Walkabout: January 19, 20, 21

Election: February 21

B ISHOP E LECTION 20 1 5

EPISCOPAL DIOCESE

OF THE CENTRAL GULF COAST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Discerning God’s Call to Us 2

The Bishop We Seek 3

The Nominees

The Rev. J. Russell Kendrick 4

The Very Rev. Edward F. O’Connor 8

The Rev. Cn. Dr. E. Daniel Smith 12

The Rev. Dr. William C. Treadwell III 16

Timeline 20

Our Milestones 20

What is a Walkabout? 22

The Election of a Bishop 23

Outward & Visible Signs 24

Committees 26

A Letter from the Chair 27

This booklet contains the bishop nominees’

responses to three questions posed by the

Bishop’s Transition Committee. The

nominees were given a total maximum

count of 1000 words for their responses

and were able to apportion those words

between the questions as they saw fit.

Their unedited answers appear beginning

on page 4.

Over the last year, the members of the Diocese of the

Central Gulf Coast and all those whose names were

considered by our Bishop Search Committee have been

in a process of discernment, seeking to determine God’s

call. For the members of the Diocese, this has included

a look at who we are in assembling a profile of our

diocese. The members of our Bishop Search Committee

have reviewed the backgrounds and gifts of many

candidates and presented the names of four nominees to

our Standing Committee. All of those whose names

were considered, including those who are now the final

four nominees, have prayerfully and thoughtfully

considered whether God might be calling them to be our

bishop.

Our word discernment comes from the Latin word

discernere, which means “to separate,” “to distinguish,”

“to determine,” “to sort out.” The process of

discernment helps us understand the source of a call, to

whom it is directed, its content, and what response is

appropriate. Discernment is God’s gift, but it also

involves a conscious attempt on our part to hear God’s

call in our life. It takes work, but it is also a matter of

grace (Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in

Community, Morehouse Publishing, 1991).

Much work has already been done – by the members of

our Diocese and the committees which have overseen

the process to date and by our nominees. We have been

the recipients of God’s grace in a multitude of ways.

Now, we are at an important point of our discernment

as the bishop nominees will visit our Diocese this

month, so we can meet them and they can meet us, and

as we approach the election of our new bishop on

February 21 in Mobile. The members of the Transition

Committee pray that this document will assist us as we

meet the nominees and consider our future as a diocese

with them and with one another.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift:

Look graciously on your Church,

and so guide the minds of those who shall

choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may

receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your

people and equip us for our ministries;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 2

Discerning God’s Call to Us

Last summer the Bishop’s Search Committee

produced a Profile that was used as a tool to

introduce our diocese to potential candidates.

They tried to present an honest picture of the

present life of the Diocese of the Central Gulf

Coast, our challenges and our opportunities.

They tried to provide an indication of the gifts

and qualities needed in our next bishop.

Survey responses and written responses

collected from focus groups provided a well-

defined list of critical abilities and personal

qualities we believe our fourth bishop will

need.

A person who can formulate and

articulate a vision for our diocese that

is scripturally and spiritually grounded

and that can serve as a unifying force for our

congregations.

A person who can engage

empathetically with the people of our

diocese as a pastoral presence, caring

especially for clergy and lay leaders and

strengthening them for their work.

A person who can provide strong

leadership through a period of

transformational change.

The individual qualities of the person we seek

to be our next bishop undergird these abilities.

Personal integrity was foremost among the

qualities that we heard identified by our

people. This was followed by sound judgment

and wisdom. We need a person who is deeply

spiritual, nourished by close relationship with

scripture and a strong prayer life. We desire a

leader who is compassionate and who lives out

their ministry with a spirit of humility.

We believe the bishop we seek should be

someone who can—through preaching,

teaching, and example—inspire and promote

willingness to follow leadership as we pursue

mission and consider the direction of our

diocese. We need someone who will build

relationships with and among our clergy and

nurture them and encourage them in their

work.

These qualities and gifts are not the basis of a

job description, nor are they a simple wish list.

These are the contents of our hopes and

dreams for this diocese, and they are the

subjects of our prayers.

The Bishop We Seek These are the contents of our hopes and dreams for this diocese, and they are the subjects of our prayers.

3

Fast Facts Born: August 2, 1960

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Current Position: Rector

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Birmingham Alabama

Family:

Wife: Robin Kendrick

Children: Aaron, Anna

Education:

Bachelor of Business

Administration,

Marketing

Auburn University, 1984

Bachelor of Architecture

Auburn University, 1984

Master of Divinity

Virginia Theological

Seminary, 1995

Year of Ordination to the

Priesthood: 1996

Personal Ministry

Statement:

To share in the work of God’s

new creation and to preach the

good news of God’s reconciling

love.

The Reverend James “Russell” Kendrick

4

Bishop Nominees

“Write the vision” You’ve done a lot of good

visioning; you have profiles, reports and dreams.

This will be a remarkable gift to your next bishop;

however, it is a daunting amount of work. My priority will

be to simplify and clarify your vision, and I will need your

help. First, some time is needed to listen. Your next

bishop will need for you to tell stories, retell decisions, and

offer advice. Secondly, simplifying and clarifying our

vision will require us to lean into the rhythm of

resurrection---death and life. During this process, I asked

your search committee “What in the diocese needs to die?”

