The work of the Search Committee continues to move forward pretty much on schedule. Since February, we have been meeting twice each month reviewing the resumes and CDO (Church Deployment Office) profiles of our nearly 30 nominees. In addition to these materials we asked our nominees to respond in 500 words or less to these three questions:

1. What are you passionate about in your ministry, in your personal life, and in the world around you?
2. Please elaborate on an occasion or experience, during your ministry, of significant personal growth or change.
3. What are the touchstones in your faith that will guide your responses to the issues now facing – some would say threatening – the Episcopal Church and the world-wide Anglican Communion?

Without exception all of our nominees have given thoughtful and considered responses to our questions. All are capable clergy of our church with interesting and varied experience in ministry. We are most appreciative for the time, energy and investment they have each made to our search for a new bishop.

We have functioned as a committee of the whole in prayerfully and carefully reviewing each nominee’s profiles, noting each individual’s positives and verbalizing any reservations. Our chaplain, Nancy Mills, has gently kept us grounded in God’s presence. Our consultant, Rick Callaway, has offered timely and useful insight. Our conversations with each other have been open, honest, and frank.

At the end of March we enter into the next phase of building relationship with and getting to know our nominees better as we conduct telephone interviews with nearly two-thirds of them. The committee has been divided into four teams of three for this purpose. All members of the committee are invited to “listen in” on any conference call with any of the nominees that their team will not be interviewing, if they are so interested.

After these interviews are completed we will meet to consider what we have learned about our nominees and their impressions of our diocese. Our process continues to be one of mutual discernment between our diocese and each nominee.

As a committee we continue to enjoy each other, growing in appreciation and trust as we work together. We feel that we are working well together mindful of all the points of view present in our diocese. Please keep us and our nominees in your continued prayers.