Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread . . .
because it is the LORD your God who goes with you;
he will not fail you or forsake you.
[Deuteronomy 31.8]

Our conversations about what we seek in our next bishop began with the image of a figure walking a tightrope across Niagara Falls, a balancing pole in hand.  Even when we laughed at the size of the challenge and the abundance of grace conveyed by this image, we discovered in it what is essential to the character of our next bishop:  a sense of humor and a sense of balance.

While we are looking for a person whose leadership is grounded in a deep relationship with God in Christ, we are also looking for someone who will laugh with us, who will find joy in our presence, who will be so awed by the mysteriously surprising work of God in and among us that s/he will remind us not to take ourselves too seriously, and who is so passionately committed to building up the Body of Christ in this place that s/he will take risks with grace and faith.

We are looking for someone whose life and leadership embody balance:

balance ...

between being an administrator, effective in oversight and skilled in organization, and being a pastor who gives us direction and encourages us to take initiative. We expect that our next bishop will have been a rector, has the skills to manage a staff, to delegate and, perhaps most important, to make and follow through on difficult decisions.  At the same time we are looking for a pastor who gently listens and firmly holds us accountable, who provides presence and encouragement to clergy and congregational leaders as they engage in God's work.

balance ...

between being a person of prayer, grounded in Scripture and in liturgy, and being a community leader who speaks with authority on important issues.  It is important that our next bishop be a person of integrity, faithful to a Rule of Life, with the spiritual depth and maturity to give spiritual guidance and to recognize that our relationship with God  is the basis for all that we do.  At the same time, we want a bishop who will be a visible presence in our community, an outspoken advocate for peace -- peace in our communities, in our country, and in the world -- and comfortable in the role of articulating to the media our shared purpose as the Body of Christ.

balance ...

between being a good listener, engaged with people of all ages and backgrounds, and a bold and self-directed speaker. Our next bishop will need to move with equal ease among the large urban parishes and small rural communities; among the elderly, those in the middle of life, and youth; among families of all kinds; among deacons, priests, and laity; and among people with very different theological positions and responses to Scripture.  At the same time, s/he must be able to articulate a well-grounded faith and to let people know where s/he stands.

balance ...

between commitment to mission, with a global perspective on justice and peace, and commitment to local needs, attentive to the challenges facing small congregations in struggling communities.  We want our next bishop to be committed to supporting the MDGs and fostering our self-understanding as citizens of a global village. At the same time, we want the bishop to encourage local initiatives against poverty and injustice, patiently reminding us that God has gathered us in order to serve those who do not worship with us.

That figure walking a tightrope across Niagara Falls is a humble visionary, a realistic optimist, artist and prophet, bold and cautious, someone who can see in one glance the awesome grandeur of God's creation and the small, fragile spot where we stand.  But that figure does not walk alone.  We have made the promise to walk with our bishop along the path that God has called us to share.

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