Brother and Sisters, I hope this finds you well.
Today, I received a phone call from the President of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Atlanta, notifying me that my name will appear on the slate of candidates eligible to be elected as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta on June 2, 2012.
With all my heart, I believe that faithfulness to God means we must be inquiring how and where we can use our gifts to best serve the Lord. I believe also, that the best way to come to clear answers to those questions is to involve other prayerful people in that discernment.
For some time, people have recommended that I allow my name to go forward as a candidate for Bishop in other dioceses, but I have declined. Neither the timing of those requests, nor those ministry contexts stirred my imagination nor seemed like the best fit for my gifts and strengths.
I have been delighted and deeply fulfilled to be the tenth Rector of St. Paul's and because of the hard work of so many, we have proved that worship in the Episcopal Church can both honor our tradition and be dynamic at the same time. I am very proud of how we have partnered with God over the last ten years.
Yet, I feel called at this time to get clear answers as to how and where I should serve God going forward. I do not know if God is calling me to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta, but I do know that God is calling me to be faithful. And, that means sitting with the questions until the answers are clear.
As the discernment process works its way through towards June, know that the staff, the Vestry and I remain committed to working and planning for continued excellence in every endeavor.
I ask you for your prayers as Beth and I wait, watch and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church. I would ask also that you join me in praying for the Diocese of Atlanta, that whomever God calls as the next Bishop will be an able leader, grounded in scripture and prayer and a committed disciple of Jesus Christ.
God's power and peace,
Rob+
The Very Rev. Robert C. Wright
Rector
