 Following the resignation in 2007 of Mark MacDonald, Bishop of Alaska, to become the first National Indigenous Bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada, the diocese embarked on a lengthy discernment process about its future leadership.Recognizing that the vacancy would likely be lengthy, the diocesan convention elected as assisting bishop, Rustin R. Kimsey, retired Bishop of Eastern Oregon and former assisting bishop for Navajoland, to exercise episcopal functions pending the election and installation of a new diocesan bishop.In 2009, the diocese announced a process for election of the 8th Bishop of Alaska, and the 35th Diocesan Convention, on April 10, 2010, elected Mark Lattime, Rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Geneseo in the Diocese of Rochester (New York), as the 8th Bishop of Alaska.