Friday, January 18, 2013

People Elected to Diocesan Offices Must Care for the Larger Church


It's no secret that Episcopalians love their parishes. We take great pride in the sanctuaries we maintain and occupy. But as Episcopalians, we are part of a larger church, unified by our commitment to Christ’s mission to bring God’s kingdom to earth. In that sense, there is no Grace Church or St. Augustine’s or Church of the Mediator. We are Christians, simply, who are participants in Christ’s Church.

Many of you will have your annual meetings in the coming month, and in electing your fellow parishioners to positions in the diocese – including delegates to diocesan convention, Standing Committee, and deputies to the General Convention and Province V Synod – I ask that you nominate and elect people who would most likely have a commitment to the larger church. Elect people who have a vision beyond the local parish and a mission which pools our financial and people resources, making us truly the Body of Christ healing a broken world in desperate need of being reconciled to God and to one another.

It is also with a mind toward the arrival of the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Western Michigan that this is important. The newly elected will be able to join the already good lay and clergy leadership serving this diocese and the larger church well.

The new bishop will arrive to find a team of people who will work with, not against, him/her. When individuals in leadership positions bring their own local agendas or serve in order to grind an ax, they are unable to hear the new plan or see the new path laid out before them.

By identifying the best people possible from the vast number of talented individuals already working and serving in our parishes, and inviting them to serve on the diocesan, Province, and The Episcopal Church level, you will be giving your new bishop one of the best gifts possible - a great start to the ministry of oversight (the bishop’s role) and relationship-building in the diocese and beyond. Consider electing people who have never served before. While electing experienced people is important for continuity, it does not give others the opportunity to experience church in a different way and it denies the church the gifts and fresh vision they bring. We need some of each.

A few years ago your Diocesan Council and I compiled a list identifying some of the characteristics the people you elect to diocesan positions should have. (To read it, click here now). Please share or post this list in your parish.

We elect people to diocesan positions to be stewards for the welfare of the whole diocese. They are people who get along well with others, and are concerned for the common good, rather than the needs and wants of their own parish.

All of this is best accomplished when parishes take the time to discern the gifts that exist within their community of faith and then invite those with the appropriate gifts to serve. Just asking who wants volunteer does not accomplish the same results. It requires prayer and observation as well as discussion and invitation. It is a gift your new bishop deserves.

– Robert R. Gepert, VIII, Western Michigan

Thursday, January 17, 2013

An Open Letter to my Successor


Dear Successor:

As I approach the end of my episcopacy and as the Diocese of Western Michigan moves toward the electing convention on May 18, 2013, I want to assure you of my support and intention to make as healthy a leadership transition as possible.  I am publishing this letter to you now, before I even know who you are, because I believe with all my heart that the Holy Spirit is at work in our process and that you are the person God has chosen to call here to lead this diocesan community into future mission and ministry for the sake of God’s kingdom.  I only hope that I have laid a sufficient foundation to enable you and the people here to soar to new and exciting highs in proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Episcopalians.
Historically, we have not always made the best leadership transitions possible.  It is for this reason and because I have grown to love this diocese that I make the following pledge to you:
  •  I will not hang around.  I believe leaders must leave in order for successors to be able to fully claim their leadership.  To that end I will be moving to Pennsylvania.
  • After leaving, I will not enter the diocese for any reason without notifying you and gaining your permission, per the canons of The Episcopal Church. 
  •  I will review with you current and past cases involving clergy discipline and the progress of parishes with a plan for restoring congregational health.
  • I will honestly answer any and all questions you may have with the goal of being as transparent as possible concerning all aspects of diocesan life.
  • I will not tolerate any whining or griping or negative talk which may come my way, because it undermines leadership and poisons good work.
  •  Following your election, I will see to it that my role in the diocese becomes smaller so that your leadership can begin to grow.
  •  I will be present at your consecration liturgy, and it will be my great honor to give you the diocesan crozier, as well as the Prayer Book that our first bishop, Bishop Gillespie, used and left for all of his successors.
  • I will make myself available to you at any time following your consecration should you want any additional information.
  • As a way of preparing for your episcopacy, I will initiate clergy conversations regarding their role in relationship to you as their bishop.  I will do the same with the people of the diocese as we gather for our annual “Leadership Days” and with staff at our weekly meetings.
  • I will hold you before God in prayer each day as I have already begun doing.
I am looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you as you begin your ministry of oversight in Western Michigan.  I know that God has great things in store for you and the diocesan community.  

Sincerely,
Robert R. Gepert
VIII, Western Michigan