Diocese of Newark
The Search/Nominating Committee
for the 10th Bishop of Newark
News Reports
___________Bishop Search Announcement Nears
by Bill McCollMay 1, 2006 -- The Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Newark is continuing the discernment process leading up to its announcement next month of the candidates to be presented for election.
Since the nomination process closed February 15th, the committee has been using a variety of methods to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each person suggested as a possible replacement for retiring bishop Jack Croneberger.
"The committee is being very dedicated with their time and energies," said the Rev. Vicki McGrath, who along with Dr. Louie Crew co-chairs the committee. "We've been prayerfully and mindfully considering all the information that has come to us." The committee members are meeting face-to-face with those who best matched the criteria in the diocesan profile, which was compiled from a series of "Listening Sessions" and other meetings held throughout the diocese last year. Soon they will be "on the road," traveling in small teams to hear the potential candidates preach on their "home turf." The members will bring their observations back to be shared with the rest of the committee.
The group will then narrow the field to a minimum of four and a maximum of six candidates to be presented for election, making the official announcement on June 28th.
From September 6th to the 12th, the candidates will be in the diocese for a series of meet and greet sessions called "walkabouts."
McGrath said the committee is strongly urging everyone to try to attend at least one.
"Walkabouts are important because they provide an opportunity for anyone in the diocese, lay and clergy, adult and youth, to meet with the candidates, not only to put a face to the name, but to hear the responses to the questions that the attendees will ask," she said. "It's an audience participation event."
On September 23rd, the election will be held at a special convention in Newark. A candidate must have a majority of both the lay delegates and clergy voting in order to be elected.
Following approval by Episcopal Church bishops and Standing Committees, the new bishop is to officially take the helm at the regular diocesan convention in 2007, when Bishop Croneberger steps down.
Bill McColl is Communications Chairman for the Nominating Committee and attends All Saints Church in Leonia
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Posted May 1, 2006
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