Priest consecrated as first female bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa

Chris Higgins
Des Moines Register
Betsey Monnot

After many hymns, ribbons, and banners, Rev. Betsey Monnot took an oath.

"I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation. I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church," she said.

Then, Most Rev. Michael Curry, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, asked about a hundred worshipers at the Lutheran Church of Hope on Saturday, "Is it your will that we ordain Elizabeth a bishop?"

It is, the worshipers answered in a hymn of its own.

"Will you uphold Elizabeth as bishop?" he continued.

We will, answered the worshipers. 

Monnot laid facedown on the ground as bishops before her prayed. And by the end of the ceremony, Monnot — who long served the Episcopal church as priest officially became the first female bishop of the church's Iowa diocese.

Monnot, who served as priest-in-charge at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Rancho Cordova, California, was elected to be the Iowa diocese's 10th bishop over the summer. She was officially ordained and consecrated at a ceremony on Saturday. Monnot, who is originally from Massachusetts, was first ordained in 2002 after working in customer service and management.

"This was God's idea, 100%," Monnot said as she reflected on what led to this point in her life and her career in an interview Tuesday, adding that the Holy Spirit "kicked me right in the pants" to become a priest. She said that the role has a great deal of spiritual and ecclesiastical significance as part of a line from the apostles of Jesus. 

The ninth bishop of the Diocese of Iowa Alan Scarfe retired after serving since 2003. 

Monnot said that when she first read the profile about the Iowa diocese, she thought that she would be a good fit, and then the Holy Spirit pushed her along after a phone call from a friend, who asked to put her name in for consideration. The confirmation that she was on the right path has only grown stronger throughout the process, she said.

"They wanted a bishop who will get to know them and that's exactly what I wanted to do," Monnot said, noting that her relational style seems to be a good fit for the Iowa diocese, which covers the whole state from its tiny rural congregations to its larger urban churches. She now wants to reflect on what she hears from Iowa's congregants and see where the Holy Spirit is taking the diocese.

"I am excited. I am ready," Monnot said. "I just can't wait to see what God has in mind as it unfolds for all of us." She hopes to strengthen the congregations and the relationships between them and leadership, as well as strengthen relationships with companion dioceses in Scotland, South Sudan and Eswatini.

Monnot says she learned a lot about Iowa's congregations already. One church ministry loans out medical equipment such as motorized wheelchairs and draws people from around the region to take advantage, even during the pandemic.

Curry said that the church is seeing more women and people of color become bishops, reflecting who the church is and who it's becoming as the church seeks to be a house of prayer for all, reflecting the words of Jesus. Monnot's election is representative of that, he said, as the church works to become a profoundly welcoming and inclusive community, following the lead of Jesus.

A previous version of this article misstated the date of Alan Scarfe’s retirement.