The Diocese of Tennessee has begun a process to search for our next bishop. 

Candidates for the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee

To the People of the Diocese of Tennessee:

The Standing Committee takes great pleasure in announcing the slate of nominees to be the twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee. They are:

The Rev'd Colin Ambrose

Vice Rector

St. George's

Nashville, TN

The Rev'd Cn. Brian Cannaday

Canon to the Ordinary

Diocese of Dallas

Dallas, TX

The Rev'd Andy Olivo

Rector

St. Elizabeth's

Ridgewood, NJ

Background information, videos, and written material from each nominee can be found on this website.

We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to the members of the Search Committee as they have worked through the extended search and especially want to thank the Rev’d Chris Bowhay and Mr. Bryan Essary, co-chairs of the Committee. At every step of the way, the Search Committee has taken great care to represent the fullness of the Diocese and to discern those candidates who were most capable and most committed to being the twelfth bishop of the Diocese. They have done this work with diligence and integrity and we, the Standing Committee, are delighted to present the slate of nominees they submitted to us.

Beginning in September 2025, under the leadership of the then co-chairs, Ms. Monica Fawknotson and the Rev’d Jacob Bottom, the Search Committee diligently organized and conducted a survey of the Diocese and listening sessions to learn the concerns of the Diocese. The input from these sources was incorporated into the diocesan profile in February. Starting in March, the Search Committee received names, read answers to their questions, listened to sermons, conducted video interviews, and attended a discernment retreat with the nominees. In June, the Standing Committee asked the members of the Search Committee to stay on for an extended search and the process of taking names and conducting interviews started over. Finally, just last week, the Search Committee met with a select group of candidates to determine the final nominees. The Standing Committee has every confidence that the Search Committee has completed their task faithfully and well and we are greatly appreciative of their hard work and dedication.

The Electing Convention for the twelfth bishop will take place on October 24, 2026. Should there be someone who recommends that another person be considered, you will find the rules for the petition process, which closes September 15, here.

Again, thank you to the Search Committee for their hard work and careful attention. Please pray for the Diocese of Tennessee and our nominees as we gather to discern the next Bishop of Tennessee.

In Christ,

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Tennessee

Ms. Catherine Beemer, St. George’s, Nashville

The Rev’d Bradley Johnson, St. James the Less, Madison

The Rev’d Caroline Osborne, Saint Philip’s, Nashville

Mr. L. Jarod Pearson, St. Agnes’, Cowan

The Rev’d Justin Taliaferro, Messiah, Pulaski

The Rev’d Cn. Natalie B. Van Kirk, president, Good Shepherd, Brentwood

Mr. John Whitaker, Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville

Important Dates:

Petition period (one week): September 8-15, 2026
Meet and greets with candidates: October 15-17, 2026
Electing Convention at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, October 24, 2026
Electing Convention Rollover Dates, if needed: November 7 and 14

The Role of a Bishop

A bishop in the Episcopal Church is called to:

• be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ's resurrection and interpreting the Gospel
• testify to Christ's sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings
• guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church
• celebrate and to provide for the administration of the sacraments
• ordain priests and deacons and to join in ordaining bishops
• be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ
• share with fellow bishops in the leadership of the Church throughout the world

Your input is requested by the search commitee as they discern where and how God is working in the Diocese of Tennessee. Full details about the search process can be found at the diocesan website.

Visit the Diocesan Website

Teaching on The Role & Identity of a Bishop

The Search Committee provided an online teaching, sharing more about the Bishop's role in a diocese. Watch it here to learn more.