The Rev. Wendell Gibbs, rector of St. Andrew's Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, was elected Bishop Coadjutor of Michigan Oct. 2 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit.

The bishop coadjutor was elected to succeed the Rt. Rev. R. Stewart Wood, Jr., diocesan bishop, upon his retirement, which is planned for October 2000.

Fr. Gibbs was elected on the fourth ballot in an election that required a majority of lay delegates and a majority of clergy delegates on the same ballot. Fr. Gibbs and the Rev. Robert Trache of Richmond, Va., led the early ballots and four Michigan candidates withdrew after the second ballot. Those four candidates were the Rev. Michael Link, the Rev. Ronald Spann, the Rev. Kevin Warner and the Rev. Barbara Cavin.

"I am very humbled and filled with joy and hope and anticipation for this tremendous opportunity that God has given me and the Diocese of Michigan," Fr. Gibbs said after he was elected.

Fr. Gibbs reflected on his recent visit throughout the diocese and explained that he sensed people were longing for stronger relationships "not just between bishop and clergy but between clergy and clergy and between the races. "I hope I can be an agent to help unify the diocese," he said.

The election of Fr. Gibbs must receive the consent of a majority of bishops and a majority of the diocesan standing committees from around the country. His consecration is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2000.

Fr. Gibbs is the first African American priest elected to lead an episcopal diocese in the state of Michigan. The Rt. Rev. H. Irving Mayson, who died in 1995, was elected and served as Bishop Suffragan of Michigan, was the only other African American bishop serving in Michigan.