Both bishops wanted to meet and get acquainted while discussing plans for partnership in ministry. Bishop Williams was inspired to hear what was going on in Mukono under Bishop James in the last ten years, especially their vibrant missionary work and substantial growth.

The diocese currently has an outreach to the 20,000 people who live in the islands of Lake Victoria, along with multiple educational development endeavors and work to overcome the HIV epidemic in certain Ugandan communities.

Their work has been creative, Spirit-led and has borne fruit in a variety of socio-economic and environmental conditions. Uganda has cherished the partnership and friendship with Bishop Bill (Murdoch) and the diocese, developed over the past ten years.

They discussed ways to move forward and build upon that relationship with Bishop Andrew, in addition to ways for strengthening the Ugandan archdeaconry and the partnership that exists between those communities and their sister churches abroad.

On January 10, 2019, after prayerful consideration and deliberation, the Anglican Church in North America's College of Bishops consented to the election of the Rev. Andrew Williams as the next bishop for the Anglican Diocese of New England. Williams was elected by the diocesan synod on November 17, 2018.

Williams was consecrated on March 16, 2019 as the successor to the Rt. Rev. William Murdoch who has served as the diocesan bishop since its founding in 2008. Murdoch will retire in late spring after ensuring the smooth transition of leadership to Williams.

Williams is originally from the United Kingdom, where he was a legal malpractice defense attorney before discerning a call to ministry and attending Trinity College, Bristol. He was ordained in 2000 in the Diocese of Exeter, served in a congregation in Southwest England, then spent a 6-year period as Associate Vicar of St. Andrew's, Chorleywood just outside of London.

(The ADNE diocese contributed to this story.)