U.S. bishops to elect secretary, committee chairs at November meeting

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will elect the next secretary and leadership for six committees during its November meeting, which will determine who leads the bishops’ work on education, doctrine, pro-life activities, and other issues.

American bishops will meet for their fall plenary assembly from Nov. 16–19 in Baltimore, which will include the election of bishops to the positions. Each bishop will serve as bishop-elect for one year, before taking over the role at the end of the 2027 fall plenary assembly. They serve three-year terms.

The most senior office up for election is USCCB secretary, which also leads the Committee on Priorities and Planning. This bishop helps set conference-wide priorities for the bishops.

Two bishops were nominated for the role: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, and Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio. Rhoades holds the position because he was elected in 2025 to finish the term of Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, whose election to the USCCB presidency left a vacancy.

There are also two nominees for each of the committee chairs:

The Committee on Catholic Education: Bishop James D.…