Joint Oversight Committee for Calling a Bishop Coadjutor
Jan. 14, 2008 Joint Oversight Committee News

With all four Archdeaconries reporting results of their elections for qualified persons to make up the Leadership Pool from which the Search/ Nominating, and Transitional Committees will be formed, the Joint Oversight Committee held a meeting on Saturday, January 12, to review the list of names presented. Below are the names submitted by each Archdeaconry:
 
Brooklyn: The Revs. Eddie Alleyne and Rob Picken and Kennedy Mills and Rita Fray;

Queens:  The Revs. Joseph Jerome and Donovan Leys and Joan Asselin and Lindsy Cotter;

Nassau:  Deacon Betty Belasco and Rev. Christina VanLiev and Fritz Weinrich and Brian Quinn;

Suffolk:  The Rev. Richard Simpson and Deacon Lorainne Cussic and Latonia Early-Hubblebank and Sue Morrison.
 
A working list of At large Nominees was also provided from around the diocese. Thus far the following are the names of the persons comprising this list:
 
Nancy Rasmussen, Frederick Miller, The Rev. David Ware, Michele Wiley, Willow Fodor, Christopher Hoffer, the Rev. Debra Low-Skinner, The Rev. Hickman Alexander, The Rev. David Sellery, Deacon Connie Lorenz, Connie Long, Christina Lightbourne, Joan King, Marie Callender, Antonio Checo, Muriel Sobers, Joseph Pae and The Rev. Shawn Williams. Other names are still being added and encouraged. Names must be accompanied by a photograph and brief bio.
 
The next task of the Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) will be to meet with the above nominees and prayerfully form the Search/Nominating and Transitional Committees and their Chairs.

Part of this selction process will take place on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the Mercer School of Theology. The first session is scheduled from 10:00 AM until lunch, and will consist of those sixteen (16) persons elected by the four arcdeaconries as listed above.

The goal is for the JOC to assess the leadership abilities of the pool members. The second session from 1:00 - 3:00 PM will be with the Pool of At Large Nominees and the JOC.
 
On January 25-26, 2008, the Leadership Pool/Members At Large will attend an overnight retreat with the JOC at Camp DeWolfe. The National Consultant will meet with the JOC from 4-5:30 PM, with the rest of the time utilized in discerning the formation of the Search/Nominating and Transitional Committees along with their Chairs.
 
Once these two committees are established, the work of the Search Committee will begin. This will require the assistance of a stipened secretary and webmaster. Shortly, the JOC will announce a search for person to fill these two positions. More information is forthcoming.

This time of discernment and transition can be very lonely and anxious for our bishop, his family and staff. To this end, there is a retreat scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2008 for our bishop and staff to begin to begin the conversation of change and transition together as part of the discernment process.
 
As I mentioned before, we ask that you "bathe" the diocese and the task ahead of us in your daily prayers. The chaplain for the process Brother Tom Carey along with The Rev.Domenic Ciannella are presently working on creating a series of collects for the diocese to use as we discern together the call of our next Chief Pastor. As the star guided the wisemen to the stable where they found the Christ child, so may we be led by that same star as we embark on this journey. Pax Vobiscum!
 
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
The Very Rev. Dr. Glenworth D. Miles+
Joint Oversight Committee Information Officer