Description & Duties of the Committee on Nominations

Committee on Nominations

Composition and Duties

(DOMA Canon Title 1A. Canon 5. Section 4)

 Composition 

The Committee on Nominations consists of five Clergy and six Laity. Lay members of the Committee on Nominations must be Eligible Voters in a Congregation or Mission of the Diocese who have been confirmed or received by a Bishop of the Province or another province of the Anglican Communion. Clergy members of the Committee on Nominations must be under the authority of the Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. 

The members and chair of the Committee on Nominations are appointed by the Standing Committee. 

Duties 

The Committee on Nominations is responsible for creating procedures and processes for the work of the committee subject to approval by the Standing Committee. The Committee on Nominations publishes the solicitation of nominations for Bishop and is responsible for receiving and considering all nominations. The Committee on Nominations will screen all names to determine whether they meet the criteria established by the Provincial and Diocesan Constitution and Canons. The Committee on Nominations may also establish other criteria as approved by the Standing Committee. 

Once a nominating process has begun, the Committee on Nominations will remain seated and will continue its work until the nominating process has been completed, an election has occurred, and the Bishop-elect consented to by the Provincial College of Bishops. 

Through a prayerful process of discernment, including due diligence, the Committee on Nominations will arrive at a slate consisting of no less than three candidates by July 17, 2022 for possible election by the special Electing Synod to be held on October 15, 2022. 

Requirements for nomination to the Committee 

Laity: 

1. Signed application including a declaration that he/she affirms the Fundamental Declarations of the Diocese (Article I of the Diocesan Constitution) and the Standards of Morality and Ethics (Title II, Canon 5 of the Diocesan Canons), 

2. Letter of Recommendation submitted and signed by a Rector/Vicar of the Diocese and signed by the Senior Warden of the church. 

3. Recent Photo. 

Clergy: 

1. Signed application including a declaration that he/she affirms the Fundamental Declarations of the Diocese (Article I of the Diocesan Constitution) and the Standards of Morality and Ethics (Title II, Canon 5 of the Diocesan Canons). 

2. Recent Photo. 

The Standing Committee at its discretion may request additional information from those seeking selection to the Committee on Nominations. 

Qualifications for appointment to the Committee 

The Standing Committee seeks leaders from throughout our Diocese. A representative group of men and women with a variety of ages and ethnicities is desired. 

To be a suitable candidate for the Committee on Nominations, a person must: 

• Be a person of prayer and strong faith;

• Be an eligible voter who has been received or confirmed by a Bishop of the Province or another province of the Anglican Communion;

• Be able to maintain strict confidentiality;

• Be able to work effectively as a member of a team;

• Be a spiritually mature disciple capable of spiritual discernment, able to lay aside personal preferences to seek God’s will;

• Be able to participate fully in the process that will lead to the nomination of candidates for bishop who will ordain both men and women to the diaconate and priesthood;

• Be comfortable using technology such as Zoom and Dropbox;

• Be available to attend weekly meetings via Zoom as well as in-person day-long or overnight retreats, particularly at the beginning and end of the selection process (schedule to be determined by the chair of the Committee on Nominations);

• Be willing to do extensive preparation including reading candidate submissions, interviews, and reference follow up;

• Be willing to travel, if necessary, to meet with candidates from other dioceses.

Members of the Committee should possess some knowledge of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic beyond their own church. 

In addition, the following knowledge and skills are desired on the Committee but not required of each member: 

• Written communication skills;

• Administrative skills;

• Human resource experience;

• Interviewing skills;

• Understanding of the Anglican Church in North America and wider church polity.