Committee on Nominations Concluding Report to Standing Committee

On April 3, 2023, the Committee on Nominations for Bishop (“DCN”) submitted their Concluding Report, pursuant to Canon 5.4.F.viii of the Canons of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (“DOMA”). 

Press Release: Bishop Chris Warner Consecrated as Second Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic

Press Release: The Rev. Chris Warner is Voted as DOMA's Bishop-Elect

Walkabout Recordings Now Available

As part of the process leading to the election of our next bishop, the candidates participated in two events on September 27 and 28 (called “Walkabouts”), where they participated in a live Q&A session with delegates to the DOMA Electing Synod (to be held on October 15, 2022). These Walkabout Q&A sessions were only to DOMA clergy and lay delegates to the Electing Synod, but both sessions were recorded.

Event agenda (.pdf)

View the recordings from the Walkabouts

• David Hanke

• Patrick Ware

• Chris Warner

• Read the questions asked at each Walkabout

• Read the script explanation of how questions were determined (see video above)

The candidate slate has been released! How can we pray?

Some suggestions:

1. Ask God the Holy Spirit to guide each of us in our prayers that we might be led to pray in accordance with God’s will. See Romans 8:26-27- especially: “…the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
   
   An excellent prayer in the Book of Common Prayer is Prayer 97 on page 675: Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without Your aid: Kindle in me the fire of Your love, and illumine me with Your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts, I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with You and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

2. Pray for the candidates, their spouses, and their families. Pray that the Lord will bless and protect them throughout this process and that He will guide their minds into His paths of peace for each one of them.

3. Pray for the churches and ministries each candidate already serves, that the Lord will bless and preserve their effectiveness during this time of waiting and discernment. Pray that the Lord will grant patience to everyone else involved in their present ministries as our process runs its course.

4. Pray for the Walkabouts in September, that all the details will fall into place, that everyone will have safe travel to and from the meetings, and that the meetings themselves will proceed smoothly, with no issues. Pray especially that these meetings will be useful to the clergy and the delegates and for the candidates as we all get to know one another better.

5. Pray for our clergy and delegates that the Holy Spirit will grant them discernment as they decide on their voting. Pray that the Lord will guide them to have insight, clarity, understanding, and peaceableness.

6. Pray for the Electing Synod in October that the Lord’s will be done as we gather and vote for our new Bishop. Pray for those organizing and running the Synod that everything runs smoothly and all the details are covered.

7. Plan to attend our Diocesan Evening of Prayer on Friday, October 14, 7 pm, All Saints’, Woodbridge. This is open to everyone in the Diocese. We will be praying for the candidates, the diocese, our election the next day, and for the Lord to bless our new Bishop’s ministry amongst us. More details will be released about this service as we get closer to the date.

Sixth Report from the Committee on Nominations

The Committee on Nominations for Bishop (“DCN”) submits this sixth interim report, pursuant to Canon 5.4.F.iii of the Canons of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (“DOMA”.)  This report builds on the five prior reports and will not repeat any of the information set forth previously.

Please pray:

The Diocesan Committee on Nominations (DCN) gives thanks to God for each nominee; pray that we continue to discern God’s desires for our diocese. Please pray God’s blessing and protection for the nominees and their families as they keep their hearts and plans open to the Lord’s will.

Fifth Report from the Committee on Nominations

The Committee on Nominations for Bishop (“DCN”) submits this fifth interim report, pursuant to Canon 5.4.F.iii of the Canons of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (“DOMA”.)  This report builds on the four prior reports and will not repeat any of the information set forth previously.

Updated prayer:

• The Diocesan Committee on Nominations (DCN) gives thanks to God for each nominee in the discernment process.  

• Please pray for God’s blessing and continued protection for the nominees and their families as we discern God’s desires for our diocese.

Electing Synod Announced

On April 18, 2022 the 180-day notice required by our Canons was sent to announce the date for the Electing Synod:

Saturday, October 15, 2022
All Saints' Church
14851 Gideon Drive
Woodbridge, VA 22191

Read the entire letter here.

Fourth Report from the Committee on Nominations

On behalf of the Diocesan Committee for Nominations (DCN), we earnestly desire prayer for nominees no longer in the discernment process, for nominees continuing with second interviews, and for committee members.  Please pray that the DCN’s discernment and actions align with his purpose and will for our diocese and for each remaining nominee.

Thank you for lifting this petition to him who continually conforms us into the image of Christ.

Third Report from the Committee on Nominations

The Committee on Nominations for Bishop (“DCN”) submits this third interim report, pursuant to Canon 5.4.F.iii of the Canons of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (“DOMA”).  This report builds on the first and second interim reports of January 18 and February 4, 2022, respectively, and will not repeat any of the matters set forth previously. 

Prayer Request from Committee on Nominations

On behalf of the Diocesan Committee for Nominations (DCN), we request prayer for the nominees who have submitted applications and for the DCN as first interviews are prepared. 

Thank you for lifting this petition to him who gives wisdom generously, without reproach, to those who ask.

Prayer Request from Committee on Nominations

On behalf of the Diocesan Committee of Nominations for Bishop, we ask prayer for those whose names were put forward for consideration.  

As they seek God’s direction, please cover their time of discernment in prayer.  

