January 13, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh invites your prayers and participation as we begin together the process of giving thanks for the ministry of Bishop McConnell and transitioning to leadership under a new Bishop.
Our bishop, the Right Reverend Dorsey W.M. McConnell, has announced his retirement date in 2021. The Standing Committee has given its consent to the Bishop’s call for an episcopal election. The members of the Standing Committee have begun to pray and work to design the process for the call of our next Bishop.
In discussions with the Bishop, the Standing Committee has revised the schedule for the election and Consecration of the IX Bishop of Pittsburgh.
January 23, 2021: Special Convention to elect the next bishop.
February 13, 2021: “snow date” for the election, if needed
June 5 or 12, 2021: Consecration of the IX Bishop of Pittsburgh
Judy Stark, who was the consultant for Project CREED, is serving as consultant to the Diocese for the search.
Bishop McConnell will remain the Ecclesiastical Authority in the Diocese until the consecration of his successor.
We ask that each of you commit to enter into prayer for our bishop, our diocese, and the candidates who will allow their names to be put forward for consideration.
As before, the Standing Committee will appoint a Nominating Committee to search for candidates and present them for final approval by the Standing Committee and ultimately election at the Special Convention. At this time, we ask that you recommend to us the names of any individuals who could capably serve on the Nominating Committee. Feel free to recommend yourself.
More details about the tasks of the Nominating Committee, together with an application form, are available on the Diocesan website at www.episcopalpgh.org/job-description-for-nominating-committee-members.
Please use the application provided and send it by e-mail to Russ Ayres at rwayresiii@gmail.com by February 1, 2020.
In the coming months, please consult the Diocesan website and the Diocesan newsletter Grace Happens for news about the process to call our next Bishop of Pittsburgh. Later this year we’ll be calling for volunteers for a Transition Committee to arrange “walkabouts” for the candidates, to manage the consecration service and welcoming activities for the next bishop and his or her family, and to plan a celebration of ministry for Bishop McConnell and Betsy.
An overview of the entire process is available at www.episcopalpgh.org/the-process-to-call-the-ix-bishop-of-pittsburgh.
Thank you for joining us in this solemn and holy task of calling the IX Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Faithfully,
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
Russell Ayres, President
Lisa Brown, Secretary
The Rev. Noah Evans
The Rev. Jonathon Jensen
Robert A. Johnston
The Rev. Eric McIntosh
The Rev. Annis Rogers
Stephen Stagnitta