Receiving a holy charge

The Bishop Search and Transition Committees are commissioned for their tasks

Members of the Standing Committee, the Bishop Search Committee, and the Bishop Transition Committee gathered for Eucharist following a daylong Commissioning Retreat on Saturday, April 19, at St. Edward's, Wayzata. 
Photo: Susan Barksdale

Gracious God, you give light and life to your people. You guide us in pathways of renewal and transformation. Light the way before us now as we discern and choose the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Minnesota. May we find a pastor who will lead us in hope, challenge us to ever greater faithfulness, and equip us with love for mission and ministry in the church and in the world. We pray in thanksgiving for your guiding presence and your grace, in the Name of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Prayer for Bishop Search, by The Rev. Devon Anderson, Chair,
and The Rev. Lydia Huttar Brown, Vice Chair
Commission on Liturgy & Music, Diocese of Minnesota

by Susan Barksdale

“Wow! We’re really underway!”

The Rev. Michael Wyatt used these words to begin his homily on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at a Eucharist concluding the Commissioning Retreat for the newly-formed Bishop Search Committee and the Bishop Transition Committee for the Diocese of Minnesota. The daylong event was held at the Church of St. Edward the Confessor in Wayzata. The Standing Committee, which had been charged with the formation of these groups, participated as well.

Each of the two new committees includes one member elected by each of the nine regions of the diocese, plus nine members chosen from other applicants and selected to help round out the committees to reflect the entire diocesan family. Click here to see the rosters of these committees.

The Search Committee is responsible for the process of screening and selecting nominees for the ninth Bishop of Minnesota. Among other things, it is charged with creating a Diocesan profile, developing and implementing a method for identifying and screening candidates, developing and conducting procedures for interviews and visits with candidates, and developing and implementing procedures for nominee presentation visits to the Diocese of Minnesota. This committee’s work begins at once.

The Transition Committee’s work begins later and overlaps slightly with that of the Search Committee. This group is responsible for the election process for the Bishop Diocesan, helping him/her settle in the diocese, and then for the eventual transition in (of) the episcopate from one bishop to another. (The descriptions above are adapted from a document prepared by the Standing Committee; click here to read more.)

Becoming a team

Both groups, along with the Standing Committee, gathered at St. Edward’s for the retreat on April 19. Facilitators included the Very Rev. Ronald Clingenpeel from the national Episcopal Church, who is serving as a consultant to our diocese in the bishop search and election process; and John Henrich of the North Central Ministry Development Center in New Brighton, who conducted the team building sessions.

The work of the day included completion and scoring of the Parker Team Player Survey, a presentation on strengths of styles, committee meetings with Ronald Clingenpeel, and several team building exercises.

Learning to think outside the box

The three committees participated in several team-building exercises and discussions during the retreat.
Photo: Susan Barksdale

The last exercise of the day concerned the rating in importance of various items that might be used by a space crew that has crash-landed on the light side of the moon and needs to rendezvous with its “mother ship.” The results from each small table group were then compared with those of NASA scientists. While all rated oxygen and water first, there was an interesting variance in the other ratings. In addition, this particular situation could make a difference in the importance and use of items. A magnetic compass, for example, could be important on Earth but not on the moon, where there may be no magnetic field; but pistols could possibly be used as a means of propulsion in the moon’s lower gravity.

Attendees participated eagerly in the exercise, and cheered when some of their conclusions were validated by the “real” rocket scientists. In discussing their reactions to this exercise, participants noted that they had learned to listen and to take other people’s experiences into account. When asked what would be most pressing in their upcoming work, oxygen got the top rating once again. “Make sure the bishop is breathing!” quipped one participant, to general laughter.

A commission for ministry

The day ended with a commissioning ceremony and Eucharist, in St. Edward’s unique worship space, which incorporates a labyrinth in the floor. Homilist Michael Wyatt spoke of the duties and attributes of a bishop, who is entrusted with “the guardianship of this faith that has come down to us over time.” He noted the responsibilities and difficulties of the committees and their work in the coming days of “ruthless compassion” and “fallible discernment.”

“We need to stoop down and listen very carefully,” Wyatt said. He asked all to consider the episcopacy of unity and oversight that each of them has been given. Wyatt added that this was a moment for all God’s people to become bishops as they observe what it costs them to put aside their own personal preferences. “Be of good courage,” he said in a concluding prayer.

Following the homily, all three committees were installed by the Very Rev. Ronald Clingenpeel. Then, in an echo of a Confirmation rite, each member of the Search and the Transition Committee was commissioned individually, with the laying on of hands by all members of the Standing Committee. Symbolically, as they walked around the circular rows of chairs to the altar, they were all travelling to the center of the labyrinth set in the church floor.

Then, just before the Peace and the Great Thanksgiving of the Eucharist, all were presented with a glass vase containing a stalk of “Lucky Bamboo” with this note: “May this small plant be a symbol of hope, new life, and God’s blessing in your work and ministry.”

You raise up laborers for your harvest, Holy God, sending them out as sowers of your good news, workers of healing, and caretakers of new life: Bless the members of the Search and Transition Committees in their work of planting and tending your Church; equip them for service, enliven them with your joy, and help them remember and trust that it is you who will bring in the harvest; through Jesus Christ, the Savior of souls. Amen.

Book of Occasional Services (adapted), p. 249

Click here to read more about the Bishop Search process, and to check for periodic updates.