The Development of a New Mid-South Diocese
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One of the reasons we decided to join the Anglican Diocese of the South (ADOTS) back in July of 2024 was due to their intention to plant a new diocese in the Mid-South region. We had thought that this process would take around 5–7 years, but things have come together more quickly than anticipated.
ADOTS has been talking about forming this new diocese for over ten years, but they have never had the critical mass in this area to do so. However, in the last three years, five new churches have become a part of this region, all of which, besides us, being newly planted:
Mission Saint James in Jackson, TN
Church of the Incarnation in Memphis, TN
St. Peter’s by the Lake in Counce, TN
The Table in Springfield, MO
These four churches, along with our parish, now give this region enough critical mass for ADOTS to move toward the creation of a new diocese, a diocese that would consist of fourteen churches in southern Missouri, Arkansas, West Tennessee, and Mississippi.
Over the past six months, work has been done to create a rough draft Constitution and Canons for this new diocese, which was approved in November 2025 at our Synod. Soon after, a Steering Committee was formed to begin work toward submitting an application to the Province for the creation of a new diocese, something that could be approved as early as June. If approved, a search process would then commence for a diocesan bishop.
Our Senior Warden, Greg Jordan, Dn. Nan Thomas, and I serve on this committee, along with twelve other clergy and lay members from different parishes across the Mid-South.
Below you will find a link to a letter from Archbishop Foley Beach giving his blessing to all fourteen churches to leave ADOTS and join this new diocese whenever it is officially formed. It requires that our parish vote to do so before the application is submitted, so we will hold a special parish vote immediately after church on Sunday, March 22.
Please keep this entire process in your prayers, that everyone involved stays in step with the Spirit for the good of Christ’s Church. Do let me know if you have any questions about these developments.
Peace to you,
Fr. Wes