Bishop Search 2015 - Walkabout Booklet
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Transcript of Bishop Search 2015 - Walkabout Booklet
Walkabout: January 19, 20, 21
Election: February 21
B ISHOP E LECTION 20 1 5
EPISCOPAL DIOCESE
OF THE CENTRAL GULF COAST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Discerning God’s Call to Us 2
The Bishop We Seek 3
The Nominees
The Rev. J. Russell Kendrick 4
The Very Rev. Edward F. O’Connor 8
The Rev. Cn. Dr. E. Daniel Smith 12
The Rev. Dr. William C. Treadwell III 16
Timeline 20
Our Milestones 20
What is a Walkabout? 22
The Election of a Bishop 23
Outward & Visible Signs 24
Committees 26
A Letter from the Chair 27
This booklet contains the bishop nominees’
responses to three questions posed by the
Bishop’s Transition Committee. The
nominees were given a total maximum
count of 1000 words for their responses
and were able to apportion those words
between the questions as they saw fit.
Their unedited answers appear beginning
on page 4.
Over the last year, the members of the Diocese of the
Central Gulf Coast and all those whose names were
considered by our Bishop Search Committee have been
in a process of discernment, seeking to determine God’s
call. For the members of the Diocese, this has included
a look at who we are in assembling a profile of our
diocese. The members of our Bishop Search Committee
have reviewed the backgrounds and gifts of many
candidates and presented the names of four nominees to
our Standing Committee. All of those whose names
were considered, including those who are now the final
four nominees, have prayerfully and thoughtfully
considered whether God might be calling them to be our
bishop.
Our word discernment comes from the Latin word
discernere, which means “to separate,” “to distinguish,”
“to determine,” “to sort out.” The process of
discernment helps us understand the source of a call, to
whom it is directed, its content, and what response is
appropriate. Discernment is God’s gift, but it also
involves a conscious attempt on our part to hear God’s
call in our life. It takes work, but it is also a matter of
grace (Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in
Community, Morehouse Publishing, 1991).
Much work has already been done – by the members of
our Diocese and the committees which have overseen
the process to date and by our nominees. We have been
the recipients of God’s grace in a multitude of ways.
Now, we are at an important point of our discernment
as the bishop nominees will visit our Diocese this
month, so we can meet them and they can meet us, and
as we approach the election of our new bishop on
February 21 in Mobile. The members of the Transition
Committee pray that this document will assist us as we
meet the nominees and consider our future as a diocese
with them and with one another.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift:
Look graciously on your Church,
and so guide the minds of those who shall
choose a bishop for this Diocese, 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. 2
Discerning God’s Call to Us
Last summer the Bishop’s Search Committee
produced a Profile that was used as a tool to
introduce our diocese to potential candidates.
They tried to present an honest picture of the
present life of the Diocese of the Central Gulf
Coast, our challenges and our opportunities.
They tried to provide an indication of the gifts
and qualities needed in our next bishop.
Survey responses and written responses
collected from focus groups provided a well-
defined list of critical abilities and personal
qualities we believe our fourth bishop will
need.
A person who can formulate and
articulate a vision for our diocese that
is scripturally and spiritually grounded
and that can serve as a unifying force for our
congregations.
A person who can engage
empathetically with the people of our
diocese as a pastoral presence, caring
especially for clergy and lay leaders and
strengthening them for their work.
A person who can provide strong
leadership through a period of
transformational change.
The individual qualities of the person we seek
to be our next bishop undergird these abilities.
Personal integrity was foremost among the
qualities that we heard identified by our
people. This was followed by sound judgment
and wisdom. We need a person who is deeply
spiritual, nourished by close relationship with
scripture and a strong prayer life. We desire a
leader who is compassionate and who lives out
their ministry with a spirit of humility.
We believe the bishop we seek should be
someone who can—through preaching,
teaching, and example—inspire and promote
willingness to follow leadership as we pursue
mission and consider the direction of our
diocese. We need someone who will build
relationships with and among our clergy and
nurture them and encourage them in their
work.
These qualities and gifts are not the basis of a
job description, nor are they a simple wish list.
These are the contents of our hopes and
dreams for this diocese, and they are the
subjects of our prayers.
The Bishop We Seek These are the contents of our hopes and dreams for this diocese, and they are the subjects of our prayers.
3
Fast Facts Born: August 2, 1960
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Current Position: Rector
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Birmingham Alabama
Family:
Wife: Robin Kendrick
Children: Aaron, Anna
Education:
Bachelor of Business
Administration,
Marketing
Auburn University, 1984
Bachelor of Architecture
Auburn University, 1984
Master of Divinity
Virginia Theological
Seminary, 1995
Year of Ordination to the
Priesthood: 1996
Personal Ministry
Statement:
To share in the work of God’s
new creation and to preach the
good news of God’s reconciling
love.
The Reverend James “Russell” Kendrick
4
Bishop Nominees
“Write the vision” You’ve done a lot of good
visioning; you have profiles, reports and dreams.
This will be a remarkable gift to your next bishop;
however, it is a daunting amount of work. My priority will
be to simplify and clarify your vision, and I will need your
help. First, some time is needed to listen. Your next
bishop will need for you to tell stories, retell decisions, and
offer advice. Secondly, simplifying and clarifying our
vision will require us to lean into the rhythm of
resurrection---death and life. During this process, I asked
your search committee “What in the diocese needs to die?”
