SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The Episcopal Diocese of California averted another churchwide showdown over the role of gays and lesbians in their denomination when delegates rejected three openly gay candidates for bishop May 6.

The diocese instead chose the Rt. Rev. Mark Handley Andrus of Birmingham, Ala. on the third ballot. Andrus, who was chosen to replace the retiring Rev. William Swing, is married and the father of two college-age daughters.

The packed Grace Cathedral erupted with cheering and applause when the announcement was made shortly after 1:00 p.m.

“Your vote today remains a vote for inclusion and communion of gay and lesbian people in their full lives as single or partnered people, of women, of all ethnic minorities and all people,” Andrus, 49, said in a short statement to delegates via telephone from his home. “My commitment to Jesus Christ’s own mission of inclusion is resolute.”

The vote was closely watched by Episcopalians around the country and their fellow Anglicans worldwide, who have been struggling to remain unified despite deep differences over homosexuality.

The 77 million-member Anglican Communion, represented in the United States by the Episcopal Church, is still reeling from the 2003 election of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop – V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

Some observers believed Californians would elect a second gay bishop to force the church to resolve its position on gay clergy.

Instead, Andrus emerged as the favorite among clergy delegates in the first ballot and quickly drew the support of lay voters in subsequent ballots. After four hours, he ended up with 72 percent of the clergy vote and about 55 percent of the lay vote.

One delegate, the Rev. Mark Spaulding of Holy Cross Church in Castro Valley, said he didn’t know anyone for whom sexual orientation was a factor in voting.

“It was really clear after meeting these seven individuals that the gay factor really wasn’t an issue,” Spaulding said. “This diocese would’ve been fine with any one of the seven.”

The Rev. Bob Peck of St. Paul’s Church in Burlingame agreed.

“The fact that both the clergy and laity reached a decision so quickly shows the strength of the candidate,” Peck said.

The decision also was applauded by an Episcopal gay rights group, Integrity, which called Andrus a longtime ally.

Andrus, who has served as bishop suffragan in the Diocese of Alabama since 2001, received his master of divinity degree in 1987 from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va.

Before he is installed as bishop, Andrus must get approval from the denomination’s top legislative body, the General Convention, which is set to meet June 13-21 in Columbus, Ohio. Delegates have a long history of deferring to dioceses’ choice of leader.