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[Election Photo Gallery]
After winning and holding the clergy vote on three ballots, the Venerable Dena Harrison was elected bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Texas on the third ballot, Saturday April 29. Bishop elect Harrison received more than 2/3’s of the clergy votes on each ballot as she gained votes in both orders on every succeeding ballot. Lay votes from James McGill and Al Rodriguez led to her election with a majority in both orders shortly after 2 p.m. (Voting results are posted on the website at http://www.epicenter.org/)
More than 800 clergy, delegates and visitors braved pouring rain, lightning and thunder to attend the election that began with Holy Eucharist. Nominating speeches and two ballots took place before 12:30 p.m., by which time the sun was shining. Delegates spread across the Cathedral campus, expertly dodging puddles and soggy grass, to eat lunch and await the results of the second ballot.
Harrison’s election will come before members of the Episcopal Church’s General Convention this June for final consent. All Episcopal elections must be approved by a majority of the standing committees of the Church’s 110 dioceses or by General Convention when the election is held within 120 days of the Church’s triennial gathering.
Harrison was elected chair of the diocesan deputation for General Convention and will serve as head chaplain for the House of Deputies at the request of the Rev. George Warner, president of the House of Deputies. Her consecration is set for October 7, 2006 at Camp Allen.
““I am grateful to Jim, Al and Frankie for allowing their names to be placed in nomination. We know that their special gifts for ministry will continue to be blessing to those whom they serve,” Bishop Don Wimberly said following the election.
“I have witnessed Dena’s leadership qualities while serving with her on the diocesan staff and I am delighted that the clergy and laity of the diocese recognized those same qualities and have called her as our new bishop suffragan,” he added. “She will be a wonderful bishop and she brings invaluable experience and many gifts to the office. The Austin area will be blessed by her nearer presence.” Harrison’s ministry will focus on 48 congregations in the Austin region of the diocese.
When the election was announced, the nave of the Cathedral resounded with applause as delegates rose in a standing ovation, as did the Parish Hall where 150 people looked on via a video feed. Harrison’s husband Larry, daughter Jill and son Matt were escorted into the nave as the other nominees offered their congratulations.
“Thank you,” Harrison said, when she addressed the congregation. “Who I am is a product of you and my ministry has been shaped by you. I am dependent on you as our ministry together continues to unfold,” she said.
“The election was very exciting,” said the Rev. Lance Ousley, rector of St. Thomas, Wharton. “I think Dena will do a fabulous job.”
The Rev. Alejandro Montes, vicar of San Mateo, Houston, the diocese’s largest Spanish-speaking congregation, said: “It was
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 very good to have bilingual people in the election and I initially supported Al Rodriguez because of his Hispanic heritage and I thought he understood both sides of the immigration issue. In the end, we were together and chose the best person for this time and for the Church. Dena has the experience and knows what we need from the diocese. And my daughter is very happy,” he added.
The Rev. Ed Gomez, executive director of El Buen Samaritano, Austin echoed support for the election. “It was truly wonderful to see the strong vote of confidence Dena received from the clergy throughout the election,” he said. “People weren’t swayed by gender or race. She has the resume, period. Dena has been a strong member of the board at El Buen and as bishop I think that will be even more so,” he said.
The Rev. Stan Gerber, rector of Good Shepherd, Tomball, said he was disappointed that Frankie Rodriquez was not elected. Gerber who attended seminary with Harrison said, “We love and respect one another. Dena has the capability of being a good bishop and I think she will do well in the Austin area.”
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle immediately following the election she said, “My priority is to support the bishop. The Episcopal Church has a rich tradition and we are united in the mission of reaching out to all people.” Asked how she would deal with difficulties facing the church she said, “I plan to be a voice of reconciliation and perseverance. I want to be a voice for the way forward.”
A native of Lufkin, Harrison and her husband of 39 years, Larry, have two children and four grandchildren living in San Antonio and Dallas. Larry Harrison’s CPA firm does business in Austin and Houston. The bishop-elect is a graduate of the University of Texas and holds a master of divinity from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest where she now serves as chair of the search committee for a new dean and president.
Harrison served as assistant rector at All Saints’ Church, Austin following her ordination in 1987, then as rector of St. James’, LaGrange and St James’ the Apostle, Conroe prior to joining the diocesan staff in 2000 as Canon to the Ordinary for Bishop Claude E. Payne. She has been Archdeacon and Canon for Ministry since 2003.
Harrison has utilized her business experience as a former mortgage banker on numerous diocesan committees and boards including the Bishop Quin Foundation, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities and St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital System and the seminary.
Once her election is approved and she is consecrated, the bishop-elect will be the first female bishop in Province VII (which includes the dioceses of Texas, Northwest Texas, West Texas, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Rio Grand, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, West Missouri, Western Kansas and Western Louisiana) and the entire southern United States. Harrison will join 12 female bishops in the Episcopal Church and three others within the Anglican Communion.
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