From the Election Committee of the Diocese of Springfield (using the words of Saint Peter),
to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Our Listening Group has been hard at work over the past month determining how best to listen to the individuals, deaneries, Eucharistic Communities and stakeholders who make up the Diocese of Springfield during a pandemic. Their recommendations were presented shortly before Current press time to the Election Committee which then led to the recommendations that the Election Committee will be making to the Standing Committee.
Who are all these committees and what do they all do? The Diocese of Springfield website has a brief description of the Election and Standing Committees and their members listed here. The website also features a Bishop Search Q&A, News, and is where you will eventually be able to find a Timeline.
In the meantime, if your Eucharistic Communities are holding annual meetings in January you will want to make sure you elect delegates (and alternates) to Diocesan Synod, for it is likely those delegates will be the same ones who will vote at the Nominating and Electing Synods. Another thing you can do is pray for us and the Diocese of Springfield:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on this 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 guard the faith, care for your people, and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