I am grateful for their honesty. In the next twenty-four
months, we will make some hard decisions. Let’s
remember that resurrection is the rhythm in our soul, but
it is often resisted in our structures and systems. With
God’s help, we can overcome that.
What would be your top three
priorities for your first 24 months as
bishop? How did you select these?
Please tell us about one
thing that excites you
about your ministry now.
“To proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favor...” I have prayed for clarity about
this call and for a vision to guide me. I’d
love to say I have heard a clear answer
from God, but I have only the whisper of one word,
“Jubilee.” No, I am not interested in replicating
the details of Leviticus, but I am fascinated by the
words of Jesus in Luke 4. For me, jubilee is about
reconciliation and rejoicing. It is a time to let go; it
is a time for gladness. What if we joined together
in a year of jubilee? Yes, we will have problems to
solve and finances to fix. However, as we begin
that work, let’s also take some time to remember
who we are and rejoice in whose we are, so that we
can then become who God wants us to be.
Rebuild trust. This is a theme in your
profile. Trust takes time, conversation
and healing. For me, rebuilding trust will
begin with the clergy. As chief pastor, I
will focus my efforts on the advocacy and
development of your clergy. After all, a chief
element to a loving, laughing, and thriving parish
is loving, laughing, and thriving clergy. I have a
couple of ideas to this end:
•Reinstate financial support for placement of
newly ordained priests. I know; this means
money. It also means rethinking the
discernment process.
•Use the five baptismal promises as a
framework to foster clergy vitality.
5
Last Spring, we completed a significant
building project. At the dedication,
someone asked, “What’s next?” That
question became my prayer. Sometime
in June between reading two books The
New Parish and Slow Church and a
provocative visit by Shane Claiborne to
our parish, that first question led to
another. “Who is your neighbor?”
I presented this question to our vestry
for discernment; it took hold. We are a
parish known for our outreach ministry.
However, most of our local efforts have
been focused in downtown Birmingham.
This new question refocused our
attention to the adjacent neighborhood.
Our vestry took charge. They
interviewed police officers, merchants,
and counselors. What we discovered
surprised us. While we are situated in an
affluent neighborhood, there is much
need. This simple question allowed the
Holy Spirit to inspire us! It led us to host
a neighborhood recycling program,
inspired us to provide Christmas gifts
for local children, and empowered us to
hang a street banner inviting the
community to pray for the kidnapped
Nigerian girls. It is a remarkably
creative time!
6
Please describe a time/situation when you
have empowered the ministry of other clergy
and/or laity. How did you empower others in
this situation?
Not long after arriving as Rector of St. Paul’s, Newnan Georgia, I
attended my first diocesan gathering whereupon I was greeted as if I had
been given a death sentence. I later learned that the bishop had even
considered closing the church. With ninety members, barely enough
money to pay bills, and some very strong “gatekeepers”, we began a
remarkable journey into new life.
In practical terms, new life first required healing from past hurtful
events. Healing became the focus of my preaching and teaching.
Secondly, it meant helping them learn to be “comfortable in their own
skin.” Small parishes struggle to meet unnecessary expectations. Being
faithful is not the same as being successful. George Carey once wrote
“The Church is found where the worship of God is joyful and everyone
has a contribution to make.” That became our focus—to be joyful and to
encourage participation. We chose to be joyful, celebrating our
accomplishments rather than lamenting our shortcomings. Finally, it
involved the sacred work of creativity.
What do you enjoy doing for fun? Digging in the dirt of my yard, running
until I am tired, and trying to create the
perfect recipe for shrimp and grits.
What is one thing you do to take
care of yourself?
I run, bike and swim. Not at the same time.
What is the best vacation you
have ever taken? Any vacation that my family is
together and there is white sand
between my toes is as good as it
gets for me.
What is one book (other than the
Bible) that has greatly influenced
your life? In a bag of goodies at Cursillo, I
found a book from my priest
called “The Ragamuffin Gospel”
by Brennan Manning. Some-
where in the pages of that book, I
fell into the arms of God’s grace.
If your life were made into a movie,
who would play you? My life would best be an animated movie
adapted into the life of Rafiki from the
movie the Lion King.
In Vestry meetings, we spent more time on
discernment than decisions. This led to the vision to
build our church around a youth program. Even
though we did not have the money, we were
compelled by an idea---to hire a full-time youth
minister. The church became unified around this
goal, and the money soon followed. Within a few
years our youth program began to thrive, and the
parish was transformed.
When I left in 2007, by worldly standards we were a
successful parish. I am glad about that, but my joy is
that we became a community that had experienced
the power of these words with which I frequently
closed our worship, “Glory to God whose power
working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask
or imagine....” With all that said, when I first read
this question I did not think of a strategic story. I
thought about people. I thought about the woman
whose 50 year old husband died of a heart attack.
She wanted to die, too. Five years later, she is a
member of our vestry! I thought about the teenager
who has endured more pain in her 18 years than
most of us will suffer in a lifetime. She was baptized
last Sunday! I thought about a young seminarian I
hired. Today he is a well-seasoned priest.
