The slate has been announced. The Standing Committee is reviewing the materials submitted by petition candidates.
It’s an exciting time as we move toward Nov. 7-8 when Diocesan Convention will elect our 8th bishop diocesan.
So it’s a good time to review some rules of the road.
The Standing Committee has directed the Transitions Committee to “charge our nominees to refrain from visiting the diocese to meet with individuals or groups except for the meet–and-greets, and to refrain from activities that could be interpreted as lobbying or campaigning. This includes comments and messages on social media.”
This we have now done and will pass on the same directive to any petitioners who are named to the slate.
The Standing Committee has also issued this guideline to all members of our diocese:
“We charge the members of our diocese to refrain from inviting nominees to receptions, forums or other events or to serve as guest preachers. We do this in order to ensure neutrality; to minimize politicking and politicizing; to offer equal opportunities for everyone in the diocese to meet and hear all the candidates; and to offer equal hospitality and welcome to each of our candidates.”
Our hope is that the next few weeks will be a time of holy discernment, not a political horse race.
So what can you, the members of our diocese – both lay and clergy – do to learn more about the candidates and advise each congregation’s elected delegates and their clergy about who they believe would serve our diocese best as the next bishop?
- 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-streamedvia 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.”