February 10, 2016

Ash Wednesday

Beloved in Christ,

As I shared with you at our diocesan convention, we are in the process of shifting the very way we are the church. Every day we all feel the ground shifting and the church changing to meet different circumstances. This is demanding on us all. To be prayerful, faithful, and wise in the midst of all this, we have committed to be proactive as a diocesan community. This necessitates some shifting of attitudes and responsibilities, starting with me and my staff. 

As your bishop, I have been too involved in the operational components of our common life. For a season, this was needed and important. Now I need to focus on casting our new identity and way of doing ministry. I need to spend my time and energy in prayer, reflection and creation. 

To accomplish this, Canon Nancy Holland will now take on the position of chief of staff. In this role, she will be the chief operating officer of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. The diocesan staff will report to her. She will run the diocese so that I may be the chief pastor. The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas will continue in her role as canon to the ordinary, assisting me in my core work pastoring the diocese. She will continue to serve as Office of Transition Ministries officer, liaison to the Commission on Ministry, rector of the School for Ministry, and join me in a regular rotation of visitation. Having just completed her certificate in spiritual direction, I really see her as the spiritual director for the diocesan community, calling us all to center our lives on Jesus and to practice healthy and holy spiritual disciplines. Canon Julie Young will continue her work as treasurer and canon for finance and administration. She will continue to serve the diocese and our congregations as a wise and skilled resource for good care of our temporal affairs.

Nancy, Allisyn and Julie are a superlative senior team who are passionate in their service to Christ as they serve with you. I am privileged to serve with them and to be your bishop. Together we are building up Christ's church in this time and place. How exciting!