The Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, who in 2021 was elected to become the first female bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. | Courtesy the Rev. Cn. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley
The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, which is still in the midst of a yearslong legal battle with a breakaway group over several church properties, has elected its first female bishop.
The Rev. Canon Ruth Woodliff-Stanley won the election on the second ballot at a special meeting of the convention held by the diocese on Saturday, beating out four other candidates.
On the second ballot, Woodliff-Stanley received 13 votes in the Lay Order, which required at least 10 votes to win, and 26 votes in the Clergy Order, which required at least 18 votes to win.