THE REV. RAYFORD RAY ELECTED 11TH BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF N. MICHIGAN

From the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan:

On the second ballot of today's electing convention, the Rev. Rayford Ray was elected as the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Northern Michigan.

Results:

Delegates: 88 present, 59 required to elect. Metz: 6, Ray: 59, Tharakan: 23
Congregations: 25 present, 13 required to elect. Metz: 1, Ray: 16, Tharakan: 6

According to the bylaws of the Diocese, to have an election, a nominee must receive two-thirds of the delegate vote and a simple majority of the congregational vote. To achieve a congregational vote, delegates from a congregation meet and caucus--a simple majority of those delegates is considered a congregational vote.

Thanks to Ann Fontaine.

UPDATE: From the Google cache of the biography of Bishop-elect Ray by Nicholas Knisely at The Lead:

ESCANABA, Michigan, December 4, 2010--The Rev. Rayford Ray, a member of the Episcopal Ministry Support Team in the Diocese of Northern Michigan, has been elected as the diocese’s 11th bishop.

Ray, 54, a four-time deputy to General Convention who serves several parishes in the south central region of the diocese, was elected on the second ballot from a slate of three nominees at a convention held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Escanaba.

“We are a life giving people here in this diocese,” said Ray, who visited the convention after his election. “It is an exciting time as we will partner together as we look at the possibilities that stand before us. We have much to do, but we will do it together as we proclaim the Gospel as we know in in Jesus Christ.”

During more than 20 years in the diocese, Ray has worked as a ministry development coordinator and collaborated with parishes across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He was recently an adjunct instructor at Episcopal Divinity School. An alumnus of Nashota House, he lives in Rapid River, Michigan with his wife, Suzanne Ray. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.