Empowerment is the daily work of a priest. Jesus
empowered people, one by one, by loving them into
whom he wanted them to be. I am trying my best to
do the same. 7
8
Fast Facts Born: November 5, 1967
Memphis, Tennessee
Current Position: Dean
St. Andrew’s Cathedral
Jackson, Mississippi
Family:
Wife: Deidra K. O’Connor
Children: Flannery,
Mary Kathryn, Edward
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Political
Science
University of Mississippi,
1993
Master of Science, Marriage
and Family Therapy
University of Southern
Mississippi, 1993
Master of Divinity,
University of the South at
Sewanee, 2001
Year of Ordination to the
Priesthood: 2001
Personal Ministry
Statement:
The greatest reality I've come
to know is God in Christ
loves and has use for a flawed,
imperfect human being like
you and me—Grace wins.
Please tell us about one thing that
excites you about your ministry now. The Cathedral is a charter member of a community
organization—Working Together Jackson. Currently, we have
43 member institutions representing 10,000 members. Our
focus has been about engaging government and businesses to
find creative solutions to pressing local issues such as
infrastructure, workforce development, education and
neighborhood renewal. This association has afforded me the
opportunity to work closely with mayors, city council
members, legislators and other pastors in collaborative ways.
In this, I've had to opportunity to moderate two mayoral
debates. I’ve taken a public stance to help pass a non-
regressive, 1% sales tax referendum for city infrastructure.
And, I’ve worked to partner the Cathedral with other
downtown churches to systematically identify blighted
downtown homes/lots as well as focused neighborhood clean-
up efforts. I've also been a part of working toward a workforce
Bishop Nominees
The Very Reverend Edward Francis O’Connor
What would be your top three priorities for your first 24
months as bishop? How did you select these? All three priorities revolve around one core elemental Body of Christ building block –
relationships, relationships, relationships! As your Diocesan profiles describes, “from surfing
to sailing; from flying to fly-fishing; from chicken to catfish to creole gumbo—we are
geographically, ethnically, economically, politically, and inter-generationally a large stew of
different folks bound together in Christ!” I see this as a blessed reflection and evidence of
God’s rich, creative tapestry. The bishop is not only a symbol of unity between the Diocese
and the wider church, but the symbol of unity for such a diverse people. My great desire
would be to transform this Episcopacy into an apostolic office of equipping, teaching and
preaching. And so, my top three priorities would be:
Gathering (immediately) the clergy of the diocese at Camp Beckwith for an overnight
special retreat. This would be a time of deep, holy listening and getting to know one
another.
I would launch a diocesan initiative entitled, “Welcome Home: 63 in 30”. The goal
would be to strategically plan events throughout the diocese so that every single
parishioner from all 63 parishes and missions might have a chance to begin building a
relationship with me through worship, teaching and dialogue. The goal would be to complete
this tour stop in one month!
I would re-visit the articulated diocesan vision, “We Dream of a Diocese”, and engage
both laity and clergy as to the energy behind this vision. And then, to affirm, re-
enforce and adjust a process and timeline for accomplishing such holy work. I’d also
begin a process of evaluating diocesan programs and initiatives, asking questions such as: Are
diocesan programs helping better equip her people? How can we nurture, support and
empower missions and smaller churches? Are diocesan structures clear with regard to role
and function? Is there an intentional plan for church planting or renewal? How can retired
clergy participate in this structure? At the end of 24 months, having listened to and engaged
her people, I’d begin planning a diocesan wide gathering in a central location. It would likely
be some sort of worship and renewal event where each parish and mission would be invited to
celebrate our work by launching this new vision and strategic plan for the diocese.
9
development center with local businesses in creating stop-gap funds to assist those recently
employed, but at risk of homelessness due to unforeseen financial pitfalls. WTJ is now a
thriving entity of religious, socio-economic and ethnic diversity. We carry political clout that
both business and government cannot ignore and who routinely seek us out to assist in
supporting and communicating initiatives of which we value.
10
Please describe a time/situation when you
have empowered the ministry of other clergy
and/or laity. How did you empower others in
this situation?
Three years ago, I began working with my vestry and staff to
articulate our vision for ministry and mission. From this, we’ve
identified five essential practices. What makes them unique to the
Cathedral is that we’ve taken great care in defining how they inform
who and what we are and do. Dynamic Worship, Transformational
Mission, Equipping Formation, Fearless Giving and Radical
Welcome then, become the lenses by which we live and move. We
then re-allocated every people, committee and asset under these
practices. I spent a season with each person falling under each
practice, asking questions about how we’d move forward over the
next five to seven years. From this work have emerged very new
ways of being the Body of Christ. The essential practice of fearless
giving has yielded
an annual budget
without pledge
cards (much
more to say about
this process). We
also identified the
need and desire
to engage in a
$3.5 million
dollar capital
campaign which
morphed into a
“triple
ask” (increase in
annual budget,
campaign and
legacy giving).
We were
successful with
11
What do you enjoy doing for fun? I love to travel with my wife, especially to
places neither of us has experienced.
What is one thing you do to take
care of yourself?
Eat, love, run, pray.
What is the best vacation you
have ever taken? New Orleans, right after
Christmas.
What is one book (other than the
Bible) that has greatly influenced
your life? S.E. Hinton’s, “The Outsiders” as a
struggling 8th grade boy – “stay gold, Pony
Boy”.
