The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry
The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina since 2000, was elected as the 27th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church on June 27, 2015.
Curry was elected by the House of Bishops on the first ballot, with 121 votes of 174 votes cast. Dabney Smith received 21 votes, Thomas Breidenthal received 19 votes, and Ian Douglas received 13 votes. The archivist serving General Convention indicated that the only known presiding bishop before Curry to be elected on the first ballot was Henry Knox Sherrill in 1947. It was a historic vote in another manner, as Curry will become the first African American – and first person of color – to be presiding bishop.
The House of Deputies, comprised of lay and clergy members, confirmed the election in resolution A153 with a vote of 800 to 12 in favor.
A153: Resolved, the House of Deputies confirms the election by the House of Bishops of the Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry as Presiding Bishop.
The Bishop-Elect Curry will begin his 9-year term on November 1, 2015, All Saints’ Day, with an installation service at Washington National Cathedral. He will succeed Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first female presiding bishop, who completes her 9-year elected term.
Getting to know Bishop Curry
Curry is 62, married, with two adult children. He was elected as bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, and has served as their diocesan bishop for 15 years. In fact, ordained our rector Scot McComas as a priest in Charlotte, NC on August 27, 2004! Curry is known as a passionate preacher and has a clear focus on evangelism.
- A profile of Curry and his vision for The Episcopal Church is found in pre-Convention materials here
- Read the press release from The Episcopal Church with much biographical information
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‘Thankful, honored and blessed’ Presiding Bishop-elect Curry addresses the media in a press conference after his election, and talks about a broad range of issues
- Episcopalians, Anglicans react to historic election of Michael Curry as presiding bishop
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18-minute video interview with Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry
- Video: Episcopal Youth Event 2014 closing Eucharist sermon