Diocese of Newark
The Search/Nominating Committee
for the 10th Bishop of Newark
News Reports
___________Newark's Bishop Search Begins
by Bill McCollSeptember 1, 2005 -- The search for the 10th diocesan bishop of Newark is in full swing.
The work began in earnest on Saturday, July 16th at The Church of the Saviour in Denville when members of the Nominating and Transition Committees joined with the Standing Committee to begin planning for the post-Jack Croneberger era.
"It was great to meet face-to-face for the first time," said Louie Crew, co-chair of the Nominating Committee. "All of us appreciate the trust the Diocese has put in us."
The first half of the gathering was led by the Reverend Canon David Seger, Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Northern Indiana and a veteran facilitator for dioceses searching for new leadership. He had the members participate in a variety of exercises aimed at identifying the similarities and differences of the individuals who will be part of the process. Segal said the goal was to help those involved get a better understanding of the various points of view represented and to use that knowledge to increase teamwork and efficiency in the committees.
Seger, along with Standing Committee chairman Kim Byham, also used the morning session to explain the responsibilities of the two committees and answer questions. Among the topics: how the Nominating Committee would go about searching for the 4 to 6 candidates to be voted on in the September 16th, 2006 special diocesan convention and the need for a Transition Committee, which did not exist in the previous search process that led to the calling of Bishop Croneberger.
After a service of Holy Eucharist, where Seger used his sermon to discuss God's choice of the unlikely David to be King of Israel, the Nominating and Transition committees broke up into separate rooms to begin their first actual working sessions.
The 24-member Nominating Committee, led by Crew and clergy co-chair the Reverend Vicki McGrath, discussed assignments, scheduling of meetings and a variety of other topics, including the need for confidentiality in the work.
"Transitions often prompt anxiety," Crew said. "Especially when a group goes into seclusion to make recommendations that will help shape the future of us all."
In an effort to reduce that anxiety, the members agreed that the committee should strive to keep everyone in the diocese well informed about its work while at the same time making sure that the privacy of potential candidates is protected.
The smaller Transition Committee, which is being led by the Reverend Chris Brdlik and Marge Christie, made plans to start its main work after Labor Day.
"We can afford the luxury of a somewhat later start" than the Nominating Committee, said Christie.
The Transition Committee is charged with helping make the changeover from Bishop Croneberger's tenure to that of the new bishop easier. That changeover is scheduled to occur during the regular diocesan convention in January of 2007.
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Bill McColl is Communications Chairman for the Nominating Committee and attends All Saints Church in Leonia
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Revised December 8, 2005
© 2005 Episcopal Diocese of Newark.