Jan. 22 Standing Committee letter asks for prayers and thanksgiving

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts on Jan. 22 sent the following letter to diocesan clergy, wardens, Diocesan Convention delegates and diocesan leadership.

“The Lord said to Samuel,
‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature…
for the Lord does not see as mortals see;
they look on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Sam. 16

Dear People of the Diocese:

Your Standing Committee is pleased to provide this update on the discernment of, and transition to, new episcopal leadership in this diocese. In particular, I wish to speak about the slate of nominees, announced on January 15.

First, I wish to offer thanks for the wonderful work of the members of the election Discernment Committee through their spiritual journey – learning to see as God sees rather than as people see. The slate of five nominees for election came to the Standing Committee, and then to the diocese, fully formed. This presentation could give the false impression that developing the slate was easy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Rather, the Discernment Committee had the daunting task of looking at priests and trying to see a bishop. This was a process of intense discernment, of understanding whom God has called to be a bishop and to be our bishop.

Second, I am grateful for the tremendous work to date and work to come of the members of the election Transition Committee. Their work will help the diocese do as the Discernment Committee has already done – to look at priests and to see a bishop. This will be done over the course of months, at walkabouts in mid-March, at the electing convention on April 5, and onward to the consecration on September 13. Each event will take us one step forward in looking on a priest and seeing a bishop.

Lastly, I ask for your prayers and thanksgiving for the five nominees – Holly Antolini, Ron Culmer, Alan Gates, Ledlie Laughlin, and Sam Rodman – for their willingness to offer themselves to this discernment of God’s call. They each are making a major sacrifice to join us in this holy journey, and I pray for a process over the next several months worthy of that sacrifice.

Yours in Christ,

THE STANDING COMMITTEE

BY: James Gray Wagner, Esq., its President

James Gray Wagner, Esq.
The Rev. Mark McKone-Sweet
The Rev. Marya DeCarlen
The Hon. Judith Nelson Dilday (ret.)
Dr. Colin Johnstone
The Rev. Amy McCreath
Prof. Blanca G. Silvestrini
The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz

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January 23, 2014