I am grateful for their honesty. In the next twenty-four

months, we will make some hard decisions. Let’s

remember that resurrection is the rhythm in our soul, but

it is often resisted in our structures and systems. With

God’s help, we can overcome that.

What would be your top three

priorities for your first 24 months as

bishop? How did you select these?

Please tell us about one

thing that excites you

about your ministry now.

“To proclaim the year of the Lord’s

favor...” I have prayed for clarity about

this call and for a vision to guide me. I’d

love to say I have heard a clear answer

from God, but I have only the whisper of one word,

“Jubilee.” No, I am not interested in replicating

the details of Leviticus, but I am fascinated by the

words of Jesus in Luke 4. For me, jubilee is about

reconciliation and rejoicing. It is a time to let go; it

is a time for gladness. What if we joined together

in a year of jubilee? Yes, we will have problems to

solve and finances to fix. However, as we begin

that work, let’s also take some time to remember

who we are and rejoice in whose we are, so that we

can then become who God wants us to be.

Rebuild trust. This is a theme in your

profile. Trust takes time, conversation

and healing. For me, rebuilding trust will

begin with the clergy. As chief pastor, I

will focus my efforts on the advocacy and

development of your clergy. After all, a chief

element to a loving, laughing, and thriving parish

is loving, laughing, and thriving clergy. I have a

couple of ideas to this end:

•Reinstate financial support for placement of

newly ordained priests. I know; this means

money. It also means rethinking the

discernment process.

•Use the five baptismal promises as a

framework to foster clergy vitality.

5

Last Spring, we completed a significant

building project. At the dedication,

someone asked, “What’s next?” That

question became my prayer. Sometime

in June between reading two books The

New Parish and Slow Church and a

provocative visit by Shane Claiborne to

our parish, that first question led to

another. “Who is your neighbor?”

I presented this question to our vestry

for discernment; it took hold. We are a

parish known for our outreach ministry.

However, most of our local efforts have

been focused in downtown Birmingham.

This new question refocused our

attention to the adjacent neighborhood.

Our vestry took charge. They

interviewed police officers, merchants,

and counselors. What we discovered

surprised us. While we are situated in an

affluent neighborhood, there is much

need. This simple question allowed the

Holy Spirit to inspire us! It led us to host

a neighborhood recycling program,

inspired us to provide Christmas gifts

for local children, and empowered us to

hang a street banner inviting the

community to pray for the kidnapped

Nigerian girls. It is a remarkably

creative time!

6

Please describe a time/situation when you

have empowered the ministry of other clergy

and/or laity. How did you empower others in

this situation?

Not long after arriving as Rector of St. Paul’s, Newnan Georgia, I

attended my first diocesan gathering whereupon I was greeted as if I had

been given a death sentence. I later learned that the bishop had even

considered closing the church. With ninety members, barely enough

money to pay bills, and some very strong “gatekeepers”, we began a

remarkable journey into new life.

In practical terms, new life first required healing from past hurtful

events. Healing became the focus of my preaching and teaching.

Secondly, it meant helping them learn to be “comfortable in their own

skin.” Small parishes struggle to meet unnecessary expectations. Being

faithful is not the same as being successful. George Carey once wrote

“The Church is found where the worship of God is joyful and everyone

has a contribution to make.” That became our focus—to be joyful and to

encourage participation. We chose to be joyful, celebrating our

accomplishments rather than lamenting our shortcomings. Finally, it

involved the sacred work of creativity.

What do you enjoy doing for fun? Digging in the dirt of my yard, running

until I am tired, and trying to create the

perfect recipe for shrimp and grits.

What is one thing you do to take

care of yourself?

I run, bike and swim. Not at the same time.

What is the best vacation you

have ever taken? Any vacation that my family is

together and there is white sand

between my toes is as good as it

gets for me.

What is one book (other than the

Bible) that has greatly influenced

your life? In a bag of goodies at Cursillo, I

found a book from my priest

called “The Ragamuffin Gospel”

by Brennan Manning. Some-

where in the pages of that book, I

fell into the arms of God’s grace.

If your life were made into a movie,

who would play you? My life would best be an animated movie

adapted into the life of Rafiki from the

movie the Lion King.

In Vestry meetings, we spent more time on

discernment than decisions. This led to the vision to

build our church around a youth program. Even

though we did not have the money, we were

compelled by an idea---to hire a full-time youth

minister. The church became unified around this

goal, and the money soon followed. Within a few

years our youth program began to thrive, and the

parish was transformed.

When I left in 2007, by worldly standards we were a

successful parish. I am glad about that, but my joy is

that we became a community that had experienced

the power of these words with which I frequently

closed our worship, “Glory to God whose power

working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask

or imagine....” With all that said, when I first read

this question I did not think of a strategic story. I

thought about people. I thought about the woman

whose 50 year old husband died of a heart attack.

She wanted to die, too. Five years later, she is a

member of our vestry! I thought about the teenager

who has endured more pain in her 18 years than

most of us will suffer in a lifetime. She was baptized

last Sunday! I thought about a young seminarian I

hired. Today he is a well-seasoned priest.