If your life were made into a
movie, who would play you? My short list would be: Robin
Williams, Johnny Depp, Liam
Neeson or Karl Urban. My wife suggests Ben Stiller.
regard to all three – increasing the annual budget by
$80,000, raising over $1 million more than
anticipated and identifying 28 new legacy gifts that
potentially amount to $1.2 million. The essential
practice of Radical Welcome allowed us to discern
the need for a full time staff person overseeing new
member ministry. In this, we’ve re-designed systems
for not only welcome, but intentional integration
into the Cathedral. I could go on with countless
more examples of how this collaborative vision
continues to afford clarity and unity. Today, the
Cathedral is growing. The fastest growing
demographic is among young adults (24-32). As
mentioned previously, healthy things grow. And,
we are not for numbers’ sake, but for Jesus Christ’s
sake.
Fast Facts Born: January 23, 1956
Jacksonville, Florida
Current Position: Canon to
the Ordinary
Diocese of Missouri
Family:
Wife: Evelyn Hallecks Smith
Children: Mitchell Smith,
Shannon Sampson
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, History
University of Central Florida,
1978
Master of Divinity,
Nashotah House Theological
Seminary, 1981
Doctor of Ministry,
Seabury-Western
Theological Seminary, 2001
Year of Ordination to the
Priesthood: 1982
Personal Ministry
Statement:
I love to work with
congregations, their clergy and
lay leaders to find ways for their
congregation to grow, heal,
prosper and make a difference
in their community.
*
12
Please tell us about one thing
that excites you about
your ministry now. One of the joys and excitements I have in my current
ministry is working with congregations that find
themselves in transition, what we used to call the
search process. Transitions give the opportunity to
work with wonderful lay leaders, vestry and search
Bishop Nominees
The Reverend Canon E. Daniel Smith
13
Please describe a time/situation when you have empowered
the ministry of other clergy and/or laity. How did you
empower others in this situation? Empowering the clergy and congregations is an ongoing part of my ministry. However, a favorite
story happened a few years ago although it is still ongoing. One of our priests wanted to go back
to school to earn a PhD. His congregation, Advent, wanted to make that happen. We spent
almost six months planning and working toward this priest going back to school while still
retaining his position as rector. We first worked to fully understand what the congregation
absolutely needed the priest to do. We found, recruited and trained lay leaders to do much of the
ministries that were still needed by the congregation but did not really need the priest to carry
out. I worked to coach the priest and lay leadership in ways to talk to the congregation that
allowed for acceptance of some significant change. Afterwards there was continual checking in
during the time the priest was in school and still pastoring the congregation. He has graduated
and is still the rector. He is the Dean of our School for Ministry and the congregation has grown,
their worship and spiritual life has deepened, they have experienced increased stewardship and
greatly expanded their mission and ministry to their community. You can read about Advent’s
journey in a recent “Vestry Notes” published by the Episcopal Church Foundation.
committee, and to meet with the whole congregation in meetings and worship. Transitions
give me the opportunity to teach in several areas: the spirituality of discernment, basics in
congregational development including dreaming new dreams about the future and how to
do an honest, authentic evaluation of the congregation and its mission and ministry. There
is joy in watching as the members of a congregation discover new leadership skills and
ministry. The time of transition allows me to deepen relationships with congregations
some of whom have felt estranged from the diocese. I have found that the relationships
formed has allowed me entry into other opportunities to be involved in the life of those
congregations.
Transitions give the opportunity to work with wonderful lay leaders, vestry
and search committee, and to meet with the whole congregation in meetings
and worship.
14
What would be your top three priorities
for your first 24 months as bishop? How
did you select these?
I think there are a number of priorities to work with in the first 24
months. That said, my first three priorities to begin right away
are:
Establish a trusting, loving relationship with the clergy, lay
leaders and congregations of the diocese. This will mean
being out in the diocese as much as possible the first two
years. I think the time out in the diocese would include both
formal and informal visitations. I have an established pattern in
my current ministry of regularly visiting the leadership of our
congregations with little agenda other than being with one
another. I hope this is a pattern I could continue for an entire
episcopacy.
Complete a thorough evaluation of the resources, people,
gifts, talent, property, financial assets, etc. of the diocese.
Such an evaluation would allow for the leadership of the
15
What do you enjoy doing
for fun? I like to just about
anything around
water, fishing, boating,
swimming. I read,
cook, bicycle, and
watch old movies.
What is one thing you do
to take care of yourself?
I always take my day off.
What is the best vacation you
have ever taken? Probably a tie between Evelyn
and I going to Napa and Sonoma,
California a few years ago and
the two of us going to
Hawaii last summer.
What is one book (other than the
Bible) that has greatly influenced
your life? The Last Temptation of Christ, Nikos
Kazantzakis. This book enabled me to get
more in touch with the humanity of Jesus
and helped me understand my own
Eucharistic Theology.
If your life were made into a movie,
who would play you? Tom Hanks, I just like his work.
diocese to work from a position of what we
have as opposed to the scarcity model of what
we don’t have. I believe this approach fits
with the model Jesus uses in Matthew 15 in
the story of the feeding of the 4,000. The
disciples ask Jesus where they will find
enough to feed everyone. He asks, “What do
you have?” What they had turned out to be
more than enough.
Together with Diocesan Leadership
work to form a strategic vision for the
diocese moving into a new episcopacy.
