The Standing Committee has spent the last 10 days vetting petition candidates who seek to be added to the slate to elect the next bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles.
“This is a complicated process, compressed into a very short time frame,” said the Rev. Dr. Kate Cress, president of the Standing Committee. “The petitioners had to present all the same materials as the slate candidates. They had to submit nominating petitions signed by eight clergy and eight lay members of the diocese in order to show they had widespread support. And we asked them to submit a short video answering four specific questions.”
The petition process stands in for floor nominations. No nominations from the floor will be allowed when Diocesan Convention votes Nov. 7-8 in Riverside to elect a successor to the Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, who will retire in 2026.
“We expect to announce the final slate around Oct. 13, so anyone named to the slate by petition is prepared to participate in the meet-and-greet gatherings the week of Oct. 20,” Cress said.
The schedule of meet-and-greets, with dates, times, locations, and registration links is here. You can submit a question that may be asked at one of the sessions to transitionscommittee@gmail.com.
All the sessions will be livestreamed via Zoom except for those designated as “clergy only.” Spanish translation is offered for two sessions; see the schedule for specific locations.
“Our hope is that the next few weeks will be a time of holy discernment,” Cress said. “We’ve asked the candidates to refrain from actions that could be construed as campaigning or electioneering, and we have asked the diocese to do the same. We want as level a playing field as possible, with equal opportunities for all candidates to speak to the diocese and equal opportunities for the diocese to get to know the candidates.”
The Standing Committee recommends that members of diocese – both lay and clergy – learn more about the candidates and advise their congregation’s elected delegates of their preferred nominee. The Standing Committee also encourages members of the diocese to do the following:
- Re-read the profile (available here) to remind yourself about what we said we were looking for. Review the results of our Holy Cow! survey here to see what you said was important to you.
- Review the materials posted online — candidates’ videos, documents, questions and answers. They are available here.
- Plan to attend one (or more!) of the meet-and-greet sessions the week of Oct. 20. The schedule is here. All the sessions will be live-streamed via Zoom except for those designated as “clergy only.” Spanish translation is offered for two sessions; see the schedule for specific locations.
- Submit a question that might be asked at the Meet and Greets. E-mail it to transitionscommittee@gmail.com.
- Engage in conversations with others. It’s always okay to say, “I think Candidate X would be the best choice and here’s why,” and then listen to differing opinions.
- Consider using a Sunday morning adult forum to talk about the candidates and share with your voting delegates how the Spirit is moving in you. What excites you about one candidate or another? Which one seems best equipped to meet the challenges of the future? It is not about “who I like best” or who “looks like a bishop.” And don’t be afraid to change your mind!
- Pray! Hold all the candidates in your prayers in the days ahead. You might want to use this prayer, which the Search and Transitions committees have prayed repeatedly:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously upon your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, and those who offer themselves as candidates, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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