We have expressed who we are and who we want to be, as led by the Holy Spirit.

In communion with God in Christ and with one another, we seek the opportunity to acknowledge our past, face our present, and express our hopes for our future. We lift up our hearts and souls as we seek “not only pardon, but renewal.”

Among clergy and laity there is a general feeling that the Diocese of Newark has had a noteworthy past, has a good understanding of our status today as we seek our next Bishop, and is prepared to boldly move forward into a very different future.

Our past: We have been a leader in the Episcopal Church in many ways as we thrived and grew. We ordained women and people of color and we accepted and ordained people without regard to their sexual orientation. For some, we were too progressive. For many, we were a diocese willing to face the important issues that most others, within and outside the Episcopal Church, would not or could not confront. We lived together as a diocese and as a people committed to mission.

Our present: Yet we, as many other dioceses, have not grown. In fact, the number of our congregations and active members has decreased. But this time of discernment for a new Bishop has come when many are prepared to face the facts, chart a new course, and move ahead. We have a palpable sense of hope and determination to make our Diocese a strong, growing, and meaningful missionary force in northern New Jersey.

Our future: We pray that we shall be open to the Spirit, that we shall work together to grow, and that we shall again be a leadership community of and for the people of northern New Jersey, not only for those who are members of the Episcopal Church but also for those for whom the Episcopal Church can be a welcoming community.

In light of our past and present, and looking to the future, our Nominating Committee has sought ideas and comments from and listened to members of the Diocese. We held Clergy and Lay Input Focus Group meetings. Many congregations had Bishop Reflection Sunday gatherings. We actively searched for information, advice, and counsel. Several things became clear:

• There is a strong feeling, among both clergy and laity, of hope about our future.
• There is strong agreement, again among both clergy and laity, about the ministry specialties and leadership behaviors of the person we are looking to call to be our next Bishop.

In fact, it was surprising just how similarly both clergy and laity felt about what aspects are important.

1. Congregational development
Most important by far is the ability of our next Bishop to lead through equipping and empowering the people of the Diocese of Newark for congregational development. Over half of the clergy and nearly 40% of the laity indicated that congregational development is the primary function and task of our next Bishop.

Our next Bishop will…

• have direct experience in growing congregations.
• be able to show how such growth is planned, managed, and accomplished.
• be able to teach others how to achieve growth at the congregational level.
• think strategically about the mission of congregations and the Diocese.

The laity in particular is looking for a Bishop “who understands and conveys insights about how to build healthy congregations.” Others indicated that “Church growth is ‘Bishop 10’s primary task,” and we expect the Bishop to be the Diocese’s “Chief Evangelist.” The next Bishop “must be a builder,” and “put the Episcopal Church back on the map.”

2. Pastoral care: connection and presence
Both clergy and laity agreed on the second most important ministry specialty for the next Bishop: pastoral care, which we understand as connection and presence.

We seek a chief priest and pastor who…

• relates actively to clergy and laity.
• responds to pastoral concerns of clergy.
• values relationship with individual congregations.

More than any other concern in the congregational responses, people reiterated a desire for a Bishop who wants an active connection with the congregations of the Diocese, visits regularly, is energized by being with people, wants to know the pulse of the congregations, spends time with youth, and communicates openly.

Additionally, there is broad agreement among clergy and laity on other important ministry specialties.

3. Peace and justice, social action, and outreach
We want the next Bishop to be…

• a leader, perhaps a prophet.
• one who can encourage and empower others.
• a presence in the public sphere who vigorously and effectively proclaims the gospel.
• one who grapples with the issues critical to our congregations, our Diocese, northern New Jersey, and our world.

While people are not interested in controversy for controversy’s sake, there is a strong desire for a Bishop who can and will interpret Episcopal Church views in the general public, and who will be an important alternative voice to narrow, fundamentalist interpretations of Christianity.

4. Spiritual growth and development
The Bishop will be one who…

• has and conveys a deep faith.
• takes time for personal spiritual growth and inspires others to do the same.
• will lead us in reaching out to the spiritual needs of people.
• can teach passionate spiritual language.
• will show us how to deepen spiritual formation in our congregations.
• expands awareness of spiritual growth and development as the basis of all we do.
• will foster experience of Christian community in the Diocese.
• encourages deepening of spiritual lives of clergy and laity.

The desire for a “well-articulated, lived-out spirituality” is clear. We seek someone with a “strong spiritual life,” clearly a woman or man of God. We want our Bishop to manifest direct sacred communion with God in Christ and to encourage us and show us how to do the same.

5. Faith and ministry formation
We look for our next Bishop to…

• convey a deep knowledge of scripture, faith and tradition.
• encourage teaching that deepens faith and ministry among laity and clergy.
• lead in welcoming and incorporating youth and young adults into the full life and ministry of the Episcopal Church and our congregations.

6. Stewardship
The Bishop will…

• work with lay and clergy leaders to build a vibrant approach to diocesan stewardship that will be embraced by our congregations.
• collaborate with diocesan leaders to build the endowment of the Diocese.

Details of the finances of the Diocese of Newark are available atCoffee Hour (appendix) >>.

7. Technology and administration
The next Bishop will…

• be technologically savvy.
• understand and work with information technology.
• recognize that technological change is accelerating and attend to the need of the Church to be relevant and in communication with the world.
• have a solid understanding of the financial and administrative aspects of a diocese.
• ensure the modernization of information and financial systems in Episcopal House.

Again, there was strong agreement among clergy and laity about those leadership behaviors we consider being most important in the next Bishop.

1. Equip and empower others
Both groups indicated that the next Bishop will…

• equip and empower others for mission and ministry.
• identify the right persons to be called to the right ministry—both in congregations and diocesan staff positions.
• appropriately delegate responsibility and authority and require accountability.
• recognize and credit the accomplishments of others.

Comments included the need for the Bishop to be “vision bearer and vision sharer”; also: “he/she must surround him/herself with good people who can carry out the ministry effectively and get others to ‘buy into’ the vision.”

2. Strong vision, critical thinker, problem solver
Consensus among laity and clergy asks for a Bishop who…

• demonstrates a vision of our Diocese in the future.
• can conceptualize timely conclusions.
• thinks theologically.
• welcomes the insights of others.
• expresses “a vision for the future that invigorates the people of the Diocese.”
• “leads by vision, not consensus.”

“A person who will plan and execute the vision by touching, enabling, and inspiring the right people to get the job(s) done.” “Vision with ability to engage others in defining and moving toward shared vision.”

3. Conflict and change
Some seek a Bishop who…

• can effectively manage conflict.
• comes to mutual involvement and resolution in times of conflict.
• is politically skilled to present views without unnecessarily alienating others.

Others seek a Bishop who…

• embraces change, particularly cultural and social change in the new century.
• engages new situations adaptively.
• deals with change openly, confidently, pro-actively.
• enables change, involving others in balancing risk and reward.
• takes a stand.
• defines self in the faith and narrative of the Gospel and is grounded personally so as to lead pastorally.

It is important that the next Bishop “be clear about who he/she is, who our Diocese is, and what it means to be Episcopalian while facing the changes and problems of our society innovatively.”

Our Input Focus Groups and Bishop Reflection Sunday experiences showed that our commitment to diversity makes us open to calling a Bishop without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, age, or physical ability.

NEXT: THE HOLY COMMUNION: Communion >>

back to top >>

back to Profile homepage >>

---

The Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of Newark
1802 Route 31 N • PMB 255 • Clinton, NJ 08809 USA