[dropcap]B[/dropcap]uda’s own Reverend Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, 56, of St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Buda, was elected the first female Bishop Suffragan by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas on Feb. 25.
She was chosen out of seven total nominees.
Brooke-Davidson’s journey to the rank of bishop-elect started when she was ordained as a priest in 2009 after graduating from Fuller Theological Seminary.
She then served as the Assistant Rector at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wimberley from 2009 until 2011 when she found her home at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Buda.
According to www.st-liz.org, prior to ordination Brooke-Davidson received a degree in history from Yale University and a law degree from the University of Texas.
According to the website www.livingchurch.org, the other nominees for bishop were Rev. Chris Cadel, Rev. Chris Cole, Rev. John Hill, Rev. Lisa Mason, Rev. Jonathan Wickham and Rev. Robert Woody.
After thanking the other six nominees and adding what a privilege it was to walk with them on this journey, Brooke-Davidson said, “We will be good friends forever.”
The website www.dwtx.org noted that in order to win the election to bishop the candidates needed to receive a majority of votes from both the clergy and the lay delegates.
“Brooke-Davidson secured election on the sixth ballot, receiving 55 votes from the clergy and 153 votes from the lay delegates,” the website stated.
After quoting a passage from the second chapter of 1 Corinthians, Brooke-Davidson said, “With God, anything is possible, and I suppose it is possible that God can make me a bishop.”
Brooke-Davidson will be serving as the Diocese 6th bishop and will be serving alongside the Diocesan Bishop and the Rt. Rev. David M. Reed.
Just because Brooke-Davidson was elected to the position of bishop doesn’t mean she has the official title yet.
Only if all the bishops and standing committees consent will Brooke-Davidson be ordained as Bishop Suffragan during a worship service held on July 29 at the Episcopal School of Texas in San Antonio.
