Church of Ireland to Elect New Bishop of Connor

An Electoral College of the Church of Ireland will meet at the end of the month to elect a new Bishop of Connor to succeed the Most Rev Alan Harper, who was elevated to his new role as Primate of the Church last week.

The Electoral College will meet on March 28 in Church House, Armagh, following a service of Holy Communion in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.

The new Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Alan Harper, will sit as the president of the college, as the vacant bishopric is in the Northern Province of the Church.

Archbishop Harper called for forgiveness and reconciliation at his enthronement last Friday, saying it was "time to turn from truce to peace - to love our neighbours and ourselves in equal measure".

The Electoral College to vote on the new Bishop of Connor will consist of 60 members including three members of the House of Bishops, 12 elected clergy and 12 elected lay persons from the Diocese of Connor and elected clergy and lay persons from each of the other Dioceses of the Northern Province.

Voting will take place on names brought forward by the college until one name receives two-thirds of the votes of both the lay and clerical members, who will vote separately. If no person receives the requisite majority, the appointment will pass to the House of Bishops.

A decision could be made as early as 4pm on March 28.

The Electoral College will consist of 60 members as follows:
The Archbishop of Armagh - President of the College
Three members of the House of Bishops
12 Diocesan Clergy and 12 Diocesan Lay Episcopal electors from the Diocese of Connor
Six Diocesan Clergy and six Diocesan Lay Episcopal electors from the Diocese of Armagh (because the election is due to the translation of the Bishop of Connor to Armagh)
Two Diocesan Clerical and two Diocesan Lay Episcopal electors from each of the other dioceses in the Northern Province.