The Rev. Dr. Glenda Curry was elected bishop coadjutor to become the twelfth diocesan bishop at the electing convention held on January 18, 2020, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. Curry is the first woman elected bishop in the Diocese of Alabama. She will succeed the Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan upon his retirement at the end of 2020.

To be elected, a candidate needed to receive a simple majority of votes from both clergy and lay delegates, voting separately on the same ballot round. Curry was elected on the 2nd ballot, receiving 77 clergy votes and 127 lay votes.

“We are grateful for the hard, faithful work of all the people involved in the search process,” said the Rev. Candice Frazier, President of the Standing Committee. “We are excited about the experience that the Rev. Curry brings to this ministry, and we will continue to support her and her family with love and prayer as we are guided by the Holy Spirit on this journey.”

In addressing the gathering, Curry said “I’m overwhelmed and I’m humbled. I know that we can do whatever God points us to do, with God’s help. And that’s what I’m going to count on, your help and God’s help.”

Curry serves as the Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Birmingham, Alabama. She has served as the rector of Epiphany Episcopal Church, Leeds, AL. Prior to her ordination, Glenda served as the president of Troy State University in Montgomery. She received her M.Div the University of the South, Sewanee, in 2002. Curry is married Dr. William Curry, Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and they are the parents of two adult children.

According to the canons of The Episcopal Church, all bishop elections must receive the consent of a majority of diocesan bishops and diocesan standing committees. Following a successful consent process, Curry will be ordained and consecrated bishop on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Birmingham, by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.