The Search for Our New Bishop Nears Its Conclusion

The Candidates

Below are the five candidates for Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real.  The first four were chosen by the Search Committee, and one was added through a petition process.  More information about the candidates can be found here:

             http://www.edecr.org/bishopsearch/slate/index.htm

Presentation Tour

A Presentation Tour allows parishioners and clergy of the diocese an opportunity to hear all of the nominees for the Bishop of El Camino Real respond to questions from the participating audience in a moderated format.  These events are neither a debate nor a political campaign. Those in attendance should participate with prayerful discernment and open hearts and minds to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Following is the tour schedule:

         Wednesday, June 6       6 – 10 p.m.       St. Barnabas Church         301 Trinity Ave.             Arroyo Grande

            Thursday, June 7       6 – 10 p.m.       York School                    9501 York Road             Monterey

                Friday, June 8       6 – 10 p.m.       St. Stephen’s School        420 Allegan Circle         San Jose

             Saturday, June 9       1 – 5 p.m.         St. Paul’s Church             1071 Pajaro St.               Salinas

             Sunday, June 10       1 – 5 p.m.         St. Andrew’s Church        13601 Saratoga Ave.       Saratoga

The Election

Our new bishop will be elected at the Electing Convention on June 16, 2007 by the delegates and clergy of the Diocese of El Camino Real.  All lay delegates who are members of parishes and missions in good standing, elected at their congregation’s latest annual meeting, are eligible to vote in the Electing Convention. All clergy who are members of Convention or have been approved by majority vote of Diocesan Council are also eligible to vote.

Becoming Our Bishop

Pending the approval of the majority of bishops and Standing Committees, the ordination of our third bishop is scheduled for November 10, 2007 at St. Andrew’s Church in Saratoga. The Episcopal Church ordains bishops by the “laying on of hands” of other bishops. This tradition goes back to the New Testament church, in which the apostles of Jesus used this practice to set aside individuals to perform specific tasks and assume authority and responsibilities in and for the whole community of Christians. The “laying on of hands” is a symbolic invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the person being ordained; it re-enacts the reception of the Holy Spirit by the apostles at the first Pentecost.

The Ven. Mary Gray-Reeves, Archdeacon for Deployment,
Diocese of SE Florida

The Rev. Paige
Blair, Rector,
St. George's,
York Harbor, ME

The Rev. Gale Davis Morris, Rector, Church of the Good Shepherd, Acton, MA

The Rev. John Palarine, Rector,
Our Savior Church, Jacksonville, FL

The Rev. David Breuer, Rector,
St. Luke's,
Los Gatos, CA