When a Bishop is ordained, there is a point in the service called “The Examination.” It describes the office of a bishop: how they are to order their life, lead the Church, and serve God’s people. At the end of this examination, the candidate is asked, “Are you persuaded that God has called you to the office of bishop?”
Persuasion must happen for a bishop to be called.
That persuasion takes form in many ways: A colleague telling you that they’re looking for a bishop. A persistent nudge in your daily prayers. The description of a diocese whose needs seem to call forth the gifts God has given you.
I think of my own father, who always professed that he never wanted to be a bishop. He loved parish ministry, and he wondered why anyone would leave this sacred and joyful vocation of priesthood for the perpetual motion of being a bishop. Yet when his friend in New Orleans called him and said, “We need a pastor and we need an administrator,” he began to listen. And over time, he became so persuaded.
Today, you can be a part of that persuasion by joining us at Emmanuel at 2:00 p.m. to share your thoughts and hopes for the next bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. I also invite you to complete this survey, which will help inform the Search Committee about the gifts, qualities, and leadership our diocese needs in its next bishop.
Help us tell the story of this diocese so that someone, somewhere, might become persuaded that God is calling them to serve as our next bishop.
A bishop in God's holy Church is called to be one with the
apostles in proclaiming Christ's resurrection and interpreting
the Gospel, and to testify to Christ's sovereignty as Lord of
lords and King of kings.
You are called to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the
Church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of
the sacraments of the New Covenant; to ordain priests and
deacons and to join in ordaining bishops; and to be in all
things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the
entire flock of Christ.
With your fellow bishops you will share in the leadership of
the Church throughout the world. 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.
Are you persuaded that God has called you to the office of bishop?