Newsday recently profiled the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island’s open and democratic process to select its next bishop—an approach deeply rooted in the Episcopal Church’s founding principles.
The article, “Episcopal Diocese of Long Island Turns to ‘We the People’ to Select Its Next Bishop,” details how clergy and lay representatives will participate in a transparent, participatory election, complete with public forums and town halls before delegates gather to vote at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on April 18, 2026.
“The Episcopal Church was created as a church based on democracy instead of monarchy,” said The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, assistant bishop of Long Island and an adjunct professor at Union Theological Seminary. “Somebody once said the Episcopal Church structure is like taking the dome of the U.S. Capitol, referencing democracy, and putting it together with the dome of St. Peter's in Rome, representing Catholicism.”
As Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano prepares to retire after 15 years of service, the upcoming election reflects both the historic roots and the ongoing mission of the Diocese—to embody shared leadership and faith in action across Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.
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