George Wayne Smith
George Wayne Smith is a Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and served as the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri since 2002. He retired at the end of April 2020 and was succeeded by the 11th bishop, the Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson, on June 13, 2020.
Bishop Smith was born in Abilene, Texas. He was raised a Baptist and converted to the Episcopal Church while a student at Baylor University. Smith received his seminary education at Nashotah House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Smith was ordained as a deacon in 1981 followed by ordination to the priesthood in 1982. Smith served congregations in both Texas and Michigan before becoming the rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Des Moines, Iowa.
On November 3, 2001 Smith was elected to the post of Bishop of Missouri, having been elected on third ballot. He was consecrated on March 6, 2002 as Bishop Coadjutor to Bishop Hays Rockwell and subsequently succeeded him on June 6, 2002. Bishop Smith is the 975th Bishop consecrated in the Episcopal Church.
In a letter dated April 27, 2018 Smith informed the Diocese of Missouri that he intended to retire after a successor was elected, consecrated as Bishop, and installed in office. He asked that the election be held during the 2019 diocesan convention, with the winner of the election being seated in April 2020.
On November 23, 2019 the Diocese elected Deon K. Johnson as Smith's successor.
