24 October 2026
The Rev. Canon Terri L. Bays, PhD
Bishop-elect of The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes
24 October 2026
Dear Sisters, Brothers, siblings,
Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, God’s Word made flesh!
As many of you know, one of our own, the Rev. Canon Terri Lynne Bays, was a nominee for Episcopal election in the Diocese of the Great Lakes. The election took place today and Canon Terri was not elected. I have firsthand experience of not being elected and received great support and encouragement from the people of the faith community I was serving in Rochester, Minnesota, my bishop, and the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. It is my hope that you will reach out in support, encouragement, and gratitude to Canon Terri.
I want to thank Canon Terri and Tim along with their children, Elizabeth and Rachel, for opening their lives to the possibility of serving the wider church in Episcopal Ministry. I am also confident that they will be surrounded with prayer and affection by our sisters, brothers, siblings who are the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana.
May we continue together, engaging God’s mission!
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen!
Every blessing,
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
VIII Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana