From the Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy
Greetings, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles!
I am honored to be one of your candidates for the eighth bishop of Los Angeles. I have so much hope for this diocese, for the work that lies ahead, and for all the ways God is calling us into new and vital lives of faith in this unique geography at this unique time.
I have been a priest for 20 years serving first in the Diocese of California at St. Mark’s in Berkeley where I worked for and learned from a priest who was among the first generation of women ordained to the priesthood. I returned to Los Angeles and served as the Church of the Epiphany in Oak Park. The ministry I shared with the good people of Epiphany was focused on mission with strong underpinnings of spiritual formation and community building.
During my years of ordained ministry, I also have taken my part in the councils of the church, having served on Diocesan Council, Commission on Ministry, the Disciplinary Board, two years as Standing Committee president as well as serving as dean of Deanery 1 for seven years. I was trained as a FreshStart facilitator (a church-wide program supporting clergy through transitions in call) and mentored a generation of new clergy as they grew into their identities as ordained leaders in the church. On the churchwide level I have served as a deputy to General Convention and as a Presiding Bishop’s delegate to the United Nation’s Conference of the Parties 26.
In November 2017, I began my service as canon to the ordinary. In addition to my ongoing responsibilities as chief of staff, overseeing the ordination process, guiding clergy transitions, and working with congregations in crisis, my early years were marked by leading a diocesan-wide reconciliation process. I directed this 18-month initiative, which invited broad participation across the diocese and culminated in a set of actionable recommendations that we successfully implemented. Shortly thereafter, I helped the diocese navigate the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic – supporting lay and clergy leaders through rapidly changing conditions while also managing a fully remote staff.
At the same time, new legal and canonical complexities emerged as both the Episcopal Church and the State of California lifted statutes of limitations on historic sexual abuse cases. I took a central role in addressing these sensitive matters, guiding responses through both the Church’s Title IV disciplinary process and in civil court, including mediation. My work on the diocesan level has been bookended by fires: the Thomas fire and subsequent mudslide, the Woolsey fire, and the Eaton and Palisades fires of 2025. I have managed and overseen the diocesan response to these disasters.
Beyond crisis leadership, I have also sought to advance long-term vision and mission. It has been a particular joy to establish and chair the Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change, which leads diocesan efforts in education, legislative advocacy, and disaster resiliency –building key partnerships, including with the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society. In addition, I have represented the diocese in various ways, including serving on the board and as board co-chair of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE).
In recent years, I have had the great privilege of focusing on what I believe will be the most transformational work for our diocese: creating and implementing programs that foster congregational vitality. One significant initiative is “Requiem or Renaissance,” a program first developed in the Diocese of Missouri and now launched here with our first diocesan cohort. Under my leadership, this program equips congregations to discern their next steps in ministry, strengthen Christ-centered mission, and cultivate skills that empower their communities to move toward a more vital future.
I also helped secure a $1.24 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. to establish “Immersed in Worship.” This initiative supports congregations in educating, exploring, and experimenting with innovative practices that deeply engage children and youth in the worshiping life of the Church. Together, these programs represent the beginning of a broader, long-term commitment to congregational renewal and vitality – work I am eager to continue strengthening across the diocese.
When I am not working, my partner, Andrea, and I enjoy adventuring in the Sierras or at the coast. I take particular joy in my two working border collies, Tule and Jovi, who love to learn, do agility, and herd sheep. I cheer on all sports teams located in our diocese and love to take advantage of the diversity and excellence of live theater in Los Angeles.
I am deeply committed to cultivating relationships and inviting people into the shared work of our diocese. I believe leadership is most transformational when it is collaborative –empowering individuals to offer their God-given gifts for the flourishing of the whole community. I hold firmly that we, as a diocese, are greater than the sum of our parts, sustained and inspired by the presence of the Holy Spirit among us. Guided by that Spirit, I believe that in strong, faithful relationship with one another, we can discern and accomplish the bold and faithful work to which God is calling us.
The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, with its 5.5-county reach, is the most diverse diocese in the Episcopal Church. From deserts to coastlines, rural farmland to bustling urban centers, our region reflects extraordinary diversity – socioeconomic, political, cultural, racial, and ethnic. I see this diversity as a great gift, a living expression of the richness of God’s creation. Having served in this diocese for many years, I have witnessed firsthand the creativity, resilience, and deep faith that flow through our congregations, institutions, and ministries. As our communities continue to grow and change, we are called to respond with courage and hope, offering the just, loving, and gracious presence of Christ. If I am called to serve as bishop of Los Angeles, it would be my joy and honor to walk alongside you in this beautiful and dynamic place we are blessed to call home.
With hope in God’s promise to us all,
Melissa