A strategic vision differs from a strategic plan
in that it gives to the congregations and
committees/commissions of the diocese the
opportunity to plan under the umbrella of a
big picture vision. A strategic vision excites
and focuses the mission and ministry of the
church. I selected these three priorities based
on my reading the profile of the diocese and
data provided in connection with the profile.
These priorities were reinforced by the
conversations and interviews with the search
committee.
16
Fast Facts Born: May 20, 1960
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Current Position: Rector
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Waco, Texas
Family:
Wife: Chris
Children: Caleb, Colton,
Caroline
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Georgetown College,
1982
Masters of Divinity
University of the South
at Sewanee, 1989
Doctor of Ministry
University of the South
at Sewanee, 2014
Year of Ordination to
the Priesthood: 1990
Personal Ministry
Statement:
I am called, in all circumstances, by word and action, to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ.
Please tell us about one thing that
excites you about your ministry now.
What excites me about my ministry now is how amazed I am
by the incredible work the people of God are doing at St. Paul’s
and how much fun we have. Every day I work with people who
have a heart for God and for the church and who are willing to
commit significant portions of their lives to our common work.
Through activities both inside and outside the church they are
constantly bearing witness to the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Even something as simple as watching a parent push her
fingers along the words in the hymnal helping their child learn
the song is a powerful, joyful witness of this faithfulness, and it
never gets old.
Bishop Nominees
The Reverend Dr. William C. Treadwell III
17
What would be your top three priorities for your first 24
months as bishop? How did you select these? My first and highest priority will be to get to know the people, clergy, ministries and
topography of the diocese. This will consume much of the first 24 months, and will
require an intentional organized schedule of visitations, meals, meetings with
committees, parishes and clergy- both individually and in groups. I envision two annual clergy
conferences in that period designed to develop familiarity and trust among the clergy and the
Bishop. I also envision, along with the normal Diocesan Council, a gathering of the Diocese to
celebrate ministry together. We will learn about the ministries going on each other’s churches,
and we will have the opportunity to gain specific skills around hospitality and evangelism.
With the people of the diocese, I will articulate a vision and mission with concrete
objectives based on the existing strategic plan and on the more recent work done in
preparation for the bishop search. This will enable us to inspire and empower the people
of the diocese to share the love of Christ with the people of Florida, Alabama and beyond. By
identifying the core values of our diocese we will be able to examine and evaluate work already
being done. We will be able to identify very specific issues that need to be addressed for the long-
term health and vitality of the diocese. We will also be able to choose a small, specific set of
concrete objectives that will move the diocese away from anxiety about giving and attendance
and inspire us to focus on the primary work of the Gospel. It is my belief that by doing so,
attendance and giving will follow. It is also my belief that the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast is
poised to become a robust setting for joy and faith, reversing the anxious trends of our
denomination, and to become a beacon of hope, unity and joy for the entire Episcopal Church.
My third priority will be to build a personal work rhythm that will make me as effective as
possible as bishop, while also allowing me to remain engaged fully in the life of my
family, particularly my wife and daughter during Caroline’s high school years.
Building a balanced work rhythm will require the staff, diocesan leaders and me to identify the
most important work I need to do and apportion time on my calendar accordingly. Great care
will be taken not to allow the myriad urgent needs in the ministry to trump the larger, more
central work of the Episcopacy.
A high priority will be placing important personal time on the calendar. This will include study,
Sabbath, personal and family time. I will work to make sure that my new partners in ministry at
work are aware of that rhythm for a couple of reasons. First, work colleagues are entitled to know
when I am available and the kind of work in which I am engaged. Second, it will model a pattern
of “wholesome example”, as it says in the ordination rite, for the other clergy in the diocese.
Following that I would build a calendar around the essential work of the Bishop, and use the
ordination vows of a Bishop as a guide for that work.
18
Please describe a time/situation when you
have empowered the ministry of other clergy
and/or laity.
Empowering people for ministry is woven into the fabric of every interaction
as a parish priest. Almost every conversation I have had with parishioners
and other clergy have been centered in some way around the ebb and flow of
the life of faith and seeing the direction of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives.
Whether specifically articulated or not, every time a person accepts an
invitation to serve, whether in the church, the community or their own
family, they are being empowered to bear witness to the love of Christ in
their lives.
Specifically, I have had the great pleasure over
the past 20 years of my ministry to be involved
in the formation, training and support of those
called to Holy Orders. Throughout my ministry
as a rector in two parishes I have had 16 interns
and associate clergy, many of whom were recent
seminary graduates. We designed specific
ministry plans that helped them understand
and embody the ministry of the priesthood.
Over the past eight years, I have been the co-
facilitator of our Diocesan program for recently
ordained clergy affectionately known as “Curate
Camp.” We gather once a month in the first year
of their ministry for a 24-hour retreat to discuss
the issues that can be great blessings in the
ministry but which can, if handled badly, cause
serious trouble for clergy. The primary purpose
of these retreats is to establish a pattern in the
lives of newly ordained clergy that will foster
deep, meaningful relationships with other
clergy and trusted lay people. Approximately 80
clergy have gone through this program since I
began co-facilitation. It is a great joy to know
these clergy well and to see them grow in their
ministries.
19
What do you enjoy doing for fun? Outside: hiking, fishing, hunt-
ing, camping, walking reading,
hanging out with my wife and
kids, sitting with friends
around a fire, outside. Did I
say outside?
