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The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia will have a new bishop by February 2010. Our beloved Bishop Louttit (pictured at left during the dedication of King of Peace) is retiring in time for his 72nd birthday as Episcopal church canons (rules) require. In the Episcopal Church, bishops are selected by the whole diocese, with both clergy and the folks in the pew taking equal part in the decision.

Before we get that far down the road, the group charged with overseeing the process is holding Town Hall meetings to listen. They want to hear from everyone in the Diocese who wants to express his or her opinion on who we are as a diocese and what we need.

All of the information is at www.georgiabishopsearch.org, which is at the website which will keep us all updated on the ongoing process. The closest meeting to King of Peace will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Brunswick from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, August 23. The youth of the diocese will also have a meeting as will the clergy. This meeting is for anyone in the church who wants to put in his or her two cents to the process.

The end result of the meetings will be a profile of our diocese pulling together these various views on who we are and what sort of gifts we need in the next Bishop of Georgia. Then in November of this year, based on what we say we are looking for, there will be a process whereby candidates may be nominated for the election to take place about a year from now.

You are also requested to pray as we do not want merely a good person to be our bishop, or even the person who seems to fit the job. What we want is God's will and nothing less, so the whole process needs to be enveloped in prayer.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor