That's one of the questions asked of us at the Conference Table meeting this past weekend. With Jurisdictional Conference less than a year away, the reality of episcopal musical chairs looms.
While Bishop Mary Ann made it clear to us that she'd like to spend her last four years "in purple" with us, the decision lies in the hands of a jurisdictional committee that will work behind closed doors with profiles and strong arms.
It was nice to be asked what I was looking for in a Bishop. In my day dream, the Bishop would be more like Hiro Nakamura on Heroes, about to bend the space-time continuum. But realistically, I want a Bishop who is willing to lead, even when it is not popular, someone willing to listen, longs for justice and wholeness, reaches out to young people, can inspire us to do the difficult work we do. It is asking a lot of anyone, and that makes me respect those called to that top office even more!
So, what would you want in a Bishop, if given a chance to respond?
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3 comments:
I know some folks in seminary look around at their classmates and can seem to identify those who might be bishop someday based on some intangible set of things including ambition and leadership, intelligence and (one hopes) wit and compassion and (one hopes even more)humility.
I am in seminary right now with a young man who I doubt very much aspires to be a bishop and yet in my heart of hearts I hope some day he is. And, while he's not quite, Hiro, he comes close in many ways.
James is brilliant yet thoughtful. He synthesizes complex information -- not just intellectual information but emotional and social information -- and then offers thoughtful reflection. He seems to be theologically on the edge of the mainstream church and yet very, very comfortable working within the UMC system without looking like or (I imagine) feeling like a hypocrite. He has found graceful ways to bridge ambiguity. He is American yet of Korean heritage so he often serves as someone who can bridge cultures. He and I talk well together, so I know he can also bridge that age thing that I find relative but others find confining. I wish we could suspend all the politics and bureaucracy and putting in of appropriate time and make him a bishop somewhere sooner rather than later.
James is who I would like to have as a bishop. My faith and hope in the UMC would soar if the Spirit moved the church toward James and others like him.
But he won't be ready this year, so I'd love to keep our current Bishop through her retirement in four years!!
How nice to be asked Erika, thanks!
We just elected a new Bishop in my diocese of the Episcopal Church. I had hoped for someone who would look and be a new kind of Bishop for us...like a woman. We had a slate of three women (one a partnered lesbian), five white men, two African men. So, lots of choices...
We need someone who will be capable of being strong, and clear. A visionary who will recognize that all kinds of churches are doing good work, not just the "Big" ones...
and, except for the fact that we elected another white man, who looks like the same kind of Bishop we've elected the last 11 times, we maybe did this...we'll see...
Still it was sad that we chose to remain with such a comfortable "face" as Bishop. Bishops in our denomination offer the "public" face of the church.
The Bishop needs to be willing to be up front and center and in the media and setting the agenda for the media, not reacting to it. Which means I'm tired of the media describing and defining our church ("schism avoided...") rather than the Church defining for the media who we are (caring for those in need, etc).
Erika,
I too would like a Bishop who could lead in new and unpopular directions, addressing the areas of our faith life together that have been neglected.
Was there any discussion at the Conference Table about the rapidly declining need for "pastoral" clergy and the immediate need for "visionary" Annual Conference leaders?
And how that need translates into the qualities for a Bishop?
It seems to me the "pastoral leader" is best able to care for the dying and to comfort us as we continue to do the same things we have been doing for the last 30 years.... decline.
A visionary leader would not only "comfort the afflicted" but "afflict the comfortable" (as my old preaching professor used to say...) in the best of our grace-driven tradition.
A visionary leader could also help us take a hard look at ourselves and so re-discover the power of the Wesleyan movement and therefore renew our soul.
A visionary leader would be one who comes with significant new and creative ideas that would use the tools of technology,
...a knowledge of the post-modern world,
...the power of Christ-filled relationships
...and the framework of a theology that could begin to heal the 30 years of defeat and discouragement that many of churches and our church leaders feel.
What were the conclusions of the "Conference Table?" What are we asking for? And what other avenues of communication are open to Conference members to share our hopes and dreams?
Grace and Peace,
Terry Van Hook
http://pastorterry.blogs.com/esoundings/
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