The Rt. Rev. Herbert Thompson, Jr., Bishop of Southern Ohio, will allow his name to go forward in the process to elect the Presiding Bishop. It is expected Bishop Thompson's name will be placed in nomination July 20 during the House of Bishops' meeting at the 72nd General Convention in Philadelphia.

"I am allowing my name to go forward in the process of nomination from the floor of convention at the urging of some members of the House of Bishops," Bishop Thompson said. He said the decision was made "after a time of prayer, discussion, reflection and conversations with my family and friends."

In a letter to his diocese, Bishop Thompson wrote, "If God says 'yes,' I will serve in that ministry with all that I have to offer. If God says 'no,' I will continue to serve him here, a blessed and happy bishop in Southern Ohio."

Bishop Thompson, 63, would join the other four candidates who were nominated by a committee for the election of a successor to the Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning.

As a late addition to the process, he was to undergo the same physical and psychiatric examinations and background check as the other nominees, Bishops Frank T. Griswold of Chicago, Robert Rowley, Jr., of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Richard Shimpfky of El Camino Real, and Don A. Wimberly of Lexington.

Bishop Thompson was consecrated as Bishop Coadjutor of Southern Ohio in 1988, and he became diocesan bishop four years later. His early years of ordained ministry were spent in the Diocese of Long Island.

A native of New York City, Bishop Thompson is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from Lincoln University (Pa.) in 1962, and went on to General Theological Seminary, graduating in 1965. He also received a doctor of ministry from United Theological School of Dayton, Ohio, in 1992. He was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood in 1962, and began his ordained ministry as vicar of St. Gabriel's Church, Brooklyn. He served there for six years, then became rector of Christ Church, Bellport, N.Y., a suburban parish in Long Island. In 1977, he became rector of Grace Church, Jamaica, N.Y., remaining there until he was elected to the episcopate.

In Long Island, he was a deputy to General Convention, president of the Standing Committee, a member of the cathedral chapter, member of the commission on ministry, deputy to provincial synod, and executive director of Interfaith Services of Brooklyn. He was involved in the founding of many outreach ministries while rector of the Jamaica parish, including construction of housing for elderly and handicapped persons.

He was the chaplain to the 69th General Convention in Detroit in 1988, and has been a member of the Presiding Bishop's Commission on Black Ministries, the Coalition for Human Needs, the Joint Standing Commission on Planning and Arrangements, and the Council of Advice to the President of the House of Deputies. He also has been a tutor and field education supervisor and colloquium moderator at General Seminary and an instructor and lecturer at Mercer School of Theology in Long Island.

He is the chair of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief He also is a trustee of St. Augustine's College, General Seminary, the Church Pension Fund and Kenyon College.

Bishop Thompson has followed his personal motto, "To Reconcile, To Heal, To Liberate, To Serve," as a guide for all activities in his ministries.

He and his wife, Russelle, are the parents of three children: Herbert, Owen and Kyrie.