Bishop Election Updates
I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. (Luther’s Explanation to the third Article of the Creed in the Small Catechism)
Our Synod is in the process of discernment as we approach the election of our bishop at the upcoming Synod Assembly. We are asking God to call, gather, enlighten and make holy our local part of God’s Church: the East Central Synod of Wisconsin, especially as we consider our mission and leadership at the Synod Assembly. Your prayers for this process are so welcome!
As the election process for our Synod Bishop continues to be shaped, we would like to introduce the Bishop Election Committee chaired by Synod Council member, Kira James. Members include: Pr. Doug Holtz, Angie Huckbody, Pr. Karen Jewell-vanBuskirk, Pr. Mark Laatsch, Heather Miller, Pr. Ben Williams, Pr. Trent Zeitler. We thank Pr. Jenn Pockat and Synod Vice President Nancy Schanke who are providing key support and resourcing for the committee.
We welcome all questions from our synod. Please feel free to email the Bishop Election Committee at bishop.election@ecsw.org.
The Charter of the Bishop Election Committee that describes our responsibilities and actions is in the hands of the Synod Council. The rules for the processes of the election are being fine-tuned, including how and when the nominees will address the synod assembly, and have an opportunity to answer questions, and other details. These additional resources will be available in upcoming communications with you.
As of this writing, some Pre-Identified Individuals have been lifted up, and the biographical information of these potential nominees will be shared with the Synod, but it is not too late to lift up a name in nomination. Names should be submitted by members of our Synod via the email: bishop.election@ecsw.org or by filling out thisnomination form. Please provide the name, ministry or congregation of the minister of word and sacrament you are identifying, and their contact information. Please also include your contact information and your congregation name and town.
Please note that the Pre-Identification process functions as a part of the Ecclesiastical Ballot. One person would lift up one potential candidate for nomination in this process. Then on the Ecclesiastical ballot at Synod Assembly the name must be lifted up by a voting member at the Assembly to be nominated, unless the nominee has withdrawn their name.
The process for Pre-Identification will continue through early April. After that, names may be lifted up by voting members on the first ballot at Synod Assembly – the first ballot will be a paper ballot using the ecclesiastical ballot process. We will be describing and explaining the ecclesiastical ballot process both in a video and in future issues of the WAVE.
On behalf of the Bishop Election Committee,
Pastor Karen Jewell-vanBuskirk
