God willing and the people consenting, The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells will be ordained bishop on Saturday, July 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Upper School ARC in Ridgeland. Everyone is invited to attend in person!
Reservations are not required, but your RSVP will help us plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will attendance at the service be open to all?
Yes! The service is an occasion of joy for the whole church, and no one will be turned away. To help us prepare adequately, we ask everyone to RSVP. Please click here to RSVP. Interested in serving as an usher during the ordination? Please click here to sign up.
Will the event be live streamed?
Yes. The livestream will be available on the Diocese’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
How long with the ordination last?
We expect the service to last approximately two-and-a-half hours.
Who will preach and preside at the ordination?
The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry will be the chief consecrator.
The Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Bandy Professor of Preaching, Candler School of Theology, Emory University will preach.
Episcopal bishops, invited by the Bishop-elect, will serve as co-consecrators. The newly ordained bishop of Mississippi will preside at the Eucharist.
Where will the ordination take place?
It will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Upper School (please use the entrance off Highland Colony Parkway – Saints Crossing) at 11:00 a.m. in the Athletics and Recreation Center (ARC).
What parking will be available?
We strongly encourage carpooling for the service. We are finalizing details for parking and shuttles. Please check back for additional information soon.
What hotels are available?
Please view the list of hotel room blocks on our hotel page.
What should I wear?
Wear what you’d normally wear to a service at your church.
Clergy who intend to vest and process should wear cassock, surplice, and a red stole.
Attending bishops should wear rochet, chimere, and tippet.
Co-consecrating bishops should wear a red cope and mitre.
Children
Are children welcome?
Children belong in church! All ages are invited to and welcomed at this historic event.
Will there be children’s church?
Yes! Children ages 3 – 7 are invited to take part in our Children’s Church held in the Commons at St. Andrew’s Upper School. Children will be brought to the ARC during the presentation of the gifts to be reunited with their adults. Please click here to register your children so we can plan for their attendance.
Will there be a choir? Can I sing in it?
Jessica Nelson, Choirmaster at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral, will conduct a diocesan choir for the ordination service. Please reach out to her if you are interested at jnelson@standrewscathedral.org.
When will the 11th Bishop of Mississippi be seated at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral?
After ordination, it is customary for a bishop to be formally seated in the cathedral of the diocese. This signifies the deepening of the relationship between the new bishop and her flock. This service of installation will take place on Sunday, July 21 at 10:30 a.m.
Questions? Email msbishopsearch@gmail.com for more information.