On Saturday afternoon, June 18, 2001, The Rev. Dr. Mariann Edgar Budde, was elected the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Washington.

In the words of Lucy Chumbley on the Diocesan website:The Episcopal Diocese of Washington elected the Rev. Dr. Mariann Edgar Budde as its first female diocesan bishop on June 18, pending the required consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction and standing committees of the Episcopal Church.

Budde, 52, rector of St. John's, Minneapolis, Minn., was elected on the second ballot out of a field of five nominees. She received 102 votes of 163 cast in the lay order and 102 of 175 cast in the clergy order. An election on that ballot required 82 in the lay order and 88 in the clergy order.