Narrative Timeline of the Discernment and Nominating Committee’s Work
February 2023 -
The Standing Committee invited wardens and clergy of the diocese to share an invitation for people to apply to be part of the Search Committee. A descriptive list of qualifications was shared and the process was open to anyone who is a communicant in good standing, as described by Diocesan Canon 17. Sixteen applications were submitted and of those, twelve people were selected by the Standing Committee - six lay people and six clergy. The Rev. Julie Cicora was named chair with the Reverend Keisha Stokes as co-chair. Other members include Margy Ashley, Rochelle Coley, Julie Gedro, Carolyn Mok, Val Jutsum, Richard Smith, Rev. Elizabeth Brooks-Harden, Reverend David Hefling, Reverend Lance Robbins, and Reverend Columba Salamony. In addition, Standing Committee engaged the services of consultant, Rev. Gary Butterworth, who will work with the committee to the day of Consecration.
March 24 - 25, 2023-
The Search Committee met for the first time at a retreat in Geneva, NY, with Gary Butterworth and the Standing Committee to begin the work of the search. The purpose of the retreat was to discuss the process, roles, and responsibilities, and to “name and own our anxieties.” A major question was, “Is this timeframe realistic?” It was agreed that the committee will do its best to stick to it, always continuing to be led by the Holy Spirit.
April 17, 2023-
The first meeting of the group was held during which the calendar in general was discussed and specific meeting dates were shared. The group will meet every two weeks, alternating between in-person and Zoom meeting formats. Subcommittees were formed (Information gathering, Profile, Education) and a separate search website will be put into place. We are “off to the races!”
April - May 2023-
Subcommittees begin their individual meetings. The Profile Committee is gathering information about how our history and polity affects where we are today, and what makes the Diocese of Rochester unique. They are looking to present the diversity of the diocese realistically - geographically, population-wise, congregationally, and politically. The Profile Committee is on-going until the profile is made public in July.
The Education Committee is working on presenting information about the role and responsibilities of a bishop, the process we are adhering to in this search, and the elements of the timeline we are following. Information sharing from the Education Subcommittee will be on-going through the process.
The Information Committee is looking at what characteristics/traits/skills/ the people of the Diocese want in a new bishop. Information gathering/listening sessions will continue through Spring and early Summer.
June 2023-
The Standing Committee will name the members of the Transition Committee - those people responsible for all the details of the actual Consecration and the smooth integration of the new bishop to the Diocese of Rochester. They will conduct “meet and greets” for the chosen candidates at the appropriate time so that everyone interested can meet the candidates in different locations.
July 2023-
The diocesan profile will be posted publicly throughout the greater Church via various communication forums. Candidates may then be nominated and names will be received by the Search Committee. As our consultant has told us, a good number of applications for a diocese our size is 6 - 8. Larger dioceses tend to draw more, smaller dioceses draw fewer.
August/September 2023-
Depending on the date of the posting of the profile, the deadline for nominations will fall during this time. It is typical to leave 4 - 6 weeks for people to submit nominations. The Search Committee will set the date before the posting goes up.
-“Paper screening” will happen during this time period. Background checks will occur as we move forward. The Search Committee will screen nominees and compile names of viable candidates.
September 2023-
We will conduct on-line interviews with those candidates from our selection process, via Zoom or Skype. The interviews will be made available to all committee members.
Late in September or early October, the Search Committee will conduct a second screening to determine who moves up to the Discernment Retreat.
October/November 2023-
The Search Committee will hold a 4 - 5 day Discernment Retreat during which viable candidates will come to the diocese and meet with the Search Committee for intensive interviews. The committee will engage in in-depth conversations and information sharing with one another to select the candidates who will best fit for our diocese. (Tentatively the retreat is to be held at Notre Dame Retreat House.) It is from this set of in-person interviews that the committee will select three candidates whose names will be presented to the Standing Committee. That will happen by Thanksgiving, November 23, 2023 - but in any case, it will be within one week of the end of the retreat.
December (first week)-
The announcement of the slate of candidates will occur during this time. It is the responsibility of the Standing Committee to make the announcement.
At this point, officially, the work of the Search Committee is complete. However, there is more work to be done by the Standing Committee.
