Bishop Search Committee Meets for the First Time
On an unusually warm first day of February, a small group of Episcopalians from around the Diocese of East Carolina gathered at St. Mary’s Church, Kinston. The purpose of this meeting was to organize as the Search Committee for the IX Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina.
This was a combined meeting of the Standing Committee, Search Committee, and Chaplains, with our Search Consultant, Dr. Blanca Silvestrini. The whole day was grounded in prayer and rooted in worship as led by our Chaplains, The Rev. Mary Ogus and The Rev. Dr. John Pollock.
Following the Liturgy of the Word, Dr. Silvestrini, gave a presentation on the process of search and nomination for our next bishop, and developing a diocesan profile.
The Rev. John Pollock provided a talk on confidentiality. The group learned that confidentiality is our gift to someone. Confidentiality is a COVENANT: a “promise to protect” those in this process. They left have a better understanding of what they can say, and more importantly, what they cannot say.
Bishop Rob Skirving joined us in the morning and talked about the process of discernment he went through approximately 12 years ago before he entered our search in East Carolina. He also talked about the role and function of a bishop, what it was like when he first joined us and how it is impacting him and the church today, while also giving insight to the future.
St. Mary’s exhibited their wonderful gift of hospitality, not only in providing their beautiful facilities, but also in a delicious meal and refreshments throughout the day. Following lunch we returned to the chapel at St. Mary’s, where Chaplain Mary Ogus led us in praying the Litany for Ordinations, and commissioned members of the Search Committee. A key component of the commissioning was the charge presented to members by the Standing Committee.
The group, once together, separated upon our time in the chapel. Standing Committee members went off to conduct necessary work related to Search and Transition in the diocese and the Search Committee got down to the business of organizing and moving forward with the search.
The day concludes with a return to the chapel at St. Mary’s where the Eucharist was celebrated by the chaplains, and a group photo of the Search Committee was taken before leaving, as seen at the top of this page.
February 1, was a long, productive, and fulfilling day, marking the beginning of a long journey for the Search Committee, which will culminate in the election of the next Bishop at our fall convention in November 2025. These are a great group of people who have agreed to spend time listening, respecting other’s viewpoints and opinions, especially those that differ from their own. They will have to compromise and be able to make difficult decisions, realizing the process is not about them. They bring enthusiasm, energy, eagerness to do good work and give their very best. We thank them for the work they have just begun. We thank them for the personal sacrifices they will make on our behalf, in time away from family and loved ones.
We ask you to please pray daily for the members of the Search Committee and for their work:
Co-chairs:
- Lisa Richey – Grace Church, Whiteville
- The Rev. Tom Warren – St. Mary’s Church, Kinston
Committee:
- Marc Asaad – St. Peters-By-the-Sea, Swansboro
- Ann Bustard – Christ Church, New Bern
- Bill Chase – St. James the Fisherman Church, Shallotte
- The Rev. Phillip Craig, Jr. – St. James Parish, Wilmington
- The Rev. Tommy Drake – All Saints’ Church, Southern Shores
- Lilia Granados – Iglesia Episcopal La Sagrada Familia, Newton Grove
- The Rev. Jody Greenwood – Church of the Servant, Wilmington
- The Rev. Tammy Lee – St. Paul’s Church, Beaufort
- The Rev. Jon Sargeant – St. Stephen’s Church, Goldsboro
- Leon Tillery – St. Paul’s Church, Wilmington
- Martha Whitesides – St. Timothy’s Church, Greenville
Chaplains:
- The Rev. Mary Ogus
- The Rev. John Pollock
