Episcopal Diocese of Florida Selects the Reverend Charlie Holt as Bishop Coadjutor Elect

Posted on June 3, 2022 By Editor Movers & Shakers, Neighborhood News, Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, Murray Hill, San Jose, San Marco, St. Nicholas

The Rev. Joe Gibbes, The Rev. Cn. Dr. J. Allison DeFoor, Brooke Holt, The Rev. Charlie Holt, The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard, the Rev. Sarah Minton, Fred C. Isaac

The Episcopal Diocese of Florida selected the Reverend Charlie Holt (Father Charlie) as its Bishop Coadjutor Elect during its 2022 Special Electing Convention Saturday, May 14 at St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville.

Father Charlie will ultimately succeed the Diocese’s current bishop, the Rt. Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard (Bishop Howard), upon his retirement in late 2023 to serve as the ninth bishop in the Diocese’s 184-year history.

Father Charlie was born in Gainesville and raised in Jacksonville, graduating from the Episcopal School of Jacksonville and the University of Florida. He has served the Episcopal Church for almost 25 years — with stops in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lake Mary, Florida and currently Houston, Texas, where he serves as Associate Rector of Teaching and Formation at The Church of St. John the Divine.

Prior to becoming Diocesan bishop, Father Charlie will assume the temporary role of Bishop Coadjutor upon his consecration, or ordination, in October 2022. In that role, he will learn from and assist Bishop Howard in diocesan matters until his late 2023 retirement.

Father Charlie was elected by a voting body of approximately 250 individuals across the Diocese, which consisted of clergy and lay delegates as well as Diocesan officials. The election required three rounds of voting until a concurrent majority was reached by clergy and laity on the same ballot.

When asked about the election, Bishop Howard shared: “Saturday’s election of a Bishop Coadjutor was an important day in the Diocese of Florida. All five nominees were exceptional candidates. I look forward to welcoming Father Holt into our Diocese and to serving with him in the year ahead, as we continue to strengthen our Diocese’s ministry and growth for the future.’”

The election was the result the result of a multi-month search and vetting process by the Diocese, which included open nominations, essays, interviews and several meet-and-greet sessions open to the public. For more information, please visit floridabishopsearch.org.