We're Getting a New Bishop!

Did you know that the Episcopal Church in Connecticut is in the process of getting a new bishop? Bishop Ian Douglas is retiring in October. The Bishop Transition Committee (BTC) has been working to put together a slate of nominees, and this past Monday, we announced that slate.

(I say “we” because I’m one of the members of the Bishop Transition Committee!)

And did you know that the people of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut get to choose the next Bishop Diocesan? No one will appoint them for us; we, the clergy and the lay delegates from each parish, will participate in an election to indicate how we hear the Holy Spirit moving.

Our St. Paul’s delegates will take into account your thoughts about the bishop nominees. Stay tuned about how to make your voice heard.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll highlight different aspects of what I think you, as the parish, need to know as we are all discerning.

This week, I want to share the Bishop Transition Committee’s vision for the new Bishop Diocesan. We (the BTC) wrote this dream for our new bishop after listening sessions across the diocese, trying to give voice to what we heard. I think it’s a beautiful expression of our diocese, and I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it.

Who We Want to Lead Us

We want our next Diocesan Bishop to have a strong relationship with God and a ministry rooted in the love of Jesus. Our next Bishop should be prayerful, compassionate, and an active listener to the clergy and laity of ECCT. We’re seeking a Bishop who is open-minded, receptive to new ideas, and willing to hear a variety of viewpoints before making decisions. We want someone who is welcoming of all people; someone who is approachable and respectful; someone who is personal and transparent; someone who is present and visible throughout ECCT; someone who is an energetic, inspiring visionary and who can lead us as God’s people in the Twenty-First Century. Our Bishop will be an inspiring preacher who possesses excellent oral and written communication skills.

Throughout the discernment process, we heard time and again that our congregations want their next Bishop to have extensive parish experience in order to understand and appreciate what is both universal and unique among our parishes. We also seek a Bishop who will care for the pastoral needs of our clergy and laity. We want our Bishop to be a champion of spiritual wellness.

Our next Bishop should have a strong moral compass and be unafraid to take a stand on difficult issues. We hope our next Bishop will increase the visibility and impact of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut by working with our interfaith partners and government agencies. It is important to us that our next Bishop continues ECCT’s commitment to social justice and antiracism as a primary part of our call to be followers of Jesus Christ. We believe it helpful for the next Bishop to possess conflict resolution skills.

Given the complexities of today’s world and the challenges of doing God’s work, it is imperative that our next Bishop possess self-awareness and know their skills and limitations. They must have the ability to build strong teams and the acumen to seek out assistance in areas where they are challenged. They must be a good example for ECCT’s clergy and must be committed to their own spiritual life and practice healthy and appropriate boundaries of self care, including taking Sabbath.

Our clergy are excited for a leader who can help them dream up new ways of being church together—especially in the face of declining membership and declining numbers of clergy. They hope their next Bishop will be someone who can listen to them and help them find new, creative structures of church leadership.

If this feels like you—or a new version of you that the Holy Spirit is calling you to step into and become—please go to our BTC website to apply. Blessings on your discernment process, and when the time is right... We can’t wait to meet you!

Should You Get Confirmed?

This weekend, we start an online Inquirers Class series. All are welcome to join!

We’ll meet four weeks in a row on Zoom, 7pm–8:30pm on Sunday evenings. Each week will focus on one topic, with a short presentation from me and then some time for questions and discussion:

March 13: Baptism

March 20: Eucharist

March 27: The Episcopal Church

April 3: The Anglican Communion

Want to join? Register here for the Zoom link.

Part of the hope is that these classes could prepare adults for confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation of baptismal vows. For Easter Vigil, we will go to Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, where Bishop Ian Douglas will offer those three rites.

Are you considering confirmation or something like it? Here’s how to tell which of these rites might apply to you. Please email me if you’d like more information!

Confirmation

If you’ve been baptized in any Christian church (including the Episcopal Church) but were never confirmed, you might want to seek confirmation. Read more about confirmation here.

According to the Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, confirmation is:

Those who were baptized at an early age … are expected to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, recommit themselves to the responsibilities of their baptism, and receive laying on of hands by a bishop (BCP, p. 412).

Reception

If you’ve been baptized and confirmed in another Christian church but not received into the Episcopal Church, you might want to seek reception. Read more about reception here.

The Episcopal Dictionary of the Church says the following of reception:

Baptized persons who have been members of another Christian fellowship and who wish to be affiliated with the Episcopal Church may make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism in the presence of a bishop.

Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows

If you’ve already been confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church but want to make a public reaffirmation of your faith, with the laying on of hands by a bishop, you might want to seek the reaffirmation rite. People sometimes seek this when they’re going through a hard time or a major life transition: marriage or divorce, graduation from college, etc. Read more about reaffirmation here.

The Episcopal Dictionary of the Church explains of reaffirmation:

These might be persons returning to the church after a period of unbelief or those who have entered a new level of spiritual life. The BCP does not specify who these persons are, and a variety of interpretation exists.

You're Invited!

This is a post to invite you to two completely unrelated things.

1. A Holy Lent

This week, we began the celebration of Lent. We wore ashes to remind us of our mortality. We switched our decorations from green to purple and removed the flowers from the sanctuary. Our children will “bury the All*luias” before our 10:15am service begins this morning, so that we remember not to use that word until Easter!

So, consider this one more invitation to observe Lent this year.

From the liturgy we prayed on Ash Wednesday this past week:

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.

Remember that a Lenten practice can be about putting something down (like social media, complaining, or alcohol), but it can also be about taking something up (like a practice of walking every day, or starting a gratitude journal). Last year, I wrote a post with four suggestions for spiritual “new year’s resolutions,” which are applicable to Lent, as well.

How will you make Lent meaningful and holy for yourself this year?

2. Vestry Meetings

On an entirely different note: did you know that you’re welcome to attend our vestry meetings?

The vestry meets monthly to conduct the business of the parish. Join us the second Tuesday of each month at 7pm in the Parish Hall. If you’ve ever wondered what a “warden” is or what it is that the vestry actually does, here’s your chance to find out first-hand.

All are welcome to attend to listen. And, if you have a specific issue you’d like to raise, you can do so at the Visitors’ Forum, which happens at the beginning of each meeting. (Feel free to stay for the rest of the meeting, or leave after the forum is over.)

If possible, please let me know ahead of time if you plan to raise an issue at Visitor’s Forum. That way, I can make sure there’s enough time allotted for you.