Episcopal Church elects first black presiding bishop

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Episcopal Church elected its first African-American presiding bishop, choosing Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina during the denomination's national assembly Saturday.

Curry was elected in a vote by bishops at the Episcopal General Convention, the top legislative body of the church.

The decision was affirmed on a vote of 800-12 by the House of Deputies, the voting body of clergy and lay participants at the meeting.

Curry was elected as the nation is grappling with the aftermath of last week's massacre of nine congregants at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and amid the Black Lives Matter movement over the deaths of black men in police shootings and in police custody.

"At a deep level I am suggesting a church-wide spiritual revival of the Christian faith in the Episcopal way of being disciples of Jesus," Curry said in the church materials introducing the candidates.

Curry supports gay rights, speaking against North Carolina's 2012 constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage, which is now invalid, and allowing same-sex church weddings in the North Carolina diocese.

Next week, the convention will vote on eliminating gender-specific language from church laws on marriage so religious weddings can also be performed for same-sex couples.