Voting for the election of a new Anglican bishop for Barbados continues and has taken an exciting turn as following a third ballot the decision remains inconclusive.
Earlier this evening the Elective Synod broke for dinner and then resumed as the first ballot was inconclusive.
From the first ballot there was a heavy favour for candidate Reverend John Rogers, rector of St. George Parish Church and rural dean of St. John, who was leading the ballot. The second highest votes from the Laity went to Reverend Dr. Jeffery Gibson, dean of the Cathedral of St. Michael and All Angels.
With the second and third ballots completed, the House of Laity leans in favour of Reverend Rogers while the House of Clergy leans in favour of Dean Gibson.
The House of Clergy has 91 members comprised of all the priests from the Anglican churches in Barbados, while the House of Laity has two representatives of Synod from each of the Anglican churches with 84 members. The successful candidate must gain a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the Elective Synod.
At the moment several options for the way forward have been announced to the Elective Synod and the assembly is in the process of weighing the options presented.
