Standing Committee announces slate of nominees for bishop election

The Search Committee of the Diocese of East Carolina has announced a slate of three nominees to be elected as the Ninth Bishop of East Carolina by Diocesan Convention November 14-15, 2025 at the Maxwell Convention Center in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Approved by the diocesan Standing Committee on September 4, 2025, the nominees are:

• The Rev. Brian Cannaday, rector of St. Christopher in League City, TX
• The Rev. Sarah Fisher rector of St. Catherine’s in Marietta, GA
• The Rev. Caleb Lee rector of St. Paul’s in Wilmington, NC

After the Diocesan Convention, the Bishop-elect will take office after an ordination and consecration at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern, North Carolina on May 26, 2026. The new Bishop will succeed the Rt. Rev. Robert Stuart Skirving, who will at that point retire after 12 years of service.

Materials written by the nominees–including answers to questions about their vision and their autobiographies–will be made available on the diocesan website’s Bishop Search page. Videos messages will also be added to the webpage.

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. Details about locations and dates can be found here.

Cannaday, 49, rector of St. Christopher Episcopal Church in League City, Texas since 2016, was previously associate rector of St. Helena’s Episcopal Church in Boerne, Texas. Ordained to the priesthood in 2014 in the Diocese of West Texas, he holds degrees from Sewanee Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and University of Texas San Antonio (BA).

Fisher, 54, rector of St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Marietta, Georgia since 2017, was previously associate rector of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Dunwoody, Georgia. Ordained to the priesthood in 2005 in the Diocese of Atlanta, she holds degrees from The General Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Agnes Scott College (BA).

Lee, 44, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina since 2021, was previously associate rector, Canon Worship and Parish Life, and Canon Precentor of Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston, South Carolina. Ordained to the priesthood in 2013 in the Diocese of East Carolina, he holds degrees from Virgina Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and North Carolina State University (BA).

The Standing Committee of East Carolina will be opening a process for nomination by petition. The process will begin Tuesday, September 16 at 5p.m. Applications are due by September 30, 2025 at 5p.m. Anyone interested can find the details on the Bishop Search page.

The Bishop Search Committee is co-chaired by the Rev. Tom Warren, rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kinston, and Lisa Richey, a parishioner at Grace Church, Whiteville. They have been assisted by Dr. Blanca G. Silvestrini.

According to Standing Committee President, The Rev. A. Michael Singer, Interim Rector of St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound, Wilmington, NC, “The Standing Committee is excited by the dedication and hard work of the Search Committee, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Search Committee took the time to listen to members of our diocese and cast their net wide to find the best candidates with gifts necessary to be the next bishop in the Diocese of East Carolina.

As we move toward a new chapter in our diocesan life together, we invite you to join us in prayer, supporting the Standing, Search and Transition committees as the Holy Spirit guides this work.”