Courtesy photos
Transition Committee co-chairs Betsy Ridge, Beth Grundy and Brett Johnson, and Consecration Committee chair Michael Dangelo
The diocesan Standing Committee, which oversees the bishop search and election process now underway, has announced the Transition Committee co-chairs and Consecration Committee chair. The application process for those interested in serving on the Transition Committee will be announced soon.
Oct. 25, 2023
Fall greetings from the Standing Committee.
Toward the end of August, we announced the members of the Nominating Committee and began the process of forming the Transition Committee and Consecration Committee by identifying and calling the leadership for those committees. You’ll find that the Spirit led us once again to use a co-chair model for the Transition Committee given the breadth and depth of work to be accomplished. Not so with the Consecration Committee; there will be one chair overseeing it.
As a reminder, the Nominating Committee is shepherding the diocese through the initial phase of the bishop election process by conducting listening sessions and surveys, creating a diocesan profile, soliciting and vetting applications and finally presenting a slate of nominees to the Standing Committee.
Briefly, the tasks of the Transition Committee are completely separate from those of the Nominating Committee and include the following: arranging “meet and greets” for the final nominees for election as bishop; helping the newly elected bishop and their family to make a home here; planning welcoming activities for the new bishop and family; and planning a celebration of ministry for Bishop Alan Gates and Tricia Harvey as we thank them for their ministry with us.
Further, the tasks of the Consecration Committee are closely aligned and tied with the Transition Committee; therefore, these two committees work collaboratively. With that said, Consecration Committee members will plan and implement events leading up to and on the day of the consecration, including the liturgy, hospitality and celebration. The consecration is to take place on Oct. 19, 2024.
If you are attending the upcoming Diocesan Convention, please take time to greet and welcome the Transition Committee co-chairs, Betsy Ridge of the Church of the Advent in Boston, the Rev. Elizabeth Grundy of St. Peter’s Church in Osterville and the Rev. Brett Johnson of Emmanuel Church in Wakefield, and the Consecration Committee chair, the Rev. Michael Dangelo of the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill. Once again, we are blessed with leaders who have extensive knowledge of this diocese and have served the diocese in a variety of ways.
Application process for Transition Committee membership coming soon: The full committee will have 10-12 members, clergy and lay, from across the diocese. To that end, the Standing Committee will, in the very near future, send a job description and instructions on how to be considered. If you are interested in serving on the Transition Committee, you are encouraged to apply.
Keep up to date on the bishop search by visiting the diocesan webpage dedicated to the bishop search at www.diomass.org/bishop-search. In addition, the Standing Committee welcomes e-mail inquiries at diomasssearchcom@gmail.com.
Faithfully,
Louise Gant, President
The Rev. Kathryn Elledge, Vice President
Reminder that online survey is open until Nov. 1: The Nominating Committee invites everyone in the diocesan community to participate in an online survey. The survey is available in English and Spanish here, and will be open until Nov. 1.
"This survey is designed to gather information from the larger Massachusetts Episcopal community to inform the work of the Bishop Nominating Committee," the survey introduction says. "Specifically, the information provided in this survey will help the Nominating Committee to both write the diocesan profile and to determine which qualities to seek in the candidates for the next bishop."