:
By the tradition of Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, Bishops are consecrated for the whole Church and are successors of the Apostles through the grace of the Holy Spirit given to them.
This underscores the broader reality that a Bishop is not only a shepherd to his diocese but also a guardian of the Church—a chief missionary, pastor, teacher of doctrine and administrator of godly discipline and governance.
“The College’s role in confirming episcopal elections is essential,” Bishop Todd says. “It ensures that each new Bishop is welcomed not just into the life of one diocese, but into the shared leadership of the Church as a whole.”
In the unlikely event that the College does not grant consent, C4SO’s Executive Leadership Team will enter a period of discernment to determine next steps.
Assuming consent is granted, Bishop-Elect Jeff will begin a transition period alongside Bishop Todd, who will continue to serve as Diocesan Bishop until May 1, 2026. That timeline includes:
1. Training and Orientation
Bishop-Elect Jeff will engage in a season of formation under Bishop Todd’s guidance. This intentional time of mentoring and preparation ensures a smooth handoff and a shared vision for C4SO’s future.
2. Consecration on September 27, 2025
Bishop-Elect Jeff will be consecrated at Truro Anglican Church in Fairfax, Virginia, in a service open to the entire C4SO community. Upon consecration, he will assume the title of Coadjutor, which designates him as Bishop Todd’s successor. We will share more information about this milestone celebration very soon.
3. Installation on May 1, 2026
During C4SO’s Clergy Retreat at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs, Bishop Jeff will be formally installed as Diocesan Bishop. We will share more information in the coming months.
The journey toward new leadership is a communal act of faith, and we invite our whole community to pray for Bishop-Elect Jeff, the College of Bishops and ongoing discernment from the Holy Spirit. We will provide an email update immediately following the June 17 consent. Sign up for our newsletter.