Committees Begin Work on Bishop Transition Process

Members of the Search & Nomination Committee and Transition Committee met June 3-4 at St. Mary's in Portsmouth to begin the formal work of seeking and welcoming the 13th Bishop of Rhode Island.

On Friday evening, members of the Standing Committee and Diocesan Council joined the retreat to meet committee members.  The Hon. Scott Avedisian, president of the Standing Committee, and the Rev. James Bocchino, vice-president of the Diocesan Council, led a ceremony to officially commission the two committees.

Lora MacFall, chair of the Search & Nominating Committee, and Cathy Iacobucci, chair of the Transition Committee, lit candles to begin the ceremony.

Later that evening, Judy Stark, who will assist the committees as a consultant, began explaining the Episcopal elections process.  In her remarks, she quoted a prayer from the Iona Community in Scotland, telling committee members they "are the midwives of change" and that whatever the outcome of the process, "this diocese will not be the same."

Explanation of the elections process continued through midday Saturday before the committees divided into separate meetings to begin working together.  The participants also worshiped togheter several times during the weekend, including a Saturday morning Eucharist where the Rev. Pamela Mott, rector of St. Mary's and a member fo the Search & Nomination Committee presided.

For more information and to see pictures from the retreat, visit the Bishop Search Process blog/website at www.episcopalrisearch.org.