June 7, 2013: The Discernment Committee, one of two committees responsible for carrying out the nomination, election and transition process for a bishop coadjutor to succeed the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE when he retires, today released the following information to the diocesan Office of Communications:
The Discernment Committee for the search for a bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Massachusetts invites all the members of the diocesan family to come together and offer their thoughts, insights and hopes for the bishop we seek. This process will be centered on a series of Listening Events for laypersons as well as the clergy. Events for the laity will occur in each deanery over the course of the month of June; a schedule is attached. Three events will also be held for the clergy, organized in Boston, north of Boston and south of Boston. Particular events for communities within our diocese where dialogue needs to be in a language other than English are also being organized.
All laypersons are encouraged to participate in one of these meetings, and all clergy are invited to participate in one of the three clergy events; if the meeting for a particular deanery is not feasible for anyone, they are surely welcome to attend the event in another deanery.
For those persons unable to attend one of these listening events in any way, an online survey, as well as a paper survey for those without ready access to the Internet, will be made available. [Online survey is available here. Paper survey attached at the bottom of this page.]
Notification of the deanery events has been made to the deans, who in turn will share this with the rectors of congregations and communities of their deanery.
Please keep this process in your prayers as we move ahead together.
For the Discerment Committee,
David K. Urion, Chair
The Rev. Laurel Deery, Vice Chair
El Comité de discernimiento para la búsqueda de un obispo diocesano de la diócesis de Massachusetts invita a todos los miembros de la familia diocesana para unirse y ofrecer sus pensamientos, ideas y esperanzas sobre el obispo que buscamos. Este proceso estará centrado en una serie de eventos de escucha para laicos, así como el clero. Eventos para los laicos se producirán en cada deanato en el transcurso del mes de junio; vea horario adjunto. También se celebrarán tres actos para el clero, organizado en Boston, al norte de Boston y al sur de Boston. También se han organizado eventos particulares para las comunidades dentro de nuestra diócesis donde el diálogo debe de ser en un idioma diferente al inglés (por ejemplo en español).
Se les exhorta a todos a participar en uno de estos encuentros. Si la reunión para un deanato particular no es posible para cualquier persona, serán ciertamente bienvenidos a asistir al evento en otro deanato.
Aquellas personas que no puedan asistir a uno de estos eventos de escucha, tendrán disponible una encuesta por la internet, así como una encuesta de papel para aquellos sin acceso a la red.
Todos los deanes han sido notificados sobre los eventos en cada deanato, quienes a su vez la compartirán con los párrocos de las todas las iglesias de su deanato.
Por favor, mantenga este proceso en sus oraciones ya que avanzamos juntos.
A nombre del Comité de discernimiento,
David K. Urion, chair
The Rev. Laurel Deery, vice chair
Related articles:
Committees named for bishop election process
Prayer & committee nominating process announced for bishop election
Standing Committee issues letter on Bishop Shaw's call for coadjutor election
Bishop Shaw calls for election of his successor