+Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected on the fifth ballot. She was the frontrunner for each ballot. There were 188 bishops voting. 95 votes were needed to win. Here’s how the voting went:
BALLOT 1 2 3 4 5
Alexander 26 26 22 12 2
Duque-Gomez 18 10 4 2 6
Gulick 15 7 1 0 0
Schori 44 49 68 88 95
Jenkins 29 30 24 5 3
Parsley 36 49 63 79 82
Sauls 20 17 6 2 0
After the fifth ballot results were announced to the bishops at Trinity Church and it was clear they has made history, the broke out into the Doxology. During the verses of “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…” Bishop Barbara Harris, the first woman bishop, hugged +Schori and rocked her in her arms while the singing continued.
Of the voters, 15 were women, one is a gay man, there were a handful of African American bishops but the clear majority were straight, white men. Many were in tears.
Last night at a party honoring the winner, pink buttons were handed out saying: “It’s a girl! Katharine Jefferts Schori 18 June 2006.” They will become collector’s items. Whose idea for the buttons? + Gene Robinson.
Note: Louise got a credit in the UK Times Online for crediting +Gene Robinson with the buttons… They have a picture of them up too, although I’m not really sure they are too happy about it.
Comment by Jeff — June 22, 2006 @ 2:28 pm