What is one thing you do to take
care of yourself?
Intentionally disengage from work.
What is the best vacation you
have ever taken? The day after I was ordained a priest,
before we had children at all, Chris and I
went to Colorado for the very first time.
There are no words to describe it.
What is one book (other than the
Bible) that has greatly influenced
your life? Novel: The Old Man and the Sea by
Hemingway; Theology: Life Together by
Bonhoeffer.
If your life were made into a movie,
who would play you? Richard Armitage (as Thorin
Oakenshield in the Hobbit)
Timeline
Search and Transition Committee Appointment
Self-Study of the Diocese
Diocesan Profile Complete
Begin accepting Applications
Screening, Interviews, Visiting
Announcement of Nominees
Walkabouts to introduce slate of Nominees
Election of Our 4th Bishop
Ordination of Our Bishop
20
January 17, 2014
Spring 2014
June 2014
Summer/Fall 2014
December 3, 2014
Jan. 19, 20, 21, 2015
February 21, 2015
July 25, 2015
Our Milestones
The election of our bishop will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2015,
in conjunction with our diocesan convention at Trinity, Mobile.
Milestone:
Committee Appointments
The Standing Committee began its transition work last year when Bishop Duncan
announced his intention to retire. There are many helpful resources in The Episcopal
Church and our diocesan leadership is working prayerfully and faithfully to
implement a healthy transition process. Dates are set and the Standing Committee
has appointed two committees: the Search Committee and the Transition Committee.
Milestone:
Springtime Self-Study of the Diocese
The Search Committee’s first task was to develop and publish a diocesan profile that
was available to potential candidates on our diocesan search website. The Profile
shows what it would be like to live in our area and serve God in this diocese. It
shows who we are as a people what we desire and who we hope to call as
our bishop. To develop the profile the Search Committee conducted a survey and
face to face focus group meetings. The Bishop We Seek found on page 3 in this
booklet is a synopsis of their discernment.
Milestone: Summer and Fall Screening, Interviewing, and Visiting
Names of candidates were accepted once the profile was published online
and announced to the larger church. Nominations were accepted through
September 1, 2014. During the summer months the Search Committee
evaluated the information from the applicants with the goal being to
identify a group of candidates with whom we will conduct face to face
interviews. We pledged to keep the names of candidates under
consideration confidential. We only published the names of the nominees.
All others will be kept confidential and their information destroyed at the
completion of the search process.
Milestone:
Autumn Announcement of Nominees
The Search Committee was charged with nominating four to seven
candidates qualified to serve as the fourth bishop of our diocese. We
wanted to attract and nominate the best fit for us, and this meant we had
to identify our own needs - and the gifts and skills of individuals who are
discerning with us. The names of our nominees were published on
December 3, 2014, to allow sufficient time to prepare for the election
Milestone:
Winter Hand-Off to the Transition Committee
After publication of the names of the nominees, the Transition Committee
took over. The Transition Committee has been working behind the scene
since January 2014 because they have a large task. They are responsible
for arranging and conducting the Walkabouts where the candidates are
introduced to the diocese.
The walkabouts will be held on January 19, 20, 21, 2015. The
Transition Committee is also responsible for caring for Bishop Duncan
and the Diocesan Office staff, assisting in the election convention, helping
the bishop-elect in the transition, and organizing the ordination. Other
opportunities to meet the candidates will occur at luncheons: Monday,
January 19, St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze, and Tuesday, January 20 at
St. Mary’s, Andalusia. A public Eucharist will be held at Christ Church
Cathedral, Mobile on Wednesday, January 21 at 2:30 p.m.
Milestone:
Election of Our Next Bishop
The election of our bishop will be held on Saturday, February 21,
2015, in conjunction with our diocesan convention at Trinity, Mobile. At
some point after the election, plans will be made for the bishop-elect to
make his/her transition into an exciting role as leader in our diocese.
Milestone:
Summer Beginnings
The Transition Committee is responsible for organizing and planning the
ordination of the new bishop on July 25, 2015. Christ Church
Cathedral is the site for this occasion.
21
What is a Walkabout?
22
The dictionary defines “walkabout” as “an occasion in which a well-known person walks through a
public place to meet and talk informally to people.” But for those of us in the Episcopal Church, a
walkabout is a time when the candidates for bishop in a diocese come to visit the diocese so they can
learn more about the diocese and so the members of the diocese can learn more about them. This time
of getting to know one another is part of the process of discerning whom God is calling to serve as our
next bishop.
The candidates for the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, along with their spouses,
will visit our diocese from January 18-22, 2015. They will travel around our diocese stopping at
various locations to meet us, to see some of our churches and ministries, and to present themselves to
us and answer our questions. Reservations for lunches and walkabouts can be made at:
http://bishopsearch.diocgc.com/ or www.facebook.com/cgcbishopsearch
The schedule for their time in the diocese is:
Monday January 19
Lunch* – 11:00 am – 12:45 pm at St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze
Walkabout** — 5:15 pm — 9:30 pm at Church of the Nativity, Dothan
5:15 pm — Registration opens
5:15 pm – 5:45 pm Clergy informal time with candidates
6:00 pm — Plenary session begins promptly
9:00 pm — Breakout sessions end
9:00 pm — 9:30 pm — Informal time with the candidates
Tuesday January 20
Lunch* – 11:00 am – 1:15 pm at St. Mary’s, Andalusia
Walkabout** – 5:15 pm – 9:30 pm at St. John’s, Monroeville
Wednesday January 21
Holy Eucharist—2:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile
Walkabout** – 5:15 pm – 9:30 pm at St. Paul’s, Daphne
*Lunch meetings will be open to all members of the diocese. Lunches will be informal times to meet the
nominees. There will be no formal programs at these events.