Empowerment is the daily work of a priest. Jesus

empowered people, one by one, by loving them into

whom he wanted them to be. I am trying my best to

do the same. 7

8

Fast Facts Born: November 5, 1967

Memphis, Tennessee

Current Position: Dean

St. Andrew’s Cathedral

Jackson, Mississippi

Family:

Wife: Deidra K. O’Connor

Children: Flannery,

Mary Kathryn, Edward

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Political

Science

University of Mississippi,

1993

Master of Science, Marriage

and Family Therapy

University of Southern

Mississippi, 1993

Master of Divinity,

University of the South at

Sewanee, 2001

Year of Ordination to the

Priesthood: 2001

Personal Ministry

Statement:

The greatest reality I've come

to know is God in Christ

loves and has use for a flawed,

imperfect human being like

you and me—Grace wins.

Please tell us about one thing that

excites you about your ministry now. The Cathedral is a charter member of a community

organization—Working Together Jackson. Currently, we have

43 member institutions representing 10,000 members. Our

focus has been about engaging government and businesses to

find creative solutions to pressing local issues such as

infrastructure, workforce development, education and

neighborhood renewal. This association has afforded me the

opportunity to work closely with mayors, city council

members, legislators and other pastors in collaborative ways.

In this, I've had to opportunity to moderate two mayoral

debates. I’ve taken a public stance to help pass a non-

regressive, 1% sales tax referendum for city infrastructure.

And, I’ve worked to partner the Cathedral with other

downtown churches to systematically identify blighted

downtown homes/lots as well as focused neighborhood clean-

up efforts. I've also been a part of working toward a workforce

Bishop Nominees

The Very Reverend Edward Francis O’Connor

What would be your top three priorities for your first 24

months as bishop? How did you select these? All three priorities revolve around one core elemental Body of Christ building block –

relationships, relationships, relationships! As your Diocesan profiles describes, “from surfing

to sailing; from flying to fly-fishing; from chicken to catfish to creole gumbo—we are

geographically, ethnically, economically, politically, and inter-generationally a large stew of

different folks bound together in Christ!” I see this as a blessed reflection and evidence of

God’s rich, creative tapestry. The bishop is not only a symbol of unity between the Diocese

and the wider church, but the symbol of unity for such a diverse people. My great desire

would be to transform this Episcopacy into an apostolic office of equipping, teaching and

preaching. And so, my top three priorities would be:

Gathering (immediately) the clergy of the diocese at Camp Beckwith for an overnight

special retreat. This would be a time of deep, holy listening and getting to know one

another.

I would launch a diocesan initiative entitled, “Welcome Home: 63 in 30”. The goal

would be to strategically plan events throughout the diocese so that every single

parishioner from all 63 parishes and missions might have a chance to begin building a

relationship with me through worship, teaching and dialogue. The goal would be to complete

this tour stop in one month!

I would re-visit the articulated diocesan vision, “We Dream of a Diocese”, and engage

both laity and clergy as to the energy behind this vision. And then, to affirm, re-

enforce and adjust a process and timeline for accomplishing such holy work. I’d also

begin a process of evaluating diocesan programs and initiatives, asking questions such as: Are

diocesan programs helping better equip her people? How can we nurture, support and

empower missions and smaller churches? Are diocesan structures clear with regard to role

and function? Is there an intentional plan for church planting or renewal? How can retired

clergy participate in this structure? At the end of 24 months, having listened to and engaged

her people, I’d begin planning a diocesan wide gathering in a central location. It would likely

be some sort of worship and renewal event where each parish and mission would be invited to

celebrate our work by launching this new vision and strategic plan for the diocese.

9

development center with local businesses in creating stop-gap funds to assist those recently

employed, but at risk of homelessness due to unforeseen financial pitfalls. WTJ is now a

thriving entity of religious, socio-economic and ethnic diversity. We carry political clout that

both business and government cannot ignore and who routinely seek us out to assist in

supporting and communicating initiatives of which we value.

10

Please describe a time/situation when you

have empowered the ministry of other clergy

and/or laity. How did you empower others in

this situation?

Three years ago, I began working with my vestry and staff to

articulate our vision for ministry and mission. From this, we’ve

identified five essential practices. What makes them unique to the

Cathedral is that we’ve taken great care in defining how they inform

who and what we are and do. Dynamic Worship, Transformational

Mission, Equipping Formation, Fearless Giving and Radical

Welcome then, become the lenses by which we live and move. We

then re-allocated every people, committee and asset under these

practices. I spent a season with each person falling under each

practice, asking questions about how we’d move forward over the

next five to seven years. From this work have emerged very new

ways of being the Body of Christ. The essential practice of fearless

giving has yielded

an annual budget

without pledge

cards (much

more to say about

this process). We

also identified the

need and desire

to engage in a

$3.5 million

dollar capital

campaign which

morphed into a

“triple

ask” (increase in

annual budget,

campaign and

legacy giving).

We were

successful with

11

What do you enjoy doing for fun? I love to travel with my wife, especially to

places neither of us has experienced.

What is one thing you do to take

care of yourself?

Eat, love, run, pray.

What is the best vacation you

have ever taken? New Orleans, right after

Christmas.

What is one book (other than the

Bible) that has greatly influenced

your life? S.E. Hinton’s, “The Outsiders” as a

struggling 8th grade boy – “stay gold, Pony

Boy”.

