This was an interesting variation of the situation in 1923, when Pittsburgh Episcopalians gathered to choose a successor to forty-year incumbent Cortlandt Whitehead. The leading internal candidates were Alleyne Howell of St. Stephens, Sewickley, and John Hills of Epiphany, Bellevue, while the favored external candidate was Alexander Mann of Trinity, Boston. For sixteen ballots, the clergy fought to put one of their own (first Howell and then Hills) into the episcopal office while the laity stood solid for Mann. Finally, with ten clergy abstentions, Mann got the nod. 

This time round, Stanley Runnels clearly had the lay delegates in his pocket (a majority by the second ballot), but could not persuade the clergy to go along with them. Dorsey McConnell kept a sufficient lock on the clergy to induce about a dozen lay delegates to cross over between the fourth and sixth ballots.

At least it only took six ballots this time!

Thanks, Dr. Bonner, for the report and the striking historical perspective.  The dramatic contrast with the long-deadlocked election in Pittsburgh back in 1923 is indeed notable.

As Dorsey McConnell was perhaps the most conservative candidate, I welcome his election.  I hope that he will be able to work out a healthy, viable relationship with ++Bob Duncan, so that the two dioceses of Pittsburth (Episcopal and Anglican) can move toward a more irenic relationship.

David Handy+