Episcopalians in the Diocese of East Carolina chose a native son to lead them into the next century.

The Rev. Clifton (Dan) Daniel III was elected Bishop Coadjutor at a special diocesan convention April 20 at Christ Church, New Bern.

Fr. Daniel is a native of Goldsboro and has been rector of St. Michael's Church, Bristol, R.I., since 1984. As bishop coadjutor, he will work with the Rt. Rev. B. Sidney Sanders, diocesan bishop, until the retirement of Bishop Sanders.

"I am deeply mindful of the great honor that this represents," Fr. Daniel said during a telephone interview from his home moments after Bishop Sanders had notified him of his election. "I truly love the Diocese of East Carolina, and I pledge all that I have to show that I am worthy of this trust."

The election took only two ballots. On the first ballot, Fr. Daniel did not receive a majority of votes in either the clergy or lay order. He received 48 of the 80 clergy votes and 19.6 of the 34.4 lay votes on the second ballot.

The Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Suffragan Bishop of Virginia, received the next highest vote total. Others on the ballot were the Rev. Rayford B. High, rector of St. Paul's Church, Waco, Texas, the Rev. Louis Oats, rector of All Saints', Morristown, Tenn., and the Rev. James J. Shand, rector of Christ Church, Stevensville, Md.

Fr. Daniel, 48, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained deacon in 1972 and priest in 1973. He was assistant at St. Mary's, Kinston, N.C., 1972-75; rector of St. Thomas', Ahoskie, N.C., 1975-80, and associate of St. Paul's, Dayton, Ohio, 1980-84.

He and his wife, the former Anne William Miller, were married in 1978, and they have three children: Margaret, Elizabeth and Charlotte.