The Now and the Not Yet
Posted April 21st, 2011
Central Florida Episcopalian:
Bishop's View
From the March, 2011 Central Florida Episcopalian
Dear Diocesan Family,
My favorite Christian recording artist is Amy Grant. And one of her songs from the 1993 was called “The Now and the Not Yet.”
The song itself doesn’t very much apply, but the title captures something of what I am feeling post-Diocesan Convention.
As most of you know, I called for the election of my successor, the Fourth Bishop of Central Florida, in a Special Convention to be held in the Cathedral Church of St. Luke on November 19, 2011, with the consecration of that next Bishop tentatively scheduled for April 21, 2012. (The consents to that election from the majority of the Diocesan Bishops and Standing Committees must be received in the meantime.)
Immediately following the call for that election a very strange (to me) thing began to happen. As I write it has now been four weeks since Convention, and at each of the four Visitations I have had many people say things like:
- “Congratulations on your retirement,”
- “I hope you enjoy your retirement,”
- “We’re going to miss you,”
- Etc.
I deeply appreciate your well-wishes! But, please, folks: I have another fourteen months to go! This is “Now;” it is “Not Yet.” (I said to the clergy, it is a little like saying good-bye to President Obama when he still has – at least – two years to go.)
Bishop Folwell told me that the last year of his time in office was the worst year of his life: “Every Sunday was another round of good-byes.”
And now this has begun to happen for me.
Please do not say good-bye yet!
As I said at Convention, I intend to be very much engaged as your Bishop until the laying on of hands and the passing of the crosier in the consecration service on April 21, 2012, and
I may well continue to be involved in the life of the Diocese even after that. That is a matter entirely up to the new Bishop. She or he may prefer to have me step aside for a while or forever. And either one is completely acceptable to me! But if s/he wishes my assistance, I will be available.
I have been amazed to watch the “mega-churches” in the Orlando area. When their Senior Pastor has resigned they have always had his (so far it has always been his) successor in place within less than a month!
Why does it take so much longer for our transitional process for choosing a new Bishop? Because we want the involvement of as many of the members of the Diocese as possible.
And so, we go through a process of doing a diocesan-wide survey, preparing a diocesan profile, and, based upon the results of that survey, soliciting nominations, doing background checks, and then holding the election.
And then, because a Bishop is elected – not just for his/her diocese, but to be a Bishop for the whole Church of God – we have to go through the consent process alluded to above.
So, it typically takes a year and a half from the call for an election to the consecration of the new Bishop. Our process will be slightly – but only slightly – shorter.
Our Standing Committee has chosen to not have a “walkabout” in which the candidates are brought in to meet with members of the Diocese in the various Deaneries. Instead, much information will be available on our Diocesan web site: candidates’ biographies, their answers to key, critical questions, links to some of their sermons, etc. (This technology was not available to us 22 years ago when I was a candidate for Bishop Coadjutor.)
My friend, Bishop Ban It Chu, Bishop of Singapore, called for the election of his successor in 1982, and he asked his diocese to forego any “political” process, altogether. “Just pray,” he said.
On the day of the election there was near-unanimity that the next Bishop of Singapore should be a priest/medical doctor who had no experience as a rector: Moses Tay – who went on to become the first Archbishop of the newest Anglican Province, that of Southeast Asia.
I pray that the Lord of the Church may similarly guide the Diocese of Central Florida in the selection of our next Bishop.
And, when the time comes – when it is “Now” - we will say our goodbyes. But, please, it is “Not Yet”!
Love to you in our Lord,
+ John
