Dear Friends,
This February is the month when, as a Diocese, I hope and pray that we will elect a new Bishop. The process, which started last June (even before +John retired), is hopefully coming to an end, and this month will herald a new beginning for the Diocese. Being part of that process has been fascinating, and I have learned a great deal, not only about the candidates who will, this month, be presented to Synod, but also about myself.
Right at the beginning we talked about unconscious bias (which we all have when we meet someone new)… how to spot when we are affected by this bias, and how to realign ourselves to considering another with equal openness. This experience has reminded me of the importance of meeting any ‘stranger’ without any preconceived judgements, with genuine curiosity, and with a desire for an authentic connection.
As we have proceeded, the number of candidates has necessarily reduced and whilst that process occurred, we, as a Committee, got to know those still involved in greater depth. However, even when we present our three to five candidates to Synod (on February 7), I realise that none of them will be able to fulfil every wish and dream of our laity and clergy. It’s just not possible.
Every candidate will have their strengths and weaknesses. No candidate can be everything to everyone. We will have to work with and get to know someone who is as flawed and imperfect as we ourselves are. Yes, they have a job to do, and I pray they will have the skills and experience to undertake it with proficiency and commitment. But we have to also hold in mind that it is only ‘by the help of God’ that they will fulfil this role in any great depth.
It is by God’s grace that we accept and work together for the Kingdom of God in the here and now; it is by God’s grace that we accept each other’s foibles and irritations as we grow in love and fellowship; it is by God’s grace that we acknowledge our own shortcomings as we continue to try to follow Christ a little more closely.
God bless the candidates. God bless Synod as they cast their prayerful votes. May God’s Spirit guide us in our deliberations and decisions.
With love, Liz