An update from the Bishop Transition Committee
Where we’ve been … What’s Next
The Bishop Transition Committee (BTC) hopes you and yours are having good beginnings of 2022. We are now nine months into our process, so we want to give you a brief update on the search for ECCT’s XVI Bishop Diocesan.
Where We’ve Been:
We held twenty-one listening sessions over Zoom in September and October, hearing from a diverse range of clergy, laity, and ECCT staff across our six regions. We also conducted an online survey. These combined efforts resulted in feedback from about 485 people in ECCT. The Profile published in early November reflects what we heard you saying we are as a diocese and what we want in our next Bishop. A huge “Thank you!” to all who participated.
Publishing our ECCT profile in early November opened the application process for candidates. We notified Dioceses and Episcopal groups across the country that our application process was open, seeking to reach a diverse range of applicants. The original application deadline was extended to December 14, 2021.
Since then, our work has focused on reviewing applications of potential Candidates and conducting interviews. Each BTC member reviewed and prayerfully considered each application and provided feedback. Our first round of Candidate interviews was held from late December through mid-January.
Small teams from the BTC conducted remote interviews of every Candidate who applied and called the references of each Candidate. The full committee then discerned, over multiple nights, which Candidates to invite to a second round of interviews in March. We have selected the semi-finalist Candidates and invited them to the final round of interviews.
A full timeline of our process is available here.
What’s Next:
In mid-March, the semi-finalist Candidates will attend a retreat with the BTC. This is a time of discernment for both ECCT and the Candidates. There we will listen to each other, pray together, and continue to get to know our semi-finalist Candidates.
Stay tuned for information in the coming weeks about the process for announcing the Committee Nominees, a petitioning period for Petition Candidates, meeting the final slate, election of the XVI Bishop Diocesan, and more!
For more information on the BTC and the process, go on the BTC website and sign up for updates.
