Search for the Ninth Bishop of East Carolina

Meet the Candidates

Click on the image of the nominee to be taken to their profile page.

Rev. Brian Cannaday

Rev. Sarah Fisher

Rev. Caleb Lee

Petition Process

September 16 – September 30, 2025

The Standing Committee of East Carolina will be opening a process for nomination by petition starting September 16th at 5 p.m. Applications are due by September 30, 2025 at 5 p.m.

These rules and requirements shall govern the petition process:

  1. No individual’s Petition will be considered who participated in the process conducted by the Search Committee of the Diocese of East Carolina and who was not selected for the final slate of nominees approved by the Standing Committee.
  2. Signatures of Nominations from not fewer than five clergy of the Diocese entitled to vote.
  3. Signatures of Nominations from not fewer than ten lay communicants in good standing of the Diocese.

    All Members of this Church who for the previous year have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God, are to be considered Communicants in Good Standing.
    – From Title I, Canon 17, Section 3 of the Canons of The Episcopal Church

  1. Signers must represent no fewer than five congregations and two deaneries in the Diocese.
  1. Signature of Consent of the person being nominated by petition. Please see Item 1 in Step Two.

For a petition form, please click here.

The completed petition must include application materials required of other previously announced candidates. These instructions can be found by clicking the button below.

Meet and Greets

All in the diocese are invited to meet the nominees at a series of regional meet-and-greets around the diocese. Details about livestreams and recordings of these meet-and greets are forthcoming. These meet and greets will include a question-and-answer element. We are currently receiving questions for our candidates. Please email questions to the Bishop Transition Committee. Questions should be submitted by October 10th.

Monday, October 27, 5:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church, New Bern

Tuesday, October 28, 5:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church, Elizabeth City

Wednesday, October 29, 5:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | St. Timothy’s, Greenville

Thursday, October 30, 5:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. | St. John’s, Fayetteville

Friday, October 31, 5:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | St. John’s, Wilmington