If your life were made into a

movie, who would play you? My short list would be: Robin

Williams, Johnny Depp, Liam

Neeson or Karl Urban. My wife suggests Ben Stiller.

regard to all three – increasing the annual budget by

$80,000, raising over $1 million more than

anticipated and identifying 28 new legacy gifts that

potentially amount to $1.2 million. The essential

practice of Radical Welcome allowed us to discern

the need for a full time staff person overseeing new

member ministry. In this, we’ve re-designed systems

for not only welcome, but intentional integration

into the Cathedral. I could go on with countless

more examples of how this collaborative vision

continues to afford clarity and unity. Today, the

Cathedral is growing. The fastest growing

demographic is among young adults (24-32). As

mentioned previously, healthy things grow. And,

we are not for numbers’ sake, but for Jesus Christ’s

sake.

Fast Facts Born: January 23, 1956

Jacksonville, Florida

Current Position: Canon to

the Ordinary

Diocese of Missouri

Family:

Wife: Evelyn Hallecks Smith

Children: Mitchell Smith,

Shannon Sampson

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, History

University of Central Florida,

1978

Master of Divinity,

Nashotah House Theological

Seminary, 1981

Doctor of Ministry,

Seabury-Western

Theological Seminary, 2001

Year of Ordination to the

Priesthood: 1982

Personal Ministry

Statement:

I love to work with

congregations, their clergy and

lay leaders to find ways for their

congregation to grow, heal,

prosper and make a difference

in their community.

*

12

Please tell us about one thing

that excites you about

your ministry now. One of the joys and excitements I have in my current

ministry is working with congregations that find

themselves in transition, what we used to call the

search process. Transitions give the opportunity to

work with wonderful lay leaders, vestry and search

Bishop Nominees

The Reverend Canon E. Daniel Smith

13

Please describe a time/situation when you have empowered

the ministry of other clergy and/or laity. How did you

empower others in this situation? Empowering the clergy and congregations is an ongoing part of my ministry. However, a favorite

story happened a few years ago although it is still ongoing. One of our priests wanted to go back

to school to earn a PhD. His congregation, Advent, wanted to make that happen. We spent

almost six months planning and working toward this priest going back to school while still

retaining his position as rector. We first worked to fully understand what the congregation

absolutely needed the priest to do. We found, recruited and trained lay leaders to do much of the

ministries that were still needed by the congregation but did not really need the priest to carry

out. I worked to coach the priest and lay leadership in ways to talk to the congregation that

allowed for acceptance of some significant change. Afterwards there was continual checking in

during the time the priest was in school and still pastoring the congregation. He has graduated

and is still the rector. He is the Dean of our School for Ministry and the congregation has grown,

their worship and spiritual life has deepened, they have experienced increased stewardship and

greatly expanded their mission and ministry to their community. You can read about Advent’s

journey in a recent “Vestry Notes” published by the Episcopal Church Foundation.

committee, and to meet with the whole congregation in meetings and worship. Transitions

give me the opportunity to teach in several areas: the spirituality of discernment, basics in

congregational development including dreaming new dreams about the future and how to

do an honest, authentic evaluation of the congregation and its mission and ministry. There

is joy in watching as the members of a congregation discover new leadership skills and

ministry. The time of transition allows me to deepen relationships with congregations

some of whom have felt estranged from the diocese. I have found that the relationships

formed has allowed me entry into other opportunities to be involved in the life of those

congregations.

Transitions give the opportunity to work with wonderful lay leaders, vestry

and search committee, and to meet with the whole congregation in meetings

and worship.

14

What would be your top three priorities

for your first 24 months as bishop? How

did you select these?

I think there are a number of priorities to work with in the first 24

months. That said, my first three priorities to begin right away

are:

Establish a trusting, loving relationship with the clergy, lay

leaders and congregations of the diocese. This will mean

being out in the diocese as much as possible the first two

years. I think the time out in the diocese would include both

formal and informal visitations. I have an established pattern in

my current ministry of regularly visiting the leadership of our

congregations with little agenda other than being with one

another. I hope this is a pattern I could continue for an entire

episcopacy.

Complete a thorough evaluation of the resources, people,

gifts, talent, property, financial assets, etc. of the diocese.

Such an evaluation would allow for the leadership of the

15

What do you enjoy doing

for fun? I like to just about

anything around

water, fishing, boating,

swimming. I read,

cook, bicycle, and

watch old movies.

What is one thing you do

to take care of yourself?

I always take my day off.

What is the best vacation you

have ever taken? Probably a tie between Evelyn

and I going to Napa and Sonoma,

California a few years ago and

the two of us going to

Hawaii last summer.

What is one book (other than the

Bible) that has greatly influenced

your life? The Last Temptation of Christ, Nikos

Kazantzakis. This book enabled me to get

more in touch with the humanity of Jesus

and helped me understand my own

Eucharistic Theology.

If your life were made into a movie,

who would play you? Tom Hanks, I just like his work.

diocese to work from a position of what we

have as opposed to the scarcity model of what

we don’t have. I believe this approach fits

with the model Jesus uses in Matthew 15 in

the story of the feeding of the 4,000. The

disciples ask Jesus where they will find

enough to feed everyone. He asks, “What do

you have?” What they had turned out to be

more than enough.

Together with Diocesan Leadership

work to form a strategic vision for the

diocese moving into a new episcopacy.

A strategic vision differs from a strategic plan

in that it gives to the congregations and

committees/commissions of the diocese the

opportunity to plan under the umbrella of a

big picture vision. A strategic vision excites

and focuses the mission and ministry of the

church. I selected these three priorities based

on my reading the profile of the diocese and

data provided in connection with the profile.