**The time schedule is the same for all three walkabouts. At each location ANYONE, not only the lay
convention delegates and clergy who will vote at the election convention, can gather to hear from the
nominees as part of the discernment and calling of a new bishop. There will be four break-out sessions
at all three walkabout locations. Each walkabout will end with an informal time to meet and greet the
candidates. Potential questions for these sessions have been gathered from around the diocese. At each
session, there will be an opportunity for participants to submit additional questions to be considered for
inclusion if time permits.
Section 2. Nominees for the election of a
bishop shall be chosen either by the Search
Committee or by nominating petitions.
The Search Committee will nominate from
four to seven candidates. A nominating
petition must be signed by four clergy who
are eligible to vote in a diocesan
convention and four lay persons eligible to
serve as delegates to a diocesan
convention. Nominating petitions must be
submitted to the Search Committee by a
deadline set by it in order for background
checks on such nominees to be conducted.
No nominations from the floor will be
order.
Section 3. A Search Committee appointed
by the Standing Committee will be charged
with the responsibility of preparing and
publicizing educational material on the
historic episcopate; preparing a profile of
the Diocese; interviewing potential
nominees; choosing from four to seven
nominees to be presented at the
Convention at which the election will be
held; verifying the validity of nominating
petitions and carrying out any additional
duties that may be assigned to it by the
Standing Committee.
Section 4. The Standing Committee shall
choose the date for the Convention at
which the election will be conducted. The
Standing Committee shall choose such
additional committees as may be needed
for securing a site for the electing
convention and making all necessary
arrangements for it; securing a site and
making all necessary arrangements for the
ordination of the new bishop; providing
support to a retiring bishop and that
bishop’s staff and family and to the bishop
elect and the family of the bishop elect and
any such additional matters as the
Standing Committee may deem
appropriate. 23
The Election of Our Bishop The election for the new bishop of the Diocese of
the Central Gulf Coast will be held on Saturday,
February 21, 2015, during the forty-fourth annual
diocesan convention. The convention will be held
February 19-21, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church in
Mobile.
A Committee on Elections will be appointed by the
Bishop. This committee will serve as tellers of all
elections, including election to the Standing Committee,
any proposed resolutions, and the election of the IV
Bishop of the Diocese. Members of the diocesan
Transition Committee, as well as Trinity representatives,
will make up the election committee.
There will be two voting machines, one for lay delegates
and one for clergy delegates, used for the election of the
bishop. Therefore, there will be no need for paper ballots
and the counting of ballots which will enable a smooth
and transparent election process.
In the election, clergy and lay delegates vote by orders. A
nominee must receive a majority of votes in both orders
to be elected.
The election will be streamed to the Bishop Search
website: bishopsearch.diocgc.com
Diocesan Canons:
The Election of a Bishop
24
Seven specific articles of attire symbolize the Office of Bishop in the Episcopal tradition—the
rochet, the chimere, the crozier, the mitre, the ring, the pectoral cross, and the purple shirt.
The tradition of the “purple shirt” is widely recognized in Episcopal circles today as
distinguishing a cleric as a bishop. It is a relatively new tradition, having come into practice in
the mid-20th century.
Bishops may choose either a red purple shirt—Bishop Duncan’s preference,
or one of a blue purple hue.
The pectoral cross (from the Latin “pectoralis” meaning of the chest) hangs
from a chain or cord around the neck and rests upon the breast. While
many lay and ordained persons also choose to wear such a cross, those
worn by bishops tend to be larger.
If you see a bishop in a purple shirt but do not see a pectoral cross in
evidence, look more closely. It is likely tucked into a left pocket of his or
her shirt.
Another telltale sign of a bishop, and a long-standing symbol of the
episcopacy is a bishop’s ring. These rings most often are made of gold and
are engraved with the seal of the diocese the bishop serves.
Bishops as early as St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop of Hippo Regius from
395-430, were known to authenticate documents by imprinting their rings
in hot wax upon them.
For liturgical occasions, a bishop
wears a mitre. The term comes
from the Greek “mitra” meaning
“headband” or “diadem.”
It is mentioned in the Old
Testament, both Exodus 39:27-31
and Leviticus 8:7-9, that High
Priests and other priests wore
distinctive clothing, including a special headpiece. The point at which the Church adopted the
mitre as a part of a bishop’s garb, however, is unclear. Many artists have depicted the
apostles, as well as the earliest saints in mitres, but the first written references appeared in
1049 in the writings of Pope Leo IX. We do know that by the year 1100, the mitre was a
customary component of a bishop’s liturgical vestments.
Outward and Visible Signs
25
Another part of a bishop’s liturgical dress is the crozier. In its simplest form,
the crozier is akin to a shepherd’s staff. The crozier symbolizes the role of the
bishop as a shepherd of sorts: “You are called to guard the faith, unity, and
discipline of the Church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of
the sacraments of the New Covenant; to ordain priests and deacons and to
join in ordaining bishops; and to be in all things a faithful pastor and
wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.”
