NEWS AND UPDATES
UPDATE FROM THE BISHOP SEARCH AND NOMINATION COMMITTEE
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. At 5pm on November 29th, the petition period closed without any petitions being submitted.
In the coming days, look to www.bishopsearchnj.org for updated information about the candidates and the schedule for the Meet and Greet sessions.
As always, we beg your prayers for the candidates, for Bishop Stokes and Diocesan Staff, and for the Diocese of New Jersey.
Right Onward,
The Bishop Search and Nomination Committee
SPREADING THE NEWS ABOUT OUR BISHOP SEARCH
As we draw closer to the opening of applications on April 18, we’re getting more and more excited about spreading the word of our Bishop’s Search! The Sub-Committee on Search and Independent Nominations has been busy putting together some talking points about our diocese, and some ideas about how we can most effectively reach out to folks we know (or know of) who can help get the word out, or who may be interested in being nominated as a candidate.
If you’re a clergyperson, we ask that you contact your seminary friends (and seminary administration if you know them), colleagues in other dioceses, and friends you may have made at clergy conferences or workshops.
If you’re a layperson, we ask you to put our information out on the social media channels to which you have access.
The best way we have to effectively share our news is with joy and enthusiasm! We love being here, and we’re excited about our search process!
The profile will be published, and nominations will be opened on Monday, April 18. We’ll accept nominations through May 9, so we only have a few weeks to gather up the bulk of our candidates. Please help us share the joy and excitement we’re all feeling as we await our next steps!
More information about the process and profile will be coming out shortly. Please watch for it. We will be posting ideas for how you can help us reach out and spread the word!
It’s an exciting time in the Diocese of NJ!
THANK YOU AND REMINDER TO PRAY FOR THE SEARCH
Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and participated in the listening sessions; it’s vital voices across the diocese are heard, and your participation is much appreciated. Summaries of the information gathered from both the survey and the listening sessions will be coming out shortly.
Gathering information from the survey and listening sessions is not the only work happening on the Bishop Search and Nomination Committee. The various sub-committees have been diligently working to ensure a smooth search process. We are asking everyone to pray for the search process itself as well as all committee members, the Standing Committee, and the diocese too! Inviting God into the search process through prayer opens our hearts and minds and helps us envision the future of our diocese.
We are asking everyone to pray the following prayer. As we search for the pastor God has selected for us, let us join our voices in prayer for the Spirit to lead and unite our hearts and minds.
A prayer for our diocese:
God of all, hold the Diocese of New Jersey in the palm of your hand during this time of discernment. Help us to come together as sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ, listening to one another with open hearts and open minds. Enter into our conversations and make them holy and lead us into a peaceful place of unity as we search for our new bishop.
YOUR PHOTOS NEEDED FOR DIOCESAN PROFILE
Calling all photographers! The Bishop Search and Nomination Committee is looking for photos for the profile and other advertising material. If you or someone you know have photos or videos (short clips) of events either in the church building or in other places, please send them to [email protected]. We are seeking images of people participating actively in ministry. We want to show the joyful, energetic nature of our diocese. Images or videos should focus on the diversity and vitality of the Diocese of New Jersey.
Thank you!