THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD
Standing Committee
821 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62704
Tel: (217) 525-1876, Fax: (217) 525-1877
www.episcopalspringfield.org
December 13, 2019
Feast of St. Lucy
Re: Search for the 12th Bishop of Springfield
To the faithful of the Diocese of Springfield,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:2)
At Synod this year, Bishop Martins announced his retirement as the 11th Bishop of Springfield. We, the Standing Committee, write to update you on what we are doing and where the coming weeks and months will take us as we enter further into the season of transition ahead.
First of all, know that we are actively laying groundwork. Since the Bishop’s announcement, we have been in regular contact, meeting twice and beginning broad discussions of what we anticipate the next steps will be. We reached out to the Office of Pastoral Development, the national office which serves as a resource for the transition, election, and deployment of bishops, and we are considering what sort of expectations and timelines might best serve us all in searching for the 12th Bishop of Springfield.
Next, we invite you to be on the lookout for upcoming news and information. We will begin posting information to the Diocesan website and reaching out electronically so that each of you and your respective communities can stay up to date on where we are in our corporate discernment.
We also want to invite your participation in the process. This will include opportunities for much needed input on our present and future needs. Additionally, we will be looking in the coming months for representatives from across the Diocese to assist in facilitating the search process itself.
Finally, we invite you to pray. Suggested prayers for use in corporate worship and private devotions are included at the conclusion of this letter and others will be provided as the process continues. In particular, we bid your prayers on behalf of:
+ Bishop Daniel and Brenda as they go through this season and look ahead to the completion of their ministry among us.
+ The Diocese of Springfield, the Standing Committee, our congregations, the clergy, and all the people.
+ The movement of the Spirit on those candidates which might be called to become a part of our search in God’s time.
+ Wisdom in the ordering of this process and fortitude in the execution of the same, that the Lord’s will may be fulfilled as we give the glory and honor to God in all that is said and done.
If you would like to hear more, please feel free to reach out to a member of the Standing Committee. We will be in touch again in the coming months. Until then, may we all have a blessed Advent and a joyous Christmas.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Your servants in Christ,
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Springfield
Standing Committee Contact Information
The Rev. Beth Maynard, President
bmaynard@gmail.comKevin Babb
attorneykevinbabb@sbcglobal.netThe Rev. Kip Ashmore
revkash@msn.comGerry Smith
gwsmith58@gmail.comThe Rev. Ben Hankinson, Secretary
frbenhankinson@gmail.comThe Rev. Shawn Denney
stlucas1098@aol.comJoe Patterson
jpatte5828@yahoo.comHelen Williams
helen54williams@gmail.com
Prayers for the Election of the 12th Bishop of Springfield
The following prayers are suggested for use by the faithful of the Diocese of Springfield both in corporate worship and in private devotions. These are meant to provide a suggested place from which we may begin our prayers for the election of the next Bishop of Springfield, and may be adapted as necessary for use in different contexts. As the search process develops in the coming months, additional prayers may be provided to further supplement our intercessions.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. – BCP page 818, #13
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel for the choosing of a bishop for this Diocese. Teach them in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide them to perceive what is right, and grant them both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. – Adapted from BCP page 818, #12
