The Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce appointed Bishop Provisional of West Missouri

This afternoon, Saturday, November 6, 2021, the 132^nd Annual Diocesan Convention of The Diocese of West Missouri voted overwhelmingly to appoint Bishop Bruce as bishop provisional of West Missouri.

President of the diocesan Standing Committee, the Rev. Jonathan Frazier, expressed his delight at the result, “We will be in very good hands for the next two or three years, and I am excited about many possibilities in ministry, in healing, and in growth. We will be able to tell our story to candidates for Diocesan Bishop a few years down the road.” Bishop Bruce will commence her episcopate on December 1, 2021. “The new Canon (III.13) allows a diocese to have a Bishop Provisional to serve in very much the same capacity as an interim rector in a parish,” Frazier said. “She will guide us in building trust, improving, communication, and resolving ‘systems’ issues, as well as some healing. We can then begin to discern the Holy Spirit’s direction for the diocese, so that the detailed work of finding our next bishop may begin.“

I am humbled and honored to be called to serve among the people of The Diocese of West Missouri.

On hearing the confirmation of her appointment, Bishop Bruce said, “I am humbled and honored to be called to serve among the people of The Diocese of West Missouri. From my first set of interviews, I understood that mission and ministry to the community in which they serve is planted deeply in their DNA. There is nothing stronger than that in this world! I look forward to exploring every nook and cranny of this diocese and celebrating God’s love and light in all of these sacred places.”

You can read the press release here.

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Updates

11-09-2021. Link to diocesan timeline added.
11-08-2021. Pull quote added.
11-07-2021. Link to original Press release updated to link to the updated press release.
11-06-2021. The original version of the press release stated the the vote was unaminous. It has since been confirmed that this was not the case, it was indeed, overwhelming. Bishop Bruce’s middle initial was omitted from the title (only) of the original release.