Presiding Bishop Nominating Committee Issues Position Description
Episcopal News Service. May 7, 2004 [050704-2]
Jan Nunley
The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has issued "A Call for Discernment," asking for at least three nominees "to lead us, in international and domestic contexts; to call for a faithful and welcoming church; and to live out the 20/20 vision for ministry."
The chosen bishops should be "intensely grounded in the love of Jesus Christ, living out their lives in the Spirit and articulating zeal for the Gospel," the position description says. "Our Presiding Bishop, Chief Pastor, and Primate is the key leader in articulating the vision and mission of the Church. There is enormous symbolic power in this office--in this church, in the United States, and overseas."
The committee held its second meeting April 28-30 at the Edith Macy Conference Center, Briarcliff Manor, New York. Members of the committee have begun a process that, in the next two years, will result in the nomination to the 2006 General Convention of at least three bishops for election to the office of Presiding Bishop, Primate and Chief Pastor of the Episcopal Church. At that convention the House of Bishops will elect a new Presiding Bishop, subject to confirmation by the House of Deputies.
The committee met with Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, who shared extensive reflections on a wide range of matters related to his experience of the realities of work and life as Presiding Bishop. Members also consulted with Russell Palmore, chancellor of the Diocese of Virginia, on canonical and process concerns.
The committee also developed a process and time line for the consideration of bishops as candidates for nomination including both site visits and interviews with the committee.
The next meeting of the full committee will be in February 2005. It will build on the work of sub-committees meeting by correspondence in the summer and fall of 2004.
Members of the Joint Nominating Committee include: Massachusetts Bishop Suffragan Gayle E. Harris, the Rev. Thomas J. Brown (secretary), and Albert T. Mollegen, Jr. from Province One; Central New York Bishop Gladstone B. Adams III (chaplain), the Rev. Jeannette DeFriest and Diane B. Pollard (co-chair), from Province Two; Virginia Bishop Peter James Lee (co-chair), the Rev. Mark Harris, and Jane R. Cosby from Province Three; Mississippi Bishop Duncan M. Gray III, the Rev. E. Claiborne Jones, and Vincent Currie, Jr. from Province Four; Ohio Bishop Suffragan Kenneth L. Price, Jr., the Rev. Dr. Richard L. Tolliver, and Dr. Scott E. Evenbeck from Province Five; Wyoming Bishop Bruce Caldwell, the Rev. Ann K. Fontaine (chaplain), and Don Betts from Province Six; Texas Bishop Don A. Wimberly, the Rev. James P. Haney, and Sarah J. Knoll from Province Seven; Northern California Bishop Jerry A. Lamb, the Rev. Bavi E. Rivera, and Bettye Jo Harris from Province Eight; Puerto Rico Bishop David Alvarez, the Rev. Luis F. Ruiz, and Blanca Lucia Echeverry from Province Nine; and appointed youth representatives Sierra Wilkinson and Bradley A. Woodall.
Below are the job description for Presiding Bishop and the timeline for election.
A Call for Discernment
The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop invites your prayers and discernment as we work toward the election of our 26th Presiding Bishop, Chief Pastor, and Primate of the Episcopal Church to lead us, in international and domestic contexts; to call for a faithful and welcoming church; and to live out the 20/20 vision for ministry.
The Church seeks nominees who are intensely grounded in the love of Jesus Christ, living out their lives in the Spirit and articulating zeal for the Gospel. Our Presiding Bishop, Chief Pastor, and Primate is the key leader in articulating the vision and mission of the Church. There is enormous symbolic power in this office--in this church, in the United States, and overseas. The Joint Nominating Committee calls attention to the following roles for this office:
Presiding Bishop: The Presiding Bishop is responsible for leading the Church and for overseeing the planning, development, implementation, and assessment of its programs. The Presiding Bishop is active in the "civic square" articulating and implementing a vision and reality of social justice. The Presiding Bishop will lead us into the reality of a multicultural church, promoting community, and embracing persons, congregations, and dioceses with vast differences in ethnicity; language, particularly Spanish and French; geography; age; and socioeconomic backgrounds. The Presiding Bishop affirms that all regions of the Church are full members of Christ’s body and, in mutual partnership with them, works for sufficient resources to carry out their ministries. The Presiding Bishop works with other bishops, clergy, and laypersons in our mutual ministry and must be able to respond to the ministries of both small and large congregations and dioceses.
Chief Pastor: The Chief Pastor has enormous responsibility and presence as the chief preacher and liturgical leader. The Chief Pastor proclaims the Gospel with the Church. The Chief Pastor oversees the pastoral care and spiritual wellness of bishops.
Primate: The Primate of this church is a leader in the Anglican Communion. The Primate works for justice in domestic and international contexts in Anglican and ecumenical efforts to improve the human condition, to attend to the critical issues articulated by the General Convention, and to work toward the reconciliation of all persons as we live out the Gospel. The Primate plays a key role in working with leaders around the world in addressing issues of social justice and environmental stewardship.
The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop calls on members of the House of Bishops to discern prayerfully and deliberately whether they are called to minister in this role to serve the next era of the Church.
Timeline for the nomination process
May 2004 Call to Discernment mailed and calendar announced September 2004 Profile distributed to House of Bishops; HOB provides wisdom and insight March 1, 2005 Nominations open April 1, 2005 Deadline for nominations. As the JNCPB receives nominations each person will receive a packet. They’ll be asked to respond to questions, provide names of references, perhaps by category, and other information May 15, 2005 Deadline for potential nominees to provide responses to the JNCPB. By this time the committee will have contacted all the references as well June 17-20, 2005 JNCPB meets in Chicago; background checks occur after this meeting, except for psychiatric, medical, and psychological evaluations. Every person who was considered on June 17, 2005, will be notified by telephone and in writing of the decision Sept. 3-4, 2005 Continuing finalists will be invited in September to meet with the JNCPB. Following the meeting they may make another selection. Psychiatric, medical, and psychological examinations on the finalists will occur after this meeting Sept.-Dec. 2005 JNCPB teams make on-site visits to continuing nominees; canonical checks, including psychiatric, medical, and psychological completed during this time January 21-22, 2006 JNCPB evaluates site visits; may make another selection February 2006 Nominees are announced March 2006 Deadline for nomination by petition June 2006 Election at General Convention July-August 2006 Continued care for Presiding Bishop-elect as well as for those who are not elected.