All in the diocese are invited to attend Oct. 21-24 meet-and-greet sessions with nominees for election as bishop diocesan, with in-person and online options available. Attendees are asked to register in advance here, noting that most sessions are designated for clergy and laity while two are planned for clergy only. Two sessions will be conducted in English and Spanish. Links for the Zoom session will be sent to those who have registered and submitted their emails the day before each event.
Two sessions will be conducted in English and Spanish. Links for the Zoom session will be sent to those who have registered and submitted their emails by the day before each event.
Open offices and candidates to date are:
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. All welcome. St. Columba’s Parish, 1251 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo 93010 (Zoom link will emailed to those registered.)
Wednesday, Oct. 22
- Session 1: 1 p.m. Clergy only. St. Paul’s Commons, 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles 90026 (No Zoom link will be available.)
- Session 2: 7 p.m. All welcome (Spanish-language translation available). Christ the Good Shepherd Parish 3303 W. Vernon Ave., Los Angeles 90008 (Zoom link will emailed to those registered.)
Thursday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. All welcome. All Saints’ Parish, 3847 Terracina Drive, Riverside 92506 (Zoom link will emailed to those registered.)
Friday, Oct. 24
- Session 1: 1 p.m. Clergy only. Church of the Messiah Parish, 614 N. Bush St., Santa Ana 92701 (No Zoom link will be available.)
- Session 2: 7 p.m. All welcome (Spanish-language translation available). St. Thomas Mission, 15694 Tetley St., Hacienda Heights 91745 (Zoom link will emailed to those registered.)
In addition, questions for the candidates may be e-mailed in advance to transitionscommittee@gmail.com. The Bishop Search Transitions Committee, which is organizing the meet-and-greet gatherings, will work to incorporate as many questions as possible into the sessions. The meet-and-greet sessions are planned to precede the Nov. 7-8 election by Diocesan Convention at its annual meeting in Riverside.
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.
“We can’t wait to welcome the nominees, and for the diocese to have its first opportunity to talk with them in person,” said Sheira Smith, Transitions Committee co-chair.
“If you can’t attend in person, consider this idea, suggested by our colleagues in Deanery 1,” said the Rev. Canon Greg Larkin, the committee co-chair. “Schedule a Zoom watch party at a church that has a big screen, and parishioners from several congregations can come together to watch as a group and discuss what the candidates have to say.”
In addition to the Q&A sessions, the candidates will tour parts of the diocese, visiting ministry locations including St. John’s Cathedral, and St. Paul’s Commons.