In December 1907, the Diocese of Atlanta held its first convention at Christ Church in Macon, Georgia.

For much of its history, the Diocese has been one of the fastest-growing in the South, if not the country, due to the almost-geometric expansion of the population of metropolitan Atlanta.

Although evangelical and high-church alternatives have always existed, most congregations generally hold to a Broad Church, moderate-to-liberal theology and middle-of-the-road worship, with some parishes priding themselves on their progressive stances.

The Atlanta Diocese is thus considerably more liberal than many of the dioceses in the Fourth Province, since the area is home to a large population of highly educated, affluent professionals and white-collar employees, constituencies that have long been a mainstay of the Episcopal Church and that are not present in such large numbers elsewhere in the South.

On January 25, 2006, he was nominated for election as Presiding Bishop, but he was defeated at the 2006 General Convention by Katharine Jefferts Schori.