A response is required by February 15.

 Thank you for lifting this petition before the Sovereign Lord who directs the humble in the way he should go.

Second Report from the Committee on Nominations

Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic Committee on Nominations for Bishop
Second Interim Report to Diocese
February 4, 2022

First Report from the Committee on Nominations

The Diocesan Committee on Nominations (DCN) convened its initial meeting by Zoom on December 16, 2021. DCN held its first of two overnight retreats on January 7-8. Read the committee’s report using link below.

Prayer Request from Committee on Nominations

On behalf of the Committee on Nominations for Bishop, we ask for your special prayers this week as the deadline for name submission approaches.

Please pray for those already discerning a possible call and especially pray for those names that should be considered but who have yet to be submitted.

The latter category is time sensitive as the 31 January deadline fast approaches.

Thank you for lifting this petition before the Sovereign One who sets down leaders and who raises up leaders.

Praying throughout the Process

You are invited to pray these prayers, along with the staff and intercessors in the Diocese, throughout the process of selecting the next Bishop for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic.

Prayer for the Selection of a Bishop (from BCP 2019):
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic that we may receive a faithful pastor who will preach the Gospel, care for your people, equip us for ministry, and lead us forth in fulfillment of the Great Commission; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Leadership of the Diocese:
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to be a good and godly fellowship of faith. Bless those who have been called to exercise leadership during this season, especially the members of the Committee on Nominations, as they begin the search process for our next Bishop. Grant to them, and to each member of the diocese, a fresh outpouring of your Spirit, a renewed determination to seek your will, and the assurance of your presence; safeguard our unity and ignite in us a great passion for the mission of your Kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invitation to Submit a Name

On December 21, the Committee on Nominations opened up the process to submit a name for consideration for nomination for Bishop. Read more here.

Profile of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic now available

The Standing Committee is pleased to announce the publication of the Profile of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic, issued as part of the process that will lead to the election and consecration of our next bishop. This profile will guide the Committee on Nominations in identifying appropriate candidates for this most important role and will serve as a resource for those potential candidates who might be asked to enter our process.

It is viewable on the DOMA website as a series of web pages with photos and graphics and also as a text-only .pdf document.

Members of the Committee on Nominations

On Dec. 8, 2021, the Standing Committee prayerfully selected the members of the Committee on Nominations. Please pray for each member as the committee forms and they begin their work.

View committee names here.

Praying in our next Bishop

Friends,

 It is an interesting Biblical study to examine all the times God moves in power for His people in the Scriptures. Nearly every time, He does so in response to the prayers of people desperate and eager to see Him work.

Think of the Exodus. It says in Exodus 3:23-25 that “Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel and God knew.”

After He heard these prayers, God appears to Moses out in the backside of nowhere in a burning bush and the rest is history, as they say.

We all know the constant refrain in the book of Judges is that the people each did what was right in his own eyes. But there’s another refrain throughout the book, too. When things get really bad, it says that the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help and every time they do, God raises up a Judge to deliver them from their enemy in response to their prayers. 

All during the reign of the monarchs of Israel and Judah, the good kings are those that seek after the Lord and see Him answer their prayers.

Jumping to the New Testament, we discover that even the coming of Christ is immediately preceded by people praying to God to fulfill His promises to the people of God. Anna, the widow, prayed in the Temple day and night. Simeon, the devout, prayed for the coming of the Messiah and was rewarded with the opportunity to actually hold Jesus the Messiah in his arms before God called Simeon home.

Prior to the Day of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit, Acts tells us in 1:14 that all the disciples were gathered in one place and devoting themselves to prayer and that after that, the Holy Spirit came as promised.

In the book of Revelation, chapter 8, we are told that all the prayers of the saints ascend before God like incense on the Altar. This little vignette is sandwiched in between God’s acts of judgment on the world for its unbelief and rebellion and on the devil for his rebellion and wickedness and reinforces the notion that God acts in response to the prayers of His people.

The long and short of things is that prayer that seeks God causes Him to respond. He calls us to participate with Him in His plans and will for our lives and the life of the world through our prayers. He especially calls us to pray for the church and its life and mission in the world.

With these things in mind, we have formed a team of intercessors to pray over and for the entire process to elect the next Bishop of the Diocese.

We desire to bathe the entire process with prayer so that God’s presence and power can work freely in and through everyone involved in choosing our next Bishop.

We desire to see God richly bless our next Bishop, as He has Bishop Guernsey, with His favor, wisdom, and power to enable the entire Diocese to accomplish His purposes today and into the future.

We are more likely to see His hand of blessing on this endeavor if we humble ourselves and seek Him during this process.

Will you join us in praying for our next Bishop and for the people and processes necessary to identify and call him to the Diocese?

If you are willing to do so, please contact me, the Rev. Tim Howe, at domaprays@gmail.com, with your name, email address, and the name of the church you attend, and I will gladly add you to our ranks.

Once you join us, I will send you periodic prayer updates with specific prayers to pray for the people, committees, and status of the search process.  It is the plan to have the election next October 15 and have the new Bishop consecrated in February 2023.

Thank you for praying about this. I look forward to hearing from many of you!

Sincerely, 

The Rev. Tim Howe
Executive Assistant to the Canon for Church Planting