ANNOUNCING THE CANDIDATES TO BE THE 13TH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY

Dear Diocesan Family,

After more than a year of prayer and discernment, the Bishop Search and Nominating Committee is pleased to present the following slate of nominees for the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey (in alphabetical order by last name):

The Rev. Canon Dr. Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Rhode Island

The Rev. Canon Dr. Sally French, Canon for Regional Ministry and Collaborative Innovation, Diocese of North Carolina

The Very Rev. Troy Mendez, Dean, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Phoenix, Arizona

The Rev. Janine Schenone, Rector, Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, San Diego, California

The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Jose Wilson, Rector, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Oakland, California

Preliminary information on the nominees can be found here; more extensive information will be published shortly. Candidates will visit locations around the diocese in early January for meet and greet sessions that will give clergy and congregants the opportunity to engage directly with them prior to the Electing Convention. The Electing Convention will be held on January 28, 2023 starting at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Cathedral and via Zoom. More information on both the meet and greets and the convention will be available in mid-November.

We are grateful for the faithful support of the people of the Diocese of New Jersey, whose clarity regarding the mission and ministry of the Diocese, as well as the qualities being sought in our next bishop, defined our mandate. The makeup of the Committee reflected the wonderful diversity found in our Diocese, and we prayerfully arrived at the slate submitted.

The release of the slate also marks the beginning of the 30-day petition process, details of which can be found here. That process will close at 5:00pm on November 29, 2022.

We ask that you refrain from direct engagement with the nominees themselves. Any questions you have for the nominees can be directed to the Transition Committee for use at the Meet and Greets.

As always, we beg your prayers for our diocese, for Bishop Stokes and Diocesan Staff, for the Transition Committee, and for the nominees for the 13th Bishop of New Jersey.

Right Onward,

The Bishop Search and Nomination Committee