Loading...The search committee for the Diocese of Kentucky’s eighth bishop completed the first part of its work last week with the online publication of a diocesan profile, and the committee is well into the second phase, the campaign to actively seek nominations. That phase will conclude Sept. 15, the deadline for nominees to submit “indications of interest.”
The profile’s July 1 publication coincides with the committee’s plan to broadly publicize the diocese’s search for a bishop before and during the convening of General Convention, a triennial gathering of Episcopalians meeting in Anaheim, Calif., through July 17. Search Committee Chair Alex Campbell said more than 400 letters announcing th
e search have been mailed to bishops, deployment officers and deans of seminaries and an additional mailing is to go out to cathedral deans.
In addition, the committee is making the diocese’s search visible at convention. Two of the diocese’s deputies, who are also members of the search committee, were sent to convention with 1,000 bookmarks for distribution. Campbell said he has heard that the bookmarks, designed by the Rev. Amy Coultas, are a “big hit.” One asks, “Would you like to wear purple?,” and the other, “Would you like to be our bishop?” The committee also placed an advertisement about our search in the convention guide; we are the only diocese involved in a bishop’s search to do so, according to committee member Martha Holland, and that vi
sibility could be a significant considering 25 dioceses are reportedly involved in searches.
The 20-page profile, developed and written by a working group within the 20-member search committee, presents what Campbell calls an “aspirational profile” of the diocese’s eighth bishop of the diocese and an introduction to the diocese. Although the profile is “available to the whole world through the Internet,” it is intended to introduce the diocese to people who would be interested themselves or might be thinking about recommending someone for consideration, he said. “It was written with the perspective of candidates in mind. We have a lot of information about diocesan missions, lots of links, [and] a little bit about geography and the economy of the state. ... We want it to be a fair introduction to our diocese, presenting the strengths and other things that people might consider.”
The profile is the culmination of a six-month initiative to collect and synthesize the observations of lay and clergy members obtained through a diocesan survey, seven “listening” group sessions in churches across the diocese, and two clergy discernment meetings. More than 1,000 parishioners and clergy members responded to the survey, which was available online or in printed form. Campbell said the survey consultant reported the participation was “excellent” and well beyond what is needed to get reliable findings. In addition, 34 priests and deacons participated in clergy discernment sessions, and more than 160 people participated in the “listening” sessions, which were held at Resurrection Church, Louisville; St. Francis in the Fields, Harrods Creek; Christ Church Cathedral, Louisville; St. Matthew’s Church, Louisville; Trinity Church, Owensboro; Grace Church, Paducah; and Christ Church, Bowling Green.) “Taken as a group, they are very representative of the Diocese as a whole,” the profile reports.
One of the most important sections, said Campbell, is the one-page “Profile of a Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky,” which outlines the qualities and skills wanted in a bishop according to three categories.
First, the diocese seeks someone who is guided by the Holy Spirit and “whose life is marked by spirituality and the prayerful study of the Holy Scriptures, sound judgment and wisdom, intellectual honesty and openness to differing ideas, compassion, integrity, and a passion for challenging ministry to multiple generations, diverse populations, people in need, and communities in transition.”
Second, a bishop is wanted who is “committed to inspiring and communicating a shared vision for a diverse community of faith, empowering laity for ministry, strengthening youth and young adult participation in the life of the Diocese, building nurturing relationships with clergy and laity, welcoming and supporting differing ideas and perspectives, and preaching and teaching the word of God.”
Third, the diocese wants someone with “the skills to organize and manage staff and resources to support the work of parishes and the Diocese; communicate effectively, including the use of technology, to build a sense of inclusiveness and awareness in the Diocese and to be the public voice of the Church in our region; lead an ongoing planning process designed to maximize opportunities for ministry; strengthen the Diocese financially through sound stewardship and effective fundraising; make the Diocese a valuable source of support for parish-level ministry; build a strong ministry for youth across the Diocese; recruit and develop clergy leadership for urban and rural parishes across the Diocese.”
The profile notes that the bishop will have several “important tools” for accomplishing ministry here: “a committed and collegial clergy, a laity eager for ministry and receptive to change, strong ï¬nances with endowed support for the expense of the episcopate and for seminary education and post-seminary support of newly ordained clergy in the Diocese, a low level of conflict, new and renovated facilities across the Diocese, and a thriving camp and conference center in a beautiful sylvan setting.”
It also prepares the new bishop for challenges to be faced, based upon the results of the surveys and group sessions with clergy and laity. Survey respondents, the profile says, “expressed a desire for a stronger shared vision for the Diocese, more support for churches in transition, strategies for building congregations, and cultivating ï¬nancial giving. Looking to the future, respondents to the survey want to see plans that will bring new members to the Diocese, build the vitality of Episcopal churches in our region, recruit strong clergy and lay leadership, and cultivate a stronger sense of involvement in the Diocese.” The complete results of the survey are available online.
The profile also reports that participants in the listening sessions “expressed more concern about communication strategies, Diocesan organization, attracting members, and building ï¬nancial support for the Diocese and its congregations. For the future they hoped to see more resources for parish and diocesan ministry, membership growth, a stronger ï¬nancial proï¬le, a reorganized Diocesan staff, and better communication strategies, particularly involving technology.” A summary of the clergy sessions had similar observations and recommendations. Full reports on the listening sessions and clergy conferences are also available through the search committee's Web site.
[Editor's Note: The profile also includes a helpful section on "Frequently Asked Questions," which includes information about the search and nomination process. The search committee's Web site also includes a schedule. For example, you can find out the June 2010 date of the electing convention as well as the September date set for the new bishop's consecration.]
