Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, created in 1826, is the diocese of The Episcopal Church in the United States of America with jurisdiction over the entire state of Mississippi. It is located in Province 4 and its cathedral, St. Andrew's Cathedral, is located in Jackson, as is the Allin House, the diocesan office.
Episcopalians in Mississippi have, since the mid-20th century, been by and large progressive in their views about race, culture, gender, sexuality, and other social issues affecting the state and nation; their views on economics and politics, though, are more mixed. The Episcopal Church in Mississippi has usually tolerated freedom of belief and differing types of ritual practice. As such, the fallout from the ideological and theological conflicts that beset the Episcopal Church between the 1970s and 2000s has not been large in comparison to other Southern dioceses.
In 2013 the Diocese of Mississippi had 18,741 members, down from 20,925 in 2003, a decline of approximately 10 percent. In 2024, the diocese reported average Sunday attendance of 4,690 persons. The most recent membership statistics showed further decline in membership with 16,981 total members.
Current bishop
The Right Reverend Dorothy Sanders Wells was elected as the eleventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi on February 3, 2024. Wells served as bishop-elect from May 2, 2024, until her ordination and consecration as bishop diocesan on July 20, 2024.List of bishops
The bishops of Mississippi have been:Hugh Miller Thompson, bishop coadjutor 1883
William Mercer Green ' bishop coadjutor 1919
Duncan Montgomery Gray, Jr., bishop coadjutor 1974
Alfred C. Marble Jr., bishop coadjutor 1991