THE TENTH BISHOP OF IOWA

The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot
Ordained December 18, 2021

The Rt. Rev. Elizabeth Lockwood Hawley Monnot was ordained and consecrated as the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa on December 18th, 2021 at a service held at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa. Monnot is the first woman to serve as bishop since the diocese was formed in 1853. 

Monnot was elected as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Iowa during a Special Convention held on July 31 in Des Moines, Iowa. Monnot had served as the priest-in-charge at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Rancho Cordova, California, and as director and retreat leader of Called to Abundant Life: Leadership Consulting. Monnot previously served as missioner for leadership development and networking for the Diocese of Northern California and co-rector with her husband, Michael, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Sacramento, California.

Monnot enters her ministry as a bishop “with a deep belief that God calls every baptized person to ministry in the church and in the world, and that an important part of the work of the church is to discern and support that ministry. When we do, we move closer toward the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10). Our work and our joy as Christians is to partner with God in bringing about God’s kingdom here on earth, just as Jesus did during his ministry; this work will never be complete. As Christians, we recognize that we live all our lives in a liminal time, a time in between what has been and what will be. As a church, we know that our institution is in a similar time of transition as we move away from Christendom and into the future. In addition, at this time in history, our whole world is living in the liminal time between pre-COVID and whatever will come next. During this time, we can strengthen our resilience and our flexibility to enable us to best meet what comes next. I invite every member of the Episcopal Church in Iowa to join me in three practices: to tell the truth, to love one another, and to make our home in the heart of Christ. Grounded in Christ and strengthened by truth and love, we will listen together and, when Jesus calls us, we will step out of the boat that keeps us safe and hems us in and join Jesus, walking and dancing on the water.”

Monnot and her husband have three children – William, 16; Robert, 13, and Thomas, 11, who have interests ranging from Little League, through a variety of musical instruments (trumpet, violin, piano, ukulele), to theater.

THE NINTH BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, D.D. Ordained April 5, 2003, Retired December 18, 2021

THE EIGHTH BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, D.D., consecrated September 27, 1988. 
Resigned April 15, 2001

THE SEVENTH BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. Walter Cameron Righter, D.D., consecrated January 12, 1972. 
Retired December 31, 1988. Died September 11, 2011

THE SIXTH BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. Gordon V Smith, S.T.D., D.D., consecrated April 20, 1950. 
Retired December 31, 1971. Died August 27, 1997

THE FIFTH BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. Elwood Lindsay Haines, D.D., consecrated May 31, 1944. 
Died October 28, 1949

THE FOURTH BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. Harry Sherman Longley, D.D., consecrated October 23, 1912. 
Died April 5, 1944

THE THIRD BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. Theodore Nevin Morrison, D.D., LL.D., consecrated February 22, 1899.
Died December 27, 1929

THE SECOND BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L., consecrated September 10, 1876.
Died May 13, 1898

THE FIRST BISHOP

The Rt. Rev. Henry Washington Lee, D.D., LL.D., consecrated October 18, 1854. 
Died September 26, 1874

Photos are free for press or congregational use with the following attribution: Photos by Rachel Mummey