The Search for the Ninth Bishop of California

Search and Transition Committee

The Standing Committee has decided that there will be one Search and Transition Committee. The Search and Transition Committee has numerous responsibilities that will be divided among five sub-committees: Profile, Search, Nominations, Election, and Transition.

The work of the Search and Transition Committee is overseen by the co-chairs, who will keep the Standing Committee apprised of their progress.

Search Committee Members

Brenda Paulin

Brenda Paulin

Co-chair

St. Augustine’s, Oakland

Paul Fromberg

Paul Fromberg

Co-chair

St. Gregory of Nyssa, San Francisco

Mary Balmana

Mary Balmana

St. James, San Francisco

Kathleen Crisp

Kathleen Crisp

St. Anna’s, Antioch

Kevin Deal

Kevin Deal

Chaplain

St. John the Evangelist, San Francisco

Margaret Dyer-Chamberlain

Margaret Dyer-Chamberlain

St. Aidan’s/Holy Innocents, San Francisco

Birgit Eschmann

Birgit Eschmann

St. John the Evangelist, San Francisco

Maggie Foote

Maggie Foote

All Souls, Berkeley

Vincent Jang

Vincent Jang

Church of the Advent, San Francisco

Marj Leeds

Marj Leeds

Grace Church, Martinez

Don Miller

Don Miller

St. Clements, Berkeley

Neil Penick

Neil Penick

Holy Innocents/St. John the Evangelist, San Francisco

Kathleen Piraino

Kathleen Piraino

Church of Our Savior, Mill Valley

Chris Rankin-Williams

Chris Rankin-Williams

St. John’s, Ross

Mike Scrutton

Mike Scrutton

St. James, Fremont

Susanna Singer

Susanna Singer

St. Gregory of Nyssa, San Francisco

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens

El Buen Pastor, Redwood City

Stephen Tiffenson

Stephen Tiffenson

Holy Trinity/La Santisima Trinidad, Richmond

Debbie Veatch

Debbie Veatch

St. Mary the Virgin, San Francisco

Tree-style chart showing relationship between Standing Committee, Search Commitee, and Subcommittees leading to Consecration

Subcommittees

Search Profile

  • This work begins with a series of listening sessions around the diocese, gathering data from a broad cross-section of diocesan members: our needs, dreams, desires, and goals for the diocese.
  • Recording and reviewing information about our history, background, challenges, and promises giving a realistic, hope-filled picture of the diocese.
  • Taking the data gathered and using it to write a descriptive document (profile) about where we are as a diocese and our hopes for the future and sharing it across the Episcopal Church.

Search Screening

  • This group will develop the application for candidates, working with consultants from the Episcopal Church, the Office of Transition Ministries, and others as appropriate.
  • Invite candidates to apply and then receive, review, and screen applications from candidates—including checking references for candidates.
  • Lead the committee in discerning which candidates to advance and which to exclude and communicating this information to candidates.
  • Conduct background checks for candidates who are advanced.
  • Interview semi-finalist candidates.
  • Depending on the number of semi-finalists, lead the committee in discerning which candidates to advance and which to exclude and communicate this information to candidates.
  • Plan and facilitate, with consultants, a nominee retreat for the remaining semi-finalist candidates.

Search Nominations

  • These search and transition committee members will present the Standing Committee with the names of those candidates selected to continue. The Standing Committee will make the final determination of candidates, choosing all or some of those presented by the search committee.
  • After the final slate of candidates is selected by the Standing Committee, facilitate a process of soliciting “petition candidates,” who will then be screened by the Search Screening Sub-committee.
  • Plan and facilitate “meet and greet” sessions for the final slate of candidates in November 2023.

Electing Convention

  • This subcommittee will work with the diocesan staff, the secretary of the diocese, and the presiding officer (Bishop Marc) to plan the convention to elect the ninth bishop of California on December 2, 2023.

Transition and Consecration

  • These individuals support the bishop-elect in their transition to the Diocese of California.
  • Plan and implement events on the day of the consecration, including the liturgy, hospitality, and celebration. The consecration will take place on May 4, 2024.
  • Support Bishop Marc and Shelia’s transition, including the statement of duties to the bishop coadjutor.