The Election Committee’s work is on pause due to the pandemic and in the wake of the postponement of the Bishop’s retirement. This space will be updated as the Committee resumes their work.
March 11, 2020
Greetings to the Diocese of Springfield from the Bishop Election Committee:
We have been charged to assist in the selection of our twelfth bishop, and we want to keep you apprised of our duties, responsibilities, and progress. To that end, we will be publishing information frequently throughout the Diocese in the form of emails to diocesan leadership, content for church newsletters or bulletins, a Bishop Search Q&A Facebook series, the diocesan website, and other means as needed.
There are many tasks to be accomplished in a short time. The date of June 12, 2021 has been set for the consecration of our new bishop. Working backward from that date, the Electing Synod will be held November 14, 2020, and will choose our bishop from among the slate finalized at the Nominating Synod, which will be held in conjunction with the Diocesan Synod on October 2-3, 2020. This means that background checks will need to be completed and nominee materials compiled so that we can announce the nominee names on August 3, 2020.
The Diocese of Springfield’s bishop nomination process is unique within the church, and it is designed to be completely open and transparent. Nominations will be accepted from lay and clerical members of the The Episcopal Church (one of each), and the entirety of those who complete the application process and pass the background checks are presented to the Nominating Synod. The national priest shortage is now starting to reach the office of the episcopate, so the wider church is very interested in our process. Fr. Ron Clingenpeel, our liaison to the Office of Pastoral Development, is offering resources and observing us. Nominations will open May 1 and will close June 1, 2020.
Regarding the duties of the Election Committee, we are not selecting the new bishop. Rather, we are charged with helping the Standing Committee facilitate the process of nomination, election, and consecration that will, God-willing, result in the installation of a bishop.
Very soon you will be receiving a survey via email and we ask that you complete it prayerfully, but quickly. Your input is essential to determine the characteristics and qualities our new bishop should manifest, as well as the spiritual growth and direction for our diocese. After listening to you, we can develop a diocesan profile we will disseminate to educate potential candidates.
Thank you for helping us by completing the survey by April 1, 2020.
In Christ,
Diocese of Springfield, Bishop Election Committee:
Chris Bennett, St. Matthew’s, Bloomington
Sherry Black, St. Mark’s, West Frankfort
Sara Davis, St. John’s, Decatur
Mary Ann Denney, St. Luke’s, Springfield
Jan Goossens, St. Thomas’, Glen Carbon
David Halt, St. Matthew’s, Bloomington
William Jackson, St. Luke’s, Springfield
James Keith, St. John’s, Decatur, Profile
Diane Martin, St. Paul’s & Trinity Chapel, Alton
Rod Matthews, Christ the King, Normal
Elizabeth Moore, St. Paul’s, Springfield
James Muriuki, Church of the Redeemer
Mike Newago, St. Barnabas’, Havana
Charles Rice, St. Paul’s, Carlinville
Fredna Scroggins, St. Andrew’s, Edwardsville
Bill Techau, Emmanuel Memorial, Champaign
Kelley Wegeng, St. John the Divine, Champaign
David Wells, St. Paul’s, Springfield
Randy Winn, Trinity, Mt. Vernon
