The Diocese of the Rio Grande has announced three nominees — all serving at more than 900 miles from the diocese — in the search for its 10th bishop.
- The Rev. Canon Lucinda Ashby, canon to the ordinary in the Diocese of Idaho
- The Rev. Canon Michael Buerkel Hunn, canon to the presiding bishop for ministry within the Episcopal Church
- The Rev. Simon Charles Justice, rector of Church of the Good Samaritan, Corvallis, Oregon
Each of the nominees answered these essay questions:
- What are the most important attributes that a bishop brings to his/her calling
and what special gifts underscore your call to the Diocese of the Rio Grande? - Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” How do you answer that question?
How would you describe the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection? - A bishop is called to “guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church”
(BCP, p. 517). How do you understand this charge as it relates to the current
challenges within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion? Give
examples of how you have exercised leadership in the Church. - The Diocese of the Rio Grande is a geographically massive and culturally
diverse diocese, with a combination of urban and rural/frontier congregations.
How might you apply your experience to the realities of our situation? - Based on your reading of our diocesan profile and any other knowledge that
you have, what do you see as your greatest challenge as the bishop of the
Diocese of the Rio Grande, and what excites you about becoming our bishop?
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.
