An Update from the Standing Committee  
about the Search for our next Bishop
 
As you know, the Nominating/Search Committee brought four candidates to the Diocese, whose names were announced on June 21. You can find the information about them here .
 
The Transition Committee has been in contact with the Nominees, to begin the process of caring for them as the Walk-abouts occur in early September. You can find more information about the Walk-abouts here. We encourage all members of the diocese to attend a Walk-about near them. That not only offers us the opportunity to get to know the candidates, but allows the candidates to get to know more of us. The Walk-about at Galilee Church in Virginia Beach will be live-streamed and also recorded for those who cannot attend a Walk-about.
 
The Petition Process for nominees was opened on June 21 and closed on July 5.  As noted in the Motion passed by the Standing Committee in early June, "The Petition Process . . . is intended to address the narrow circumstance when a person called to candidacy has not been vetted in the Nominating/Search Committee process or was not identified by the Nominating/Search Committee as one of the final candidates."  The Standing Committee received Petition(s) in a timely manner, and various processes, including a background check and a psychological evaluation, are now underway.  "The names of persons nominated by Petition will remain confidential until the individual's candidacy is approved by the Standing Committee."  We hope to have results for you in early August.
 
The Standing Committee would like to remind every congregation's Vestry that they must have completed and submitted their Certificate of Lay Delegates and Alternates in order for their Lay Delegate(s) to vote at the election. We strongly encourage congregations which do not normally name alternates to do so for the episcopal election. If a delegate cannot attend at the last minute, the alternate must already be on file in order to take the delegate's place. For more information contact Susan Allen at the diocesan office at 757-213-3391.  
 
We would also like to remind all retired clergy who are canonically resident in the Diocese that your presence is needed at the Special Council in order to have the required number of Clergy present. For more information, see Article VII of our Diocesan Constitution here.
 
Registration for the Special Election Council on September 21 will begin in August and you will get more information about that shortly.
 
Please continue to keep the Diocese, and now our candidates, in your prayers.
 
The Standing Committee:
Mrs. Marty Easton 
The Very Rev. Susan Grimm, President 
The Rev. Cameron Randle 
Mr. John Rector 
The Very Rev. Stan Sawyer 
Mrs. Helen Sharpe-Williams 

Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia
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