January 13, 2020
Our Bishop, the Right Reverend Dorsey W. M. McConnell, announced his retirement date for April 24, 2021. Bishop Dorsey has been the right bishop for the right time in Pittsburgh.
Under his leadership, we have stabilized and have begun to experience resurrection with several new diocesan initiatives and a few congregations returning. The diocesan finances are sound and in good order. We have begun to reimagine our structure, through Project CREED, to match our mission and ministry better. While we still have work to do, we are continuing to experience resurrection through much of the hurt, lack of trust, and fatigue after the split. A signature achievement is the amicable resolution to the lawsuit with nine of the breakaway congregations. We recognize each other as Christians and are free to move forward in ministry. The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh also receives a fair annual income from these congregations. The Pittsburgh resolution is a model for the whole Church.
What happens next?
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pittsburgh has given its consent to the Bishop’s call for an election. In December, the Standing Committee (four lay and four clerical members) began to pray and work to design the process for the call of our next Bishop of Pittsburgh.
We expect to have the special diocesan convention to elect the next Bishop of Pittsburgh on January 23, 2021 with the ordination of the new bishop on June 5 or 12, 2021. A “snow date” for the election is set for February 13, 2021.
The steps to elect our next bishop
There is no official procedure that is required for the calling of a new bishop. However, there are a set of best practices from much experience. About ten similar elections occur each year in the Episcopal Church. What follows is a standard process for an election of a bishop. The one in Pittsburgh has not been set, as of this writing, but should be similar.
- Bishop McConnell called for a successor on December 4, 2019. See the letter here: https://www.episcopalpgh.org/a-letter-to-the-diocese-from-the-bishop/
- Standing Committee and Bishop meet with consultant. In December, the Standing Committee learned about some best practices in a bishop search, what to expect, and what their role will be. By canon or Church law, the Standing Committee is responsible for oversight of the search leading to the election. Judy Stark, who was the consultant for Project Creed, is serving as consultant to the Standing Committee for the search.
- Nominating and Transition Committees. The Standing Committee convened in early January to begin forming the timeline and tasks and soon will work on the appointment of the Nominating and Transition Committees.
Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee, sometimes called a Search Committee, will oversee production of a narrative profile of the diocese, read candidate nomination submissions and interview candidates, recommend a slate, and complete related duties. We expect they will be meeting once or twice per month through the end of 2020. Members should love Jesus, be a communicant in good standing, be discerning, represent the whole diocese, be well organized, be able to keep confidences, and love Pittsburgh.
A position description with an application to serve as a member of the Nominating Committee is available at www.episcopalpgh.org/job-description-for-nominating-committee-members.
Transition Committee. The Transition Committee will help the newly elected bishop and spouse (if there is one) make the move to Pittsburgh and welcome them to the diocese with planned events. The Transition Committee has a much more hospitality focused ministry than the Nominating Committee. The Transition Committee will also plan a farewell for Bishop Dorsey and Betsy McConnell.
- Listening Sessions. In several locations around the diocese, members and clergy will have opportunities, likely in addition to an online survey, to share their aspirations for our diocese and our next bishop.
- Diocesan Profile. The Nominating Committee will produce a narrative profile describing the diocese to prospective candidates and the type of bishop we are seeking, shares our aspirations, names our challenges, and highlights our gifts as a community. This profile also shares information about our ministries, history, and finances. In sum, the profile describes who we are and who we believe God is calling us to be as a Church together.
- Nominations. The period to receive names for candidates usually lasts 4-6 weeks. Most of this is now done electronically. This will occur after the profile has been completed.
- Nominating Committee reviews candidates. As submissions are received, the Nominating Committee will review documents and enter discernment with candidates.
- Retreat for semi-finalists in Pittsburgh. This is a relatively new practice. Rather than visit candidates in their home church, we invite a group of 6-8 candidates and spouses to Pittsburgh for a retreat to spend time in prayerful reflection, to learn about our region and diocese, and give the Nominating Committee a chance to learn about them.
- Background checks. Significant background checks are completed before an announcement of the final slate. Note: This is done in every diocesan election.
- Slate of candidates announced. The Nominating Committee makes recommendations for a slate of (usually) 3-5 people to announce as candidates for bishop. Note: This is the first time any names will be public. Biographies and responses to questions in the process will be made available online. Typical questions include, “What draws you to offer yourself as a candidate for Bishop of Pittsburgh?” or “Describe your relationship with Jesus Christ.” or “Tell us about a ministry in which you failed and what you learned from it.”
- Nominations by petition. There will be a period to allow for nominations by petition. Note: The diocesan Rules of Order no longer allow for nominations from the floor of the electing convention.
- Diocesan “Walk-Abouts.” About two weeks before the electing convention, there will be opportunities for everyone to meet the candidates, usually in each region of a diocese. Ordinarily, there is a time for each candidate to offer a brief presentation and then time for questions.
- Electing Convention. We expect to have the special diocesan convention to elect the next Bishop of Pittsburgh on January 23, 2021 with a snow date of February 13. The ordination of the new bishop is planned for June 5 or 12, 2021. This will give us about two more months than the originally announced plan.
Note: The deputies from each congregation at diocesan convention on October 16-17, 2020 will be the same deputies who vote at the electing convention. Clergy and laity vote “by orders” when electing a bishop. A candidate must have a majority of clergy and a majority of lay deputy votes to be elected Bishop Diocesan.
- Consents of Standing Committees. A majority of Standing Committees of the dioceses across the Episcopal Church must consent to the election for any bishop, including the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This is a reminder that a bishop, although having jurisdiction and ministry in a particular place and community we call a diocese, is a bishop for the whole Church.
- Celebration of their ministry and giving thanks for the Rt. Rev. Dorsey W. M. McConnell and Betsy McConnell.
- Ordination of new bishop. Currently set for June 5 or 12, 2021.
Standing Committee members are the Rt. Rev. W. M. Dorsey McConnell, Andrew Roman (Chancellor), Russ Ayres, 2020, (President), the Rev. Eric McIntosh, 2020, the Rev. Noah Evans, 2021, Bob Johnston, 2021, Lisa Brown, 2022, the Rev. Annis Rogers, 2022, Stephen Stagnitta, 2023, and the Rev. Jonathon Jensen, 2023. Note: The date signifies the year each member completes his or her term.
Please consult the website for the Diocese of Pittsburgh at www.episcopalpgh.org and the diocesan electronic newsletter, Grace Happens, for news about the process to call our next Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Please hold Bishop McConnell, the Standing Committee, and the whole Diocese of Pittsburgh in your prayers as we take these next steps of faith together.
January 23, 2021 Electing Convention
February 13, 2021 Electing Convention Snow Date
June 5 or 12, 2021 Ordination of the IX Bishop of Pittsburgh