Diocese of Virginia to Elect Bishop Suffragan in November 2018
A Search Committee has been appointed by the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Virginia, and it is hard at work. A number of listening sessions were held around the Diocese and a survey has been distributed, in order to learn what the people of the Diocese are thinking. A profile will be published soon and, beginning on April 2, applications will begin being received. As we undertake this process, it is important to highlight what Bishops are called to do.
It is the ministry of all Christians to represent Christ and his Church. Within the Church, lay and ordained believers are called to different aspects of this shared ministry. “The ministry of a Bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ’s name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to ordain others to continue Christ’s ministry.” (Outline of Faith in the Book of Common Prayer, page 855)
In the service of ordination, the Bishop-elect is told, “Your heritage is the faith of patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and those of every generation who have looked to God in hope. Your joy will be to follow him who came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Those who have been elected to the office of Bishop commit themselves to this ministry by publicly making a series of powerful vows (See pages 517-518 in the Book of Common Prayer.)
It is clear that the ministry of Bishop is an important one for the Church, and has been from apostolic times. All Bishops share in this ministry and the ordination service itself highlights the collegial nature of this ministry. At the same time, it is important to note that there are several functional differences between a Bishop Diocesan and a Bishop Suffragan.
There are a number of canonically mandated responsibilities that are designated for the Bishop Diocesan and cannot be delegated. Also, the Bishop Diocesan sets the vision for the Diocese, while a Bishop Suffragan assists in the implementation of that vision and undertakes work specifically designated to him or her by the Bishop Diocesan. Being a Suffragan is a bit like “leading from the second chair,” to quote the title of a popular book. The Episcopal Church has 111 dioceses, and there are currently only nine Bishops Suffragan overall.
The new Bishop Suffragan in Virginia will share in the depth and breadth of episcopal ministry and will provide specific leadership for the pastoral care of clergy and their families, support and development of campus ministries, and ecumenical and interfaith relationships. Working primarily out of the Northern Virginia office, the second Suffragan will serve as the “first responder” for clergy and congregations in that region, and will also support episcopal ministry throughout the Diocese.
You can read more about the search on the diocesan website. Go to “thediocese.net,” and on the left hand side of the home page, scroll down and select “Bishop Suffragan Search.”
You can e-mail the search committee at bpsuffsearch@thediocese.net
Do you know someone who would make a great Bishop Suffragan? Please be in touch with them, tell them to visit our website and make an application. Applications will be accepted beginning on April 2.
There is an article in the Virginia Episcopalian in the Winter edition.