The Diocese of Michigan is accepting names until Nov. 1 in the search for its 11th bishop, and has posted a web-based profile.
The profile includes this discussion under “Whom We Seek”:
Can you be an unapologetic preacher of the Gospel?
We seek a visionary leader, who will help us reach the next generation of Episcopalians and those who claim no faith tradition by witnessing publicly to the Way of Love, communicating our values effectively to church members and the wider society, and welcoming everyone to Christ’s table.
Will you make social justice central?
We seek a bishop who embraces the diversity of God’s people and will help us to work across congregations and even faith traditions to reach out to those who have been marginalized and to bear witness to God’s desire for reconciliation, justice, and peace.
Are you a strong relationship builder?
We seek a bishop who can forge relationships with and among clergy, congregations of all sizes, and other Episcopal dioceses, as well as reach into the broader community in Detroit and in our region.
Are you an imaginative steward of congregational life?
We seek a bishop who will help strained congregations find creative ways to steward their physical spaces and financial resources and be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they imagine sustainable new ways of being the church.
Do you embrace a wide variety of worship styles and spiritual practices?
We seek a bishop with a flexible approach to Episcopal worship that respects the practices of more traditional congregations and affirms worshipping communities that desire creative liturgical and spiritual practices.
The diocese will announce a slate on March 4 and the electing convention is scheduled for June 1.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