The rochet and chimere are two other types
of vestments peculiar to bishops. The
chimere is a full length vest. The rochet is a
white alb. The two are generally paired with
a stole. To the right are our first three bish-
ops vested in rochets and chimeres.
Thanks to the Diocese of Western New York for this article. Look for materials for parish
educational use from James Lawrence, Diocesan Youth Director.
The Bishop Transition Committee
Priscilla Condon, Advent, Lillian
The Rev. Mark Fitzhugh, St. Simon’s, Fort Walton Beach
Sally Greene, Wilmer Hall Children’s Home
Magoo Hamilton, St. Thomas’, Greenville
The Rev.Dr. Cynthia Carter Howard, St. Mary’s, Andalusia
McGee Lorren, St. Francis’ of Assisi, Gulf Breeze
Eleanor Reeves, Beckwith Camp and Retreat Center
Marguerita Riggall, St. Paul’s, Magnolia Springs
The Rev. Don Smith, St. James’, Fairhope
Dianne Walters, Epiphany, Enterprise
The Rev. Mark Wilson, St. James’, Fairhope (deceased)
Carolyn Jeffers, Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile (Chair)
Bishop Search Committee
The Rev. Steve Bates, Holy Nativity, Panama City
The Very Rev. Beverly Gibson, Christ Church Cathedral
Debra Kosche, St. Jude’s, Niceville
The Rev. Reid McCormick, St. Thomas’, Greenville
Joe McDaniel, Jr., Christ Church Parish, Pensacola
Gary Moore, St. Paul’s, Daphne
The Rev. Christie Olsen, St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze
The Rev. John Riggin, St. Paul’s, Mobile
Becky Schulte, St. Luke’s, Mobile
Hugh Wheelless, Nativity, Dothan
Britt Landrum, Holy Cross, Pensacola (Chair)
Standing Committee
The Rev. Thomas Dwyer, St. James’, Port St. Joe
The Rev. Thack Dyson, St. Paul’s, Daphne
Michael Foote, St. Paul’s, Magnolia Springs
Tim Gaston, St. Paul’s, Mobile
The Rev. Neal Goldsborough, Christ Church Parish, Pensacola
Dr. William Hamilton, St. Thomas’, Greenville
Billy Jones, St. John’s, Monroeville
Michel Nicrosi, Trinity, Mobile
David Quittmeyer, Trinity, Mobile
Dr. Sam Shelton, St. Mark’s, Troy
The Rev. Dr. Margaret Shepard, St. Andrew’s, Panama City
Anne Stevens, St. Paul’s, Foley
Gaye Wilson, St. Paul’s, Daphne
The Rev. George Riggall, Wilmer Hall Children’s Home (President)
26
27
The Search Committee has worked long and hard to gather this slate of bishop candidates, among
whom is the one who will care for us and under whose care we may grow. It is now the job of the
Transition Committee to work just as diligently toward the election and consecration of the next
bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. The goal of the Transition Committee is to
continue to foster a discernment-oriented process. We strive to create an environment of
neutrality and common ground; to extend equal hospitality to all nominees; and to offer voting
delegates and all members of the Diocese equal opportunities to meet and hear the nominees.
To this end, we call on our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of the Central Gulf
Coast:
To hold up all nominees and our diocesan family in prayer throughout the transition
process.
To educate themselves on the role of the bishop and to be open to the working of the Holy
Spirit in calling our next bishop.
To familiarize themselves with all nominees by reading the materials that describe the
nominees, their backgrounds, and their hopes for our diocese.
To understand that the Walkabout events are the appropriate places for the diocese to get
to know the nominees and for the nominees to get to know the diocese.
We strongly encourage our voting delegates:
To attend at least one Walkabout session to see and hear the nominees.
To listen carefully to the wishes and hopes of the congregation by whom they were
selected; to engage in prayerful discernment; and to be open to the movement of the
Holy Spirit as they discern who is being called to serve as bishop of our diocese.
We give special thanks to the members of the Search Committee. They gave themselves the task of
fashioning a process that would be open, transparent, and inclusive of all the congregations and
people of this diocese. It is our privilege, as the members of the transition team to carry on in the
same spirit of inclusion. We ask that you continue your prayers for clear discernment for the one
who will come to share our life in this diocese and lead us in the mission to which God calls us, using
the prayer For the
Election of a Bishop found on page 818 in The Book of Common Prayer.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide
the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, 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.
The Transition Committee for the Fourth Bishop
Carolyn S. Jeffers, chair
A Letter from the Chair of the Transition Committee
Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
Carolyn S. Jeffers
Bishop’s Transition Committee Chair
115 South Conception Street
Mobile, Alabama 36602-2606
Telephone: 251.438.1822
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: bishopsearch.diocgc.com
God, we have no idea where we are going. We do not see the road ahead of us. We cannot know for certain
where it will end. Nor do we really know ourselves, and the fact that we think we are following your will does
not mean that we are actually doing so. But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing. We hope that we will never do anything apart from
that desire. And we know that if we do this you will lead us by the right road, though we may know nothing
about it. Therefore, we will trust you always though we may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. We
will not fear, for you are ever with us, and you will never leave us to face our perils alone.
A Prayer of Thomas Merton; Thoughts in Solitude, p. 83, adapted.