These priorities were reinforced by the

conversations and interviews with the search

committee.

16

Fast Facts Born: May 20, 1960

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Current Position: Rector

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Waco, Texas

Family:

Wife: Chris

Children: Caleb, Colton,

Caroline

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

Georgetown College,

1982

Masters of Divinity

University of the South

at Sewanee, 1989

Doctor of Ministry

University of the South

at Sewanee, 2014

Year of Ordination to

the Priesthood: 1990

Personal Ministry

Statement:

I am called, in all circumstances, by word and action, to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ.

Please tell us about one thing that

excites you about your ministry now.

What excites me about my ministry now is how amazed I am

by the incredible work the people of God are doing at St. Paul’s

and how much fun we have. Every day I work with people who

have a heart for God and for the church and who are willing to

commit significant portions of their lives to our common work.

Through activities both inside and outside the church they are

constantly bearing witness to the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Even something as simple as watching a parent push her

fingers along the words in the hymnal helping their child learn

the song is a powerful, joyful witness of this faithfulness, and it

never gets old.

Bishop Nominees

The Reverend Dr. William C. Treadwell III

17

What would be your top three priorities for your first 24

months as bishop? How did you select these? My first and highest priority will be to get to know the people, clergy, ministries and

topography of the diocese. This will consume much of the first 24 months, and will

require an intentional organized schedule of visitations, meals, meetings with

committees, parishes and clergy- both individually and in groups. I envision two annual clergy

conferences in that period designed to develop familiarity and trust among the clergy and the

Bishop. I also envision, along with the normal Diocesan Council, a gathering of the Diocese to

celebrate ministry together. We will learn about the ministries going on each other’s churches,

and we will have the opportunity to gain specific skills around hospitality and evangelism.

With the people of the diocese, I will articulate a vision and mission with concrete

objectives based on the existing strategic plan and on the more recent work done in

preparation for the bishop search. This will enable us to inspire and empower the people

of the diocese to share the love of Christ with the people of Florida, Alabama and beyond. By

identifying the core values of our diocese we will be able to examine and evaluate work already

being done. We will be able to identify very specific issues that need to be addressed for the long-

term health and vitality of the diocese. We will also be able to choose a small, specific set of

concrete objectives that will move the diocese away from anxiety about giving and attendance

and inspire us to focus on the primary work of the Gospel. It is my belief that by doing so,

attendance and giving will follow. It is also my belief that the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast is

poised to become a robust setting for joy and faith, reversing the anxious trends of our

denomination, and to become a beacon of hope, unity and joy for the entire Episcopal Church.

My third priority will be to build a personal work rhythm that will make me as effective as

possible as bishop, while also allowing me to remain engaged fully in the life of my

family, particularly my wife and daughter during Caroline’s high school years.

Building a balanced work rhythm will require the staff, diocesan leaders and me to identify the

most important work I need to do and apportion time on my calendar accordingly. Great care

will be taken not to allow the myriad urgent needs in the ministry to trump the larger, more

central work of the Episcopacy.

A high priority will be placing important personal time on the calendar. This will include study,

Sabbath, personal and family time. I will work to make sure that my new partners in ministry at

work are aware of that rhythm for a couple of reasons. First, work colleagues are entitled to know

when I am available and the kind of work in which I am engaged. Second, it will model a pattern

of “wholesome example”, as it says in the ordination rite, for the other clergy in the diocese.

Following that I would build a calendar around the essential work of the Bishop, and use the

ordination vows of a Bishop as a guide for that work.

18

Please describe a time/situation when you

have empowered the ministry of other clergy

and/or laity.

Empowering people for ministry is woven into the fabric of every interaction

as a parish priest. Almost every conversation I have had with parishioners

and other clergy have been centered in some way around the ebb and flow of

the life of faith and seeing the direction of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives.

Whether specifically articulated or not, every time a person accepts an

invitation to serve, whether in the church, the community or their own

family, they are being empowered to bear witness to the love of Christ in

their lives.

Specifically, I have had the great pleasure over

the past 20 years of my ministry to be involved

in the formation, training and support of those

called to Holy Orders. Throughout my ministry

as a rector in two parishes I have had 16 interns

and associate clergy, many of whom were recent

seminary graduates. We designed specific

ministry plans that helped them understand

and embody the ministry of the priesthood.

Over the past eight years, I have been the co-

facilitator of our Diocesan program for recently

ordained clergy affectionately known as “Curate

Camp.” We gather once a month in the first year

of their ministry for a 24-hour retreat to discuss

the issues that can be great blessings in the

ministry but which can, if handled badly, cause

serious trouble for clergy. The primary purpose

of these retreats is to establish a pattern in the

lives of newly ordained clergy that will foster

deep, meaningful relationships with other

clergy and trusted lay people. Approximately 80

clergy have gone through this program since I

began co-facilitation. It is a great joy to know

these clergy well and to see them grow in their

ministries.

19

What do you enjoy doing for fun? Outside: hiking, fishing, hunt-

ing, camping, walking reading,

hanging out with my wife and

kids, sitting with friends

around a fire, outside. Did I

say outside?

What is one thing you do to take

care of yourself?

Intentionally disengage from work.

