Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee

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The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America that covers Middle Tennessee. A single diocese spanned the entire state until 1982, when the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee and the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee were formed (see links below).

In a history of the diocese published in celebration of its 175th anniversary, Bishop Herlong states:

For 175 years, the Diocese of Tennessee has proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Episcopal manner and tradition. On July 1-2, 1829, the fledgling church gathered at the Masonic Hall in Nashville to hold the primary convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Tennessee. Three clergy and six laymen representing four congregations met with Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft of the Diocese of North Carolina presiding. In that same year, the 16th general Convention meeting in Phaladelphia on August 12-20 admitted the church in the state of Tennessee into union with the General Convention. Since that time, the Episcopal Church in Tennessee has grown and now consists of three dioceses with 137 congregations and 37,518 baptized members. Someone recently told me that the past is the prologue to the future. I believe that is true. We have a "goodly heritage" as Episcopalian Christians and we can face the future with confidence and hope. In our time and generation may we be faithful and continue the mission and ministry so well begun by those who have gone before."

The Right Reverend John C. Bauerschmidt was consecrated as the eleventh Bishop of Tennessee on January 27, 2007. He succeeded the Right Reverend Bertram Nelson Herlong, D.D. (retired). The Reverend Canon Jill Zook-Jones serves as canon to the ordinary.

The seat of the bishop is Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville. Diocesan offices are located in MetroCenter area of Nashville, TN. Prior to the division of the diocese in 1982, the seat of the bishop was St. Mary's Cathedral in Memphis.

The diocese currently includes 52 parishes and mission outposts.

[edit] References

	Episcopal Dioceses in Province IV
	Alabama • Atlanta • Central Florida • Central Gulf Coast • East Carolina • East Tennessee • Florida • Georgia • Kentucky • Lexington • Louisiana • Mississippi • North Carolina • South Carolina • Southeast Florida • Southwest Florida • Tennessee • Upper South Carolina • West Tennessee • Western North Carolina
	Province I • Province II • Province III • Province IV • Province V • Province VI • Province VII • Province VIII • Province IX