Starting the process of discerning who will be Utah’s next Episcopal bishop is bittersweet. We’ll miss Bishop Hayashi and appreciate all the ways he’s contributed to our growth and healing. We can only seek to build on his legacy by continuing to grow closer to God and one another and by serving the needs of our communities.
Last week the Nominating and Standing Committees met together on a two-day retreat with our Search Consultant. The Very Rev. Ronald Clingenpeel is a fun and engaging guy who has lots of experience guiding bishop searches. He laid out a road map for the next fifteen months, leading up to the election of our new bishop in April 2021.
The first order of business for the Nominating Committee is to hear from you, the clergy and people of the Diocese of Utah. We want to know what you love about your churches and the diocese, how you imagine our future unfolding, and what qualities you’ll value in our new bishop. Your feedback will provide building blocks for creating a profile to share with prospective candidates.
We’ll be meeting again in February to develop ways of receiving your comments and answering your questions. Fifteen months sounds like a long time, but with so many important steps to take it will fly by. Stay tuned to the diocesan newsletter or www.utahbishopsearch.org for more information. Your chance to speak up will be coming soon!
Michael Carney+