What is the best vacation you

have ever taken? The day after I was ordained a priest,

before we had children at all, Chris and I

went to Colorado for the very first time.

There are no words to describe it.

What is one book (other than the

Bible) that has greatly influenced

your life? Novel: The Old Man and the Sea by

Hemingway; Theology: Life Together by

Bonhoeffer.

If your life were made into a movie,

who would play you? Richard Armitage (as Thorin

Oakenshield in the Hobbit)

Timeline

Search and Transition Committee Appointment

Self-Study of the Diocese

Diocesan Profile Complete

Begin accepting Applications

Screening, Interviews, Visiting

Announcement of Nominees

Walkabouts to introduce slate of Nominees

Election of Our 4th Bishop

Ordination of Our Bishop

20

January 17, 2014

Spring 2014

June 2014

Summer/Fall 2014

December 3, 2014

Jan. 19, 20, 21, 2015

February 21, 2015

July 25, 2015

Our Milestones

The election of our bishop will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2015,

in conjunction with our diocesan convention at Trinity, Mobile.

Milestone:

Committee Appointments

The Standing Committee began its transition work last year when Bishop Duncan

announced his intention to retire. There are many helpful resources in The Episcopal

Church and our diocesan leadership is working prayerfully and faithfully to

implement a healthy transition process. Dates are set and the Standing Committee

has appointed two committees: the Search Committee and the Transition Committee.

Milestone:

Springtime Self-Study of the Diocese

The Search Committee’s first task was to develop and publish a diocesan profile that

was available to potential candidates on our diocesan search website. The Profile

shows what it would be like to live in our area and serve God in this diocese. It

shows who we are as a people what we desire and who we hope to call as

our bishop. To develop the profile the Search Committee conducted a survey and

face to face focus group meetings. The Bishop We Seek found on page 3 in this

booklet is a synopsis of their discernment.

Milestone: Summer and Fall Screening, Interviewing, and Visiting

Names of candidates were accepted once the profile was published online

and announced to the larger church. Nominations were accepted through

September 1, 2014. During the summer months the Search Committee

evaluated the information from the applicants with the goal being to

identify a group of candidates with whom we will conduct face to face

interviews. We pledged to keep the names of candidates under

consideration confidential. We only published the names of the nominees.

All others will be kept confidential and their information destroyed at the

completion of the search process.

Milestone:

Autumn Announcement of Nominees

The Search Committee was charged with nominating four to seven

candidates qualified to serve as the fourth bishop of our diocese. We

wanted to attract and nominate the best fit for us, and this meant we had

to identify our own needs - and the gifts and skills of individuals who are

discerning with us. The names of our nominees were published on

December 3, 2014, to allow sufficient time to prepare for the election

Milestone:

Winter Hand-Off to the Transition Committee

After publication of the names of the nominees, the Transition Committee

took over. The Transition Committee has been working behind the scene

since January 2014 because they have a large task. They are responsible

for arranging and conducting the Walkabouts where the candidates are

introduced to the diocese.

The walkabouts will be held on January 19, 20, 21, 2015. The

Transition Committee is also responsible for caring for Bishop Duncan

and the Diocesan Office staff, assisting in the election convention, helping

the bishop-elect in the transition, and organizing the ordination. Other

opportunities to meet the candidates will occur at luncheons: Monday,

January 19, St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze, and Tuesday, January 20 at

St. Mary’s, Andalusia. A public Eucharist will be held at Christ Church

Cathedral, Mobile on Wednesday, January 21 at 2:30 p.m.

Milestone:

Election of Our Next Bishop

The election of our bishop will be held on Saturday, February 21,

2015, in conjunction with our diocesan convention at Trinity, Mobile. At

some point after the election, plans will be made for the bishop-elect to

make his/her transition into an exciting role as leader in our diocese.

Milestone:

Summer Beginnings

The Transition Committee is responsible for organizing and planning the

ordination of the new bishop on July 25, 2015. Christ Church

Cathedral is the site for this occasion.

21

What is a Walkabout?

22

The dictionary defines “walkabout” as “an occasion in which a well-known person walks through a

public place to meet and talk informally to people.” But for those of us in the Episcopal Church, a

walkabout is a time when the candidates for bishop in a diocese come to visit the diocese so they can

learn more about the diocese and so the members of the diocese can learn more about them. This time

of getting to know one another is part of the process of discerning whom God is calling to serve as our

next bishop.

The candidates for the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, along with their spouses,

will visit our diocese from January 18-22, 2015. They will travel around our diocese stopping at

various locations to meet us, to see some of our churches and ministries, and to present themselves to

us and answer our questions. Reservations for lunches and walkabouts can be made at:

http://bishopsearch.diocgc.com/ or www.facebook.com/cgcbishopsearch

The schedule for their time in the diocese is:

Monday January 19

Lunch* – 11:00 am – 12:45 pm at St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze

Walkabout** — 5:15 pm — 9:30 pm at Church of the Nativity, Dothan

5:15 pm — Registration opens

5:15 pm – 5:45 pm Clergy informal time with candidates

6:00 pm — Plenary session begins promptly

9:00 pm — Breakout sessions end

9:00 pm — 9:30 pm — Informal time with the candidates

Tuesday January 20

Lunch* – 11:00 am – 1:15 pm at St. Mary’s, Andalusia

Walkabout** – 5:15 pm – 9:30 pm at St. John’s, Monroeville

Wednesday January 21

Holy Eucharist—2:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile

Walkabout** – 5:15 pm – 9:30 pm at St. Paul’s, Daphne

*Lunch meetings will be open to all members of the diocese. Lunches will be informal times to meet the

nominees. There will be no formal programs at these events.

