As you may know by now, the Diocese of California is in a search to find our next bishop. Bishop Swing has announced his retirement, and we will be electing our eighth bishop in a special election at Grace Cathedral on May 6, 2006, then consecrating her or him on July 22, 2006.

In this interview, we introduce you to the co-chairs of the Search Committee, the Rev. Jim McKnight, Associate Rector of Christ Church, Los Altos, and Ms. Helen Sause, an active lay member of Christ Church, Alameda. Watching the two of them work together reminds me of what it means to be Church -- it is what we do together that calls Christ's presence with us. 

PCN: During the search process, what have you learned about the Diocese of California that surprised you most? 

Helen Sause: Two things stand out in my mind: I have a much keener appreciation of how much Bishop Swing has accomplished in his time with us, and how much there is to do for greater outreach to other cultures and the unchurched. I'm also now aware of how much of a leader the Diocese Of California is in the national Church.

Jim McKnight: I believe that the scope and breadth of the Diocese is the thing that most surprised me.  During the time of our town meetings, we met people from most parishes, missions, schools, and institutions of the Diocese.  Even though we’re the smallest diocese (in area) west of the Mississippi, we have the resources, structures, people and mix of peoples of a much larger region.  Most of our parishioners would also be surprised; everyone needs to read the profile. (Which is available at www.BishopSearch.org)
 

Where do you encounter God in the search process?

JM: God is at the center of our work.  Everything we do as a group and individually is Spirit focused.  We keep reminding ourselves that God’s power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.  We ask a lot; and our hopes are great.

Say something about the formation of the community that is the Search Committee? It seems that you are a tight-knit group. If so, will it be difficult to stop coming together as a committee when your work is done?

HS: We came together as a very diverse group of strangers last January.  Our metamorphosis into a single entity of people respectful of each other, honoring the views of everyone and focused on the single mission of discerning the nominees who most closely fit the profile of the Diocese of California has occurred over these months of working with each other.  I believe that this closeness has come out of our awareness of the importance of our task, and respect for each and every one of the team. 

JM: With the help of our consultant Suzanne Foucault, our community building started at our opening retreat.  Her guidance, and the experience of every member of the team, has kept Helen and me honest as we processed the work we have to do, as well as the feelings about that task which propelled us forward, or caused us to stop and ask: Where are we? What are we doing now? And how, in God’s name, can we best go forward?  We have emerged from this a very tight group, and our ability, and willingness to be vulnerable to, and with each other has taken us to a very spirit-based, and moving, place.  We are now family, and the election of the new bishop will not end that.  We will always have this time together as our special bond, and the future will be greatly formed by that.

Have the interviewees taught you anything about the Diocese of California that you hadn't yet considered?

JM; The interviewees have asked some very penetrating questions.  One asked: How is it, with all the diversity of this area, that we have not planted any new churches in a quarter century? Another said that our profile doesn’t seem to emphasize the need for outreach to children, youth, and young adults, as much as most dioceses -- I was caught up short by that.  I thought that we had emphasized that, but on reflection I saw that along with our emphasis on outreach to minorities and the GLBT community, we didn’t say a heck of a lot about it.  We were reminded that this is an area of growth that must be at the top of our priorities.

Another thing that occurred to me concerns the hubris of many of us in our expectation that everyone (and his or her uncle, so to speak) would want to apply to this diocese.  The reality of course, is that, for a variety of reasons that has been a false assumption.  For that reason, I’m especially excited about those that did apply, and their commitment to joining us in this discernment process.

HS: I am not sure that the interviews alone have been responsible for the new lens with which I am looking at the Diocese.  The town meetings started the process, the diversity of views encountered in those discussions; it was furthered as we struggled to bring all these thoughts, dreams, and opinions into focus to write The Diocesan Profile. Then, your supposition is correct, many of the nominees ask penetrating questions or made assumptions about the Diocese. This has prompted us to look at ourselves with a bit of an outsiders view and describe ourselves in a way that they can understand and appreciate us.  (Rather like taking a beloved car in for a trade in and what has been a serviceable, faithful companion of many miles, one suddenly looks at it through a strangers eyes….and heretofore unnoticed warts and blemishes show up! In this case needs and opportunities.)