The Search Committee on Aug. 2.
Search Committee members moved one step closer to the formation of a slate of candidates for the eighth bishop diocesan Aug. 2 when they narrowed the field of candidates to those who will be invited to a discernment retreat later this month.
Announcement of the slate of candidates – nominated for election by Diocesan Convention Nov. 7 – 8 to succeed retiring Bishop John Harvey Taylor – is expected in mid-September.
The Rev. Gary Hall speaks, with Craig Riemer and the Rev. Carlos Ruvalcaba nearby.
“We did this in a day wrapped in prayer,” said the Rev. KC Robertson of St. Matthew’s, Pacific Palisades, one of the co-chairs. The Rev. Shane Scott-Hamblen created a discernment exercise that invited committee members to envision each candidate “bathed in God’s light, praying only ‘Your will be done.’”
Every hour on the hour, the group stopped for prayer led by members of the Prayer and Spiritual Life Subcommittee, and the Rev. Carlos Ruvalcaba repeatedly invoked each candidate by name. “It was important to hear those names and to remember that we are dealing with people whose priestly vocations and futures are in our hands,” Robertson said.
The committee brainstormed questions to be asked at the retreat — some that every candidate will be asked, and some unique to each of the candidates. In addition to those of a religious or theological nature, or questions about the candidates’ experience with congregational vitality and diocesan finance and leadership, committee members wanted to know “Angels or Dodgers?” and whether the candidates find pineapple on their pizza acceptable.
Kathy Eisel offers a comment. At left are the Rev. Mark Hallahan and the Rev. Deacon Ed Sniecienski.
“It was a truly fruitful and Spirit-filled time together,” said co-chair Thomas Diaz of All Saints, Pasadena. “There were hard and honest conversations, and we were able to have those because of the great trust that has built up among the committee over these many months.” They were balanced with laughter, chocolate-chip cookies, much-needed stretch breaks, and fun with the committee’s mascot, Thomas’s dog Ziggy.
In the next few weeks candidates will undergo background checks by agencies that routinely perform this work for The Episcopal Church. Members of the Search Committee will conduct reference checks, calling the candidates’ co-workers, friends, clergy, and others. The committee has already heard reports of interviews with their bishops.
The Rev. Greg Larkin makes a point. At left is the Rev. Gary Hall; at right, Kathryn Nishibayashi.
Then there will be the four-day retreat, a time for in-depth interviews; presentations by the candidates and by the Search Committee; worship led by each of the candidates including brief meditations so the committee can experience their preaching; and time for the candidates to ask questions of the committee.
The committee meets in early September to name a slate, which must be approved by the Standing Committee before candidates are announced.
Judy Stark is consultant to the Bishop Search Committee.