From the Rector…
This summer we will vote for the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church as The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry’s tenure comes to an end and he is not eligible to run again. After a very long and in-depth process with a nominating committee of ten women and ten men, a slate of four has been presented. The candidates include The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker of Nebraska, The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutierrez of Pennsylvania, The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe of Northwestern Pennsylvania/Western New York, and The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright of Atlanta. You can find out more about each candidate by visiting the General Convention’s website here or The Office of Public Affairs announcement of the slate here.
The Presiding Bishop, or PB, is elected to serve a nine year term by the General Convention (GC). The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church (TEC) and made up of a House of Bishops (HoB) and a House of Deputies (HoD). The House of Bishops is comprised of all bishops current and retired in the church. The House of Deputies is a representative body of the dioceses of the church. Each diocese has eight representatives—four clergy and four lay. In the Diocese of Alabama these representatives are elected at Diocesan Convention. Two members of Ascension were elected to represent Alabama at this year’s GC—Anne Kimzey and Richard Norris—as lay deputies. (The Rev. Drew Brislin was elected as a clergy alternate.). They will have the privilege and honor of being part of the electing body.
The Presiding Bishop is for all intents and purposes simply a figure-head. He has no official capacity over any particular diocese in TEC. He is the chair of the House of Bishops and thus holds some sway in matters of governance. To a much greater extent, the PB is the face of The Episcopal Church to the world. Many of you may remember The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry preaching at a wedding in England a few years back…. But more than a figure-head, the PB functions as the central point of the church. It is the way we understand who we are as Episcopalians.
The PB does not function like the Pope in the Catholic Church—his word is not considered an ultimate expression of authority much less is the PB considered God’s spokesperson on Earth. Instead, the PB is the Chief Pastor and Primate of The Episcopal Church. The PB keeps us connected to The Anglican Communion as well as every diocese in TEC. We are a relational church as well as one established on orders—the PB is an expression of this both/and unique understanding of identity.
The Episcopal Church is not structured through an authority established by its orders like the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Churches. Neither are we a congregationalist church. Our structure is more unique and liminal. Instead of a top-down or bottom-up method of governance, we partner together through a bi-caramel body made up of lay and ordained people to make decisions, to wrestle with our faith, to engage with one another in pastoral and accountable ways. We share a common faith, prayers, theology, governance, and structure. The PB is an important aspect of our commonality.
I encourage you to hold this election and those who we have deputized to vote for PB this summer in your prayers. They hold a great responsibility. Pray that they and all of TEC will continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit as we partner together to continue God’s reconciling work in the world.
Light and Life,
Candice+