Katharine Jefferts Schori, right, of Nevada is helped on stage Sunday in Columbus, Ohio, by George Werner after the House of Deputies confirmed her as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States. At left is the outgoing presiding bishop, Frank Griswold. Photo by The Associated Press Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori talks with parishioners on April 29 before services at All Saints Episcopal Church in Las Vegas. Photo by Ralph Fountain. Katharine Jefferts Schori, left, the newly elected 26th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, shakes hands with members of the House of Deputies after her confirmation vote Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. Photo by The Associated Press Katharine Jefferts Schori answers questions during a news conference after her election Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. Photo by The Associated Press

Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who has shepherded the statewide Episcopal Diocese of Nevada since 2001, on Sunday was named the first woman to head the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Jefferts Schori, 52, was elected presiding bishop during the denomination's General Convention in Columbus, Ohio.

When she is installed Nov. 4 at Washington National Cathedral, Jefferts Schori also will become the first woman ever elected to lead a church in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The vote represents another groundbreaking and controversial move for a denomination that three years ago consecrated Anglicanism's first openly gay bishop.

That move created a rift between the U.S. church and other churches in the Communion, and some critics said Sunday that Jefferts Schori's election might cause the rift to widen even further.

Episcopal bishops elected Jefferts Schori on their fifth ballot on Sunday, in a 95-93 vote from a field that included six male candidates. Voting delegates to the General Convention then confirmed the bishop's selection.

JoAnn Roberts Armstead, a Nevada representative to the convention, called delegates' reaction to news of Jefferts Schori's election "overwhelming."

"I can tell you there are no disappointed faces here," she said by phone Sunday.

Following the election, Armstead joked, Nevada's delegates "were walking around like, 'That's ours! That's ours!' It's like we did it."

Standing before cheering delegates, Jefferts Schori said she was "awed and honored and deeply privileged to be elected."

Jefferts Schori led on three ballots and tied on one during the closed-door voting before receiving the required 95 votes for election on the final ballot.

Jefferts Schori said by phone Sunday evening that it was surprising to find herself leading on the first ballot and that, with each successive round of voting, "it became more so."

"Knowing that my brother and sister bishops are willing to be in this with me is an enormous gift," she said. "Aside from the six (nominees) who ran with me, who are great and blessed men, we have great talent in the House of Bishops. I'm very thankful for that. Nobody does this job alone."

The presiding bishop represents the Episcopal Church in meetings with other Anglican leaders and with leaders of other religious groups. But the presiding bishop's power is limited because of the democratic nature of the church. The General Convention is the top Episcopal policymaking body, and dioceses elect their own bishops.

Jefferts Schori will become the 26th presiding bishop after outgoing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold completes his nine-year term Nov. 1.

Griswold praised Jefferts Schori on Sunday as "a person gifted in mind, heart and spirit," and said he is "fully confident that the Church and the Communion will be blessed by her ministry in the years ahead."

Jefferts Schori said being called to serve as presiding bishop brings with it "a sense of honor and awe and incredible privilege to serve people in that way.

"It's going to be a great adventure with a lot of unknowns, but I'm honored to be called to this kind of service."

But some Episcopalians fear Jefferts Schori's election might worsen the difficult relationship between the U.S. church and fellow Anglican churches around the world.

Episcopalians have been sparring with many in the other 37 Anglican provinces over homosexuality. Critics said electing a female leader adds a new layer of complexity to the already troubled relationship.

Only two other Anglican provinces, New Zealand and Canada, have female bishops. A handful of other provinces allow women to serve in the post. But there are many Anglican leaders who believe women should not even be priests.

In 2003, the Americans shocked the Anglican world by electing the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Jefferts Schori voted to confirm him.

Placing a female bishop at the head of the denomination could anger conservatives worldwide further and even within the U.S. church. Several convention delegates said they feared the global consequences.

"I can't help but consider the peculiar genius our church has for roiling the waters," said the Rev. Eddie Blue of Maryland. "I am shocked, dismayed and saddened by the choice."

Delegates have been debating whether to appease Anglican leaders by temporarily agreeing to stop ordaining gay bishops.

"I will bend over backward to build relationships with people who disagree with me," Jefferts Schori pledged at a news conference.

"I think people are interested in reconciliation to whatever degree they can," she added Sunday, "but they're not going to push anybody out of the church."

Still, Jefferts Schori will inherit a fractured church. The Pittsburgh-based Anglican Communion Network, which represents 10 U.S. conservative dioceses and more than 900 parishes within the Episcopal Church, is deciding whether to break from the denomination.

The House of Bishops recently started a defense fund that will help fight legal battles against parishes that want to leave and take their property with them.

Membership in the Episcopal Church, as in other mainline Protestant groups, has been declining for years and has remained predominantly white. More than one-fourth of the 2.3 million parishioners are age 65 or older.

The Associated Press contributed to this report