A Reflection from the Bishop Search Committee

November 10, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Tomorrow, November 11, is a fitting opportunity to reflect on our current bishop search, since long before it became Veterans Day, it has been Martinmas, a day honoring Martin of Tours (316-397)—a saintly bishop whose election to that ministry offers instructive inspiration for ours now.

Two big standouts come out of the story of Martin's election as bishop:

• To some, Martin seemed an unlikely, unattractive candidate, too shabby and unpolished as a simple monk to front the church in such a high-profile role. But others saw beyond his surface to the Christlike character and behavior evident in his faithful, modest way of life. (Spoiler alert: The "holiness lobby" prevailed.)

• As for Martin, he was not keen on being a candidate, worrying that the role of bishop had become too entangled with status, clout, and wealth, contrary to his gospel code of conduct. He even went into hiding to evade consecration! But the people of the diocese tracked him down and wore him down, persuading him to accept their call. (Another spoiler: He relented with this prayer to God: "Your will be done.")

In the end, the choice of humble, reluctant Martin proved a game-changer: his bishopric was marked by his insistence on truth, spartan lifestyle in office, care for the poor, defense of the defenseless, and utter conviction that charity, nonviolence, and mercy are non-negotiable to be true to Christ Jesus.

And so we have two takeaways from Martin's story:

• What do we seek in a bishop? Given that God calls us to holiness—"Be holy, for I am holy!" (Leviticus 11:44 and 1 Peter 1:16)—a bishop obviously must be more than an administrator, fundraiser, or morale booster. Like Martin, a bishop must be someone who can lead us in our primary purpose as a church: growing "completely as God wants us to be, just like Christ himself" (Ephesians 4:13, EasyEnglish Bible).

• Who would make a good bishop? Someone who approaches that ministry with the same "fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) that Martin evinced. To become a bishop is not a step up a career ladder, but a deeper dive into a vocation—into whatever God calls us to do even when risk and lack of reward lie ahead. Martin wasn't lured by the trappings of office; he simply sought to serve Christ Jesus and his people in line with his gospel's vision and values—a model for future bishops to follow.

The qualities that Martin embodied as a bishop resound in the vows in our

Book of Common Prayer's Ordination of a Bishop (pages 512-523). As we delve more deeply into our bishop search process, please take time to read those vows, for they give us a clear-cut "blueprint" or "job description" of what a bishop is meant to be and do—and thus a yardstick by which to measure prospects for our own bishop election.

A blessed Martinmas to all! Please keep praying for us as this process unfolds in God's peace, at God's pace.

Prayerfully,

Bishop Search Committee

Episcopal Diocese of Florida

Carolyn Jones (The Rev.), Co-Chair, St. Mark's, Jacksonville

Gregory Orloff, Co-Chair, Holy Trinity, Gainesville

Mark Armesto, St. Paul's, Quincy

Paul Arrington, St. John's, Jacksonville

Eileen Bisgard, St. Mary's, Green Cove Springs

Angela Boyd, Our Saviour, Jacksonville

Martha Cox, St. John's, Jacksonville

Courtland Eyrick, St. Mark's, Jacksonville

Allen Hill (The Rev.), PhD, Holy Comforter, Tallahassee

George Holston (The Rev.), Church of the Mediator, Micanopy

Mal Jopling (The Rev.), St. Cyprian's, St. Augustine

Reid McCormick (The Rev.), St. Paul's by the Sea, Jacksonville Beach

Quinn Parman (The Rev.), All Saints, Jacksonville

Beth Ranoull (The Rev. Dcn.), Our Saviour, Jacksonville

Lawanda Williams (The Rev. Dcn.), St. Paul's by the Sea, Jacksonville Beach

Chaplain: Lonnie Lacy (The Rev.), St. John's, Tallahassee