**The time schedule is the same for all three walkabouts. At each location ANYONE, not only the lay

convention delegates and clergy who will vote at the election convention, can gather to hear from the

nominees as part of the discernment and calling of a new bishop. There will be four break-out sessions

at all three walkabout locations. Each walkabout will end with an informal time to meet and greet the

candidates. Potential questions for these sessions have been gathered from around the diocese. At each

session, there will be an opportunity for participants to submit additional questions to be considered for

inclusion if time permits.

Section 2. Nominees for the election of a

bishop shall be chosen either by the Search

Committee or by nominating petitions.

The Search Committee will nominate from

four to seven candidates. A nominating

petition must be signed by four clergy who

are eligible to vote in a diocesan

convention and four lay persons eligible to

serve as delegates to a diocesan

convention. Nominating petitions must be

submitted to the Search Committee by a

deadline set by it in order for background

checks on such nominees to be conducted.

No nominations from the floor will be

order.

Section 3. A Search Committee appointed

by the Standing Committee will be charged

with the responsibility of preparing and

publicizing educational material on the

historic episcopate; preparing a profile of

the Diocese; interviewing potential

nominees; choosing from four to seven

nominees to be presented at the

Convention at which the election will be

held; verifying the validity of nominating

petitions and carrying out any additional

duties that may be assigned to it by the

Standing Committee.

Section 4. The Standing Committee shall

choose the date for the Convention at

which the election will be conducted. The

Standing Committee shall choose such

additional committees as may be needed

for securing a site for the electing

convention and making all necessary

arrangements for it; securing a site and

making all necessary arrangements for the

ordination of the new bishop; providing

support to a retiring bishop and that

bishop’s staff and family and to the bishop

elect and the family of the bishop elect and

any such additional matters as the

Standing Committee may deem

appropriate. 23

The Election of Our Bishop The election for the new bishop of the Diocese of

the Central Gulf Coast will be held on Saturday,

February 21, 2015, during the forty-fourth annual

diocesan convention. The convention will be held

February 19-21, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church in

Mobile.

A Committee on Elections will be appointed by the

Bishop. This committee will serve as tellers of all

elections, including election to the Standing Committee,

any proposed resolutions, and the election of the IV

Bishop of the Diocese. Members of the diocesan

Transition Committee, as well as Trinity representatives,

will make up the election committee.

There will be two voting machines, one for lay delegates

and one for clergy delegates, used for the election of the

bishop. Therefore, there will be no need for paper ballots

and the counting of ballots which will enable a smooth

and transparent election process.

In the election, clergy and lay delegates vote by orders. A

nominee must receive a majority of votes in both orders

to be elected.

The election will be streamed to the Bishop Search

website: bishopsearch.diocgc.com

Diocesan Canons:

The Election of a Bishop

24

Seven specific articles of attire symbolize the Office of Bishop in the Episcopal tradition—the

rochet, the chimere, the crozier, the mitre, the ring, the pectoral cross, and the purple shirt.

The tradition of the “purple shirt” is widely recognized in Episcopal circles today as

distinguishing a cleric as a bishop. It is a relatively new tradition, having come into practice in

the mid-20th century.

Bishops may choose either a red purple shirt—Bishop Duncan’s preference,

or one of a blue purple hue.

The pectoral cross (from the Latin “pectoralis” meaning of the chest) hangs

from a chain or cord around the neck and rests upon the breast. While

many lay and ordained persons also choose to wear such a cross, those

worn by bishops tend to be larger.

If you see a bishop in a purple shirt but do not see a pectoral cross in

evidence, look more closely. It is likely tucked into a left pocket of his or

her shirt.

Another telltale sign of a bishop, and a long-standing symbol of the

episcopacy is a bishop’s ring. These rings most often are made of gold and

are engraved with the seal of the diocese the bishop serves.

Bishops as early as St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop of Hippo Regius from

395-430, were known to authenticate documents by imprinting their rings

in hot wax upon them.

For liturgical occasions, a bishop

wears a mitre. The term comes

from the Greek “mitra” meaning

“headband” or “diadem.”

It is mentioned in the Old

Testament, both Exodus 39:27-31

and Leviticus 8:7-9, that High

Priests and other priests wore

distinctive clothing, including a special headpiece. The point at which the Church adopted the

mitre as a part of a bishop’s garb, however, is unclear. Many artists have depicted the

apostles, as well as the earliest saints in mitres, but the first written references appeared in

1049 in the writings of Pope Leo IX. We do know that by the year 1100, the mitre was a

customary component of a bishop’s liturgical vestments.

Outward and Visible Signs

25

Another part of a bishop’s liturgical dress is the crozier. In its simplest form,

the crozier is akin to a shepherd’s staff. The crozier symbolizes the role of the

bishop as a shepherd of sorts: “You are called to guard the faith, unity, and

discipline of the Church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of

the sacraments of the New Covenant; to ordain priests and deacons and to

join in ordaining bishops; and to be in all things a faithful pastor and

wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.”

