Dear saints in Rochester,

On the feast of the Presentation (Feb 2, 2008) you made a significant decision to add some color to the Church in the land of Eastman Kodak!  You and the Holy Spirit have obviously a sense of humor and Roja and I are elated and humbled at your vote of confidence!  We are sorry we were not with you to share the electricity of hope in the room. 

 

I wish to thank Bishop McKelvey for his almost decade-long leadership to this amazing Diocese and Linda McKelvey, his ever present source of wisdom and support.  I thank Dr. Louie Crew for prayerfully nominating me to this significant office at such a time as this.  I thank my esteemed colleagues, Richard, Steve, Odie and Bruce, and their partners for engaging an arduous but enriching discernment process.  I might add that their parishes are appropriately relieved by the news that they will continue with them, which is not the case with St. Alban’s where the grieving has begun and it will be tough.

I wish to thank various bodies of the Diocese for their intentional work of due diligence in getting to this day: Members of Standing Committee, who hopefully can sit a little and put their feet up; members of Diocesan Convention and Diocesan Council; members of the Nominating Committee for their enormous commitment of time and energy in carrying out the search process and the walkabouts with such dignity and care; members of the Transition Committee as they take on the challenge of coordinating a meaningful farewell to the McKelveys and getting us hospitably settled in the Diocese; the thousands of saints in various parishes in and around the Diocese for their consistent prayers throughout this significant discernment process and finally all your families for enabling you to do this important work together.

 

It is truly an honor to be called serve you saints as your Chief Shepherd in the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester with your varied gifts, challenges and opportunities.  As a spiritually grounded, tenacious and energetic-visionary I am rolling up my sleeves to develop visions with you, and to lead you in transforming those visions of hope into the vibrant reality of a growing and compassionate Church. 

Before that, however, let us grieve our departure from beloved St. Alban's.  Please keep our parish family, our diocesan family, and Roja, Ned, Eklan, Juliana (our cat) and me in your prayers, as we manage this tender season of departure.  I thank God for my beloved Roja, who has been a pillar of strength and a true reflection of grace throughout this arduous process of being present in the moment, especially over the last six months. 

 

And now, like the Christ who was presented at the temple, let us grow together; becoming strong and wise since God's favor is upon us.  Let us build on firm foundation a new Church where there are no outcasts, nor orphans, and no invisible people.  Let us build a Church where everyone works diligently from our fundamental identity that we all created in the image of God, who calls us BELOVED.  Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ; who lifts up the lowly, making them giants in the faith.  GO GIANTS of Rochester!