Courtesy photo
The Transition Committee was given its charge from the Standing Committee on Jan. 5, at the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill. Members are (pictured from left): Beth Grundy, James Dilday (Standing Committee), James Hairston, Walter Connelly (Standing Committee), Natasha Stewart, Kate Paradise, Brett Johnson, Kourtni Patten, Cynthia Pape, Clifford Brown, Leon Brathwaite, Marya DeCarlen, Betsy Ridge and Michael Thompson, with the Standing Committee's president, Karen Coleman, and vice president, Grace Knowles.
As an update on the bishop search and election process that is underway in the Diocese of Massachusetts, the diocesan Standing Committee has announced the membership of the Transition Committee.
The newly appointed Transition Committee received its charge from the Standing Committee during a retreat gathering on Jan. 5 at the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill.
Transition Committee members are:
Leon Brathwaite, Grace Church, Vineyard Haven
The Rev. Clifford Brown, Christ Church, Quincy
The Rev. Marya DeCarlen, St. John’s Church, Gloucester
The Rev. James Hairston, Church of St. Augustine and St. Martin. Boston
The Rev. Cynthia Pape, St. John’s Church, Jamacia Plain
Kate Paradise, Church of the Holy Spirit, Orleans
Kourtni Patten, Grace Church, Salem
The Rev. Natasha Stewart, St. Luke’s Church, Scituate
The Rev. Michael Thompson, St. John’s Church, Newtonville
“We are blessed to have these individuals committing their time to the Transition Committee,” the Rev. Dr. Karen Coleman, Standing Committee President, and Grace Knowles, Standing Committee Vice President, said in making the announcement.
The Transition Committee co-chairs, announced in October, are 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. The Rev. Michael Dangelo of the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill will chair the still-to-be-appointed Consecration Committee.
In addition, the Rev. Ginger Solaqua will serve as committee chaplain. Solaqua recently concluded her term as priest in charge at the Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington and is a colleague at the Bethany House of Prayer in Arlington.
The Transition Committee will be responsible for a week of “meet and greets” in early May with the final nominees for election as bishop; coordinating with diocesan staff and others to implement the special electing convention on May 18; providing transition support and logistics for the bishop-elect and their family; arranging a thanksgiving celebration for the ministry of Bishop Alan Gates; and working collaboratively with the Consecration Committee (not yet appointed), as well as churchwide and diocesan staff, in the planning and implementation of the Oct. 19 consecration of the new bishop.
Both the May 18 electing convention and the Oct. 19 consecration service are scheduled to take place at Trinity Church in Boston.
Visit www.diomass.org/bishop-search for information and updates.