Today Saturday, July 20, 2024, marks a historic moment for the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi as Rev. Dorothy Sanders Wells is installed as the first Black woman bishop in the diocese’s history.
The formal ordination and consecration ceremony will be conducted by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.
Rev. Wells, elected as bishop in February and serving in the role since May, succeeds former Bishop Brian Seage. Seage had held the position since 2015 following the retirement of his predecessor.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Wells pursued a diverse educational path. She studied vocal performance at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and later earned a law degree from the University of Memphis, practicing law for 18 years.
Wells then transitioned to religious service, obtaining a master of divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Emory University.
Prior to her election, Wells served as the rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown, Tennessee, and as chaplain of the church’s preschool since 2013.
Her leadership experience and commitment to community service made her a standout candidate for the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, which comprises approximately 17,600 members across 87 congregations.
Despite the groundbreaking nature of her appointment, Wells says her focus is on the broader mission of the church rather than her identity as the first woman and first Black bishop of the diocese.
“It is a priority to re-energize and get people excited again about all of the ministry opportunities that we have,” Wells told the Clarion Ledger.
Wells also stresses the importance of living out one’s faith beyond Sunday services:
“If it ends when our time together ends on Sunday mornings, then we have already missed the message. When we walk out the doors, that becomes the beginning of us showing that radical love and hospitality.”
The installation of Rev. Dorothy Sanders Wells is a significant milestone for the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, reflecting a commitment to diversity and inclusion within the church.