The rochet and chimere are two other types

of vestments peculiar to bishops. The

chimere is a full length vest. The rochet is a

white alb. The two are generally paired with

a stole. To the right are our first three bish-

ops vested in rochets and chimeres.

Thanks to the Diocese of Western New York for this article. Look for materials for parish

educational use from James Lawrence, Diocesan Youth Director.

The Bishop Transition Committee

Priscilla Condon, Advent, Lillian

The Rev. Mark Fitzhugh, St. Simon’s, Fort Walton Beach

Sally Greene, Wilmer Hall Children’s Home

Magoo Hamilton, St. Thomas’, Greenville

The Rev.Dr. Cynthia Carter Howard, St. Mary’s, Andalusia

McGee Lorren, St. Francis’ of Assisi, Gulf Breeze

Eleanor Reeves, Beckwith Camp and Retreat Center

Marguerita Riggall, St. Paul’s, Magnolia Springs

The Rev. Don Smith, St. James’, Fairhope

Dianne Walters, Epiphany, Enterprise

The Rev. Mark Wilson, St. James’, Fairhope (deceased)

Carolyn Jeffers, Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile (Chair)

Bishop Search Committee

The Rev. Steve Bates, Holy Nativity, Panama City

The Very Rev. Beverly Gibson, Christ Church Cathedral

Debra Kosche, St. Jude’s, Niceville

The Rev. Reid McCormick, St. Thomas’, Greenville

Joe McDaniel, Jr., Christ Church Parish, Pensacola

Gary Moore, St. Paul’s, Daphne

The Rev. Christie Olsen, St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze

The Rev. John Riggin, St. Paul’s, Mobile

Becky Schulte, St. Luke’s, Mobile

Hugh Wheelless, Nativity, Dothan

Britt Landrum, Holy Cross, Pensacola (Chair)

Standing Committee

The Rev. Thomas Dwyer, St. James’, Port St. Joe

The Rev. Thack Dyson, St. Paul’s, Daphne

Michael Foote, St. Paul’s, Magnolia Springs

Tim Gaston, St. Paul’s, Mobile

The Rev. Neal Goldsborough, Christ Church Parish, Pensacola

Dr. William Hamilton, St. Thomas’, Greenville

Billy Jones, St. John’s, Monroeville

Michel Nicrosi, Trinity, Mobile

David Quittmeyer, Trinity, Mobile

Dr. Sam Shelton, St. Mark’s, Troy

The Rev. Dr. Margaret Shepard, St. Andrew’s, Panama City

Anne Stevens, St. Paul’s, Foley

Gaye Wilson, St. Paul’s, Daphne

The Rev. George Riggall, Wilmer Hall Children’s Home (President)

26

27

The Search Committee has worked long and hard to gather this slate of bishop candidates, among

whom is the one who will care for us and under whose care we may grow. It is now the job of the

Transition Committee to work just as diligently toward the election and consecration of the next

bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. The goal of the Transition Committee is to

continue to foster a discernment-oriented process. We strive to create an environment of

neutrality and common ground; to extend equal hospitality to all nominees; and to offer voting

delegates and all members of the Diocese equal opportunities to meet and hear the nominees.

To this end, we call on our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of the Central Gulf

Coast:

To hold up all nominees and our diocesan family in prayer throughout the transition

process.

To educate themselves on the role of the bishop and to be open to the working of the Holy

Spirit in calling our next bishop.

To familiarize themselves with all nominees by reading the materials that describe the

nominees, their backgrounds, and their hopes for our diocese.

To understand that the Walkabout events are the appropriate places for the diocese to get

to know the nominees and for the nominees to get to know the diocese.

We strongly encourage our voting delegates:

To attend at least one Walkabout session to see and hear the nominees.

To listen carefully to the wishes and hopes of the congregation by whom they were

selected; to engage in prayerful discernment; and to be open to the movement of the

Holy Spirit as they discern who is being called to serve as bishop of our diocese.

We give special thanks to the members of the Search Committee. They gave themselves the task of

fashioning a process that would be open, transparent, and inclusive of all the congregations and

people of this diocese. It is our privilege, as the members of the transition team to carry on in the

same spirit of inclusion. We ask that you continue your prayers for clear discernment for the one

who will come to share our life in this diocese and lead us in the mission to which God calls us, using

the prayer For the

Election of a Bishop found on page 818 in The Book of Common Prayer.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide

the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a

faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Transition Committee for the Fourth Bishop

Carolyn S. Jeffers, chair

A Letter from the Chair of the Transition Committee

Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast

Carolyn S. Jeffers

Bishop’s Transition Committee Chair

115 South Conception Street

Mobile, Alabama 36602-2606

Telephone: 251.438.1822

E-mail: cjeffers@christchurchcathedralmobile.org

Website: bishopsearch.diocgc.com

God, we have no idea where we are going. We do not see the road ahead of us. We cannot know for certain

where it will end. Nor do we really know ourselves, and the fact that we think we are following your will does

not mean that we are actually doing so. But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing. We hope that we will never do anything apart from

that desire. And we know that if we do this you will lead us by the right road, though we may know nothing

about it. Therefore, we will trust you always though we may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. We

will not fear, for you are ever with us, and you will never leave us to face our perils alone.

A Prayer of Thomas Merton; Thoughts in Solitude, p. 83, adapted.