Historic Bishop Bascom Steps Down; Search Begins for Kansas Diocese's 11th Leader
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is set to welcome a new leader. The Rt. Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, who made history as the first woman and first openly LGBTQ+ person to lead the diocese, will step down on January 31, 2026. The General Convention, held in 2024, authorized the creation of Eco-Region Networks, with Bishop Bascom taking a consultative role.
Bishop Bascom, elected in 2018, has paved the way for change. She was the first woman and the first openly LGBTQ+ individual to head the Kansas City diocese, selected from an all-women slate. Her leadership has been marked by a focus on creation care, a commitment that will continue as she takes on a consultative role with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe in the newly formed Eco-Region Networks.
The search for her successor is underway. Elections will take place in the spring of 2026, with the consecration service scheduled for October the same year. The Grassland Networks pilot project, aiming to foster sustainable practices, will hold its initial gathering on April 25-26, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas.
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas looks forward to installing its 11th bishop, Melissa M. M. McCarthy, following Bishop Bascom's retirement. Bishop Bascom's legacy of innovation and commitment to environmental stewardship will continue through her work with Eco-Region Networks.
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