From Nicholas Knisely at The Lead:
The Rev. Dan Martins was elected the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield this afternoon on the third ballot. Martins led in all three ballots in the clergy, and was nearly elected on the second ballot when lay supporters of Canon Mark Stevenson appear to have shifted their support to Martins. Martins' election, as are all elections, dependent on the successful completion of the consents process.
Ballot results from the diocesan website.
Click on the image for the larger view.
From the State Journal-Register:
“There is a process, which is in our constitution and canon, that he now goes through the consent process,” said the Rev. Christopher Ashmore, rector of Trinity Church in Jacksonville.
The process calls for a majority of U.S. bishops and Standing Committees to consent to the vote during a 120-day period following Martins’ election, Ashmore said.
Martins may have difficulty getting consent if he sticks with his conservative views on same-sex unions and gay clergy.
Ashmore said there was an overarching feeling of doing God’s work within the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 815 S. Second St., where the election took place.
From Ann Fontaine also at The Lead:
Martins voted with the majority in San Joaquin who left the Episcopal Church when he was Rector in that diocese, says he is not planning to leave the Episcopal Church.
....
Martins has been affiliated with Communion Partners, who support the Covenant.
James at The Three-Legged Stool appears to take a dim view of the result.
The Rev. Martins would not have been my choice, but he is the choice of the representatives of the diocese, and the process now moves on to consents from the bishops and Standing Committees of the Episcopal Church. In my opinion, that the proper number of the delegates in the Diocese of Springfield chose the Rev. Martins as their bishop carries great weight with respect to consideration of consents. That the Rev. Martins voted with the majority to leave the Episcopal Church in San Joachin is cause for concern.
Pray for the bishops and Standing Committees.
UPDATE: Jim Naughton at The Lead comments on a statement by the Rev. Martins at GC09.
UPDATE 2: John Chilton at The Lead posts links to further information on Fr. Dan Martins and consents.
UPDATE 3: Bishop-elect Dan Martins offers a detailed response to his critics at his blog.
