Bishop Search
Update from the Standing Committee - February 3, 2010
The Nomination by Petition process for the election of the IXth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande closed at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2010. The Standing Committee of the diocese, following published procedures for the petition process, has requested the appropriate background checks. The procedure outlined for the nomination by petition process reflects the same requirements as those applied to Search Committee candidates.
The full slate of nominees, including both those already announced and any nominees by petition, will be published when background checks have been completed. At the time the full slate of nominees is announced, answers to essay questions from all nominees will be published.
Walk-About events for all nominees are scheduled for April 8-14, 2010. A detailed schedule of the Walk-Abouts will be made available in the near future.
Dates to Note:
Electing Convention: April 24, 2010
Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, NM
Consecration of the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande
October 22, 2010, Albuquerque, NM
NOMINEES FOR THE NINTH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE
January 18, 2010
The Standing Committee is pleased to announce five nominees for the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande. In alphabetical order the nominees are:
The Reverend Ellis Tucker Bowerfind, Rector
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia
Ellis Tucker Bowerfind, “Tuck,” was born (1958) the second child of Dr. Edgar S. and Maria T. Bowerfind and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He was baptized by his beloved maternal grandfather, the Right Reverend Beverley Tucker (1958), confirmed by the Right Reverend John Burt (1971), Ordained to the Diaconate (1991) and the Priesthood (1992) by the Right Reverend James R. Moodey, ninth Bishop of Ohio. Tuck graduated from Hawken School, Gates Mills, Ohio, (1976) St. John's College, Annapolis, MD, (B.A., 1984) Yale Divinity School, (M.Div., 1991) and earned a Masters of Education from Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio (1998). From 1991-1999 Fr. Bowerfind served the Reverend Nicholson B. White as associate rector at St. Paul's Cleveland Heights, Ohio and on the faculty of the University School, Shaker Heights, Ohio where he taught grade 8 Civics and coached the 7-8 grade swim team. In 1999 the Reverend David Allen appointed Fr. Bowerfind as associate rector at St. Mary's, Barnstable, MA. Fr. Bowerfind became priest in charge upon the retirement of Fr. Allen in 2001. In 2003 the Vestry of St. Luke's, Wellington in Alexandria, Virginia elected Fr. Bowerfind as their seventh rector. He serves on the steering/executive committee of two interfaith organizations: Ventures in Community, and Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement in Northern Virginia, Inc. Fr. Bowerfind is proud that St. Luke’s offers Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Journey to Adulthood, outstanding adult education conferences and series, excellent preschool, music, elder and outreach ministries, and is renowned for the unparalleled excellence of the annual Catesby Jones Barbecue.
In 1992 Tuck won the hand of Delea Free Joly formerly of Florence, Alabama and they married at St. Paul's, Cleveland Heights in October, 1992. Tuck and Delea have four children: Tiffany Joly, and George, Dorothy, and Elizabeth Bowerfind.
The Reverend James R. Harlan, Rector
Church of the Ascension, Denver, Colorado
I count it a great honor to be nominated in the election for the next Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande. As a native of Colorado, I have always loved the wide expanses of the western states with their rich mix of climates and cultures as well as the frontier, missionary spirit that has characterized the Church here for decades. I grew up in the Episcopal Church where the rich liturgy, music, and community inspired me, even in elementary school, to sense a call to serve God as a priest. For the last 23 years, my sole focus has been church ministry, beginning when I was a student at the University of Colorado.
Through these years of wonderful ministry—in large and small congregations; rural, suburban, and urban congregations; institutional and parish settings; local, diocesan, educational, and national church settings—I have come to focus, in each context, on helping everyone to recognize that we need the widest variety of congregations and ministries possible to fulfill God’s mission in our common life. I have a deep desire to see every Christian affirmed and empowered in their call to serve and to share the Good News of God in Christ. Every congregation in distinctive ways is a community that shapes and equips God’s people for ministry. My wife, Elizabeth and I have been married for twelve years, and our daughter, Hannah celebrated her tenth birthday this past summer. We make it a point to have dinner and family time together almost every evening. Usually, at least a couple of those evenings each week include other family or friends as our guests. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching a good movie, volunteering at Hannah’s school, and working out.
I’m grateful for all the moments of grace to see God at work, and I look forward to continuing to share life in Christ with God’s people.
The Reverend Jedediah D. Holdorph II, Rector
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Medford, Oregon
Jedediah (Jed) Holdorph was born in 1958. The youngest of six children, he was raised by a widowed mother and grew up in Michigan and Arizona. Jed earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, in Tucson, in 1980, and his Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Divinity School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1988.
He began his ordained ministry in Albuquerque, where he served first as curate and then as interim rector at St. Mark’s-on-the-Mesa. Over the course of the following 19 years, Jed has served parishes in rural Missouri, suburban Chicago, and, most recently, an urban parish in southern Oregon (more than 250 miles south of the diocesan offices). He is passionate about preaching and teaching that is grounded in Scripture and connected to our contemporary life and witness.
Jed has consistently participated in the life of the larger church, elected and appointed to a variety of leadership positions, and has strengthened local ecumenical efforts. He was centrally involved in providing key leadership during a challenging transition between bishops in Oregon. He is highly-regarded and known, both within his congregation and diocese, for his wisdom, warmth, and lively sense of humor.
In every context, Jed encourages others to see themselves as members of the Body of Christ, working to engage them in the life and leadership of the church.
Barb Morris, his wife of 29 years, has deep roots in the Southwest and is currently completing a Master’s degree program in environmental conflict resolution. They share a love for the natural world and seek out opportunities to explore God’s wondrous creation. Jed and Barb are the proud parents of two adult children, Becky and Adam. In his spare time, Jed also enjoys photography, reading, hiking, crossword puzzles, and camping.
The Reverend John S. Nieman, Rector
Holy Trinity Parish, Clemson, South Carolina
The Rev. John S. Nieman has been rector of Holy Trinity Parish, Clemson, SC since 2006. He was born and raised in New Jersey, the last of four children. After working summers from age 12 and three years full time after high school for his father as a carpenter, he began his undergraduate education at Drew University, where he graduated in 1984. That summer he married Margaret, a passionate knitter and dancer. They are proud parents of a bright and beautiful fifteen year old daughter, Joanna. After receiving an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, he was ordained a transitional deacon and priest in 1987.
Previous clergy positions include curate, St Elizabeth’s, Ridgewood, New Jersey; rector, St. Dunstan’s, Ellsworth, Maine; rector, St. Mary’s, Sparta, New Jersey; and rector, St. Andrew’s, Ann Arbor, Michigan. On the diocesan level he currently chairs the Committee for the Support of the Ordained and co-chairs the Commission on Episcopal and National Concerns. He also serves on the Diocesan Executive Council and Commission on Ministry. In the past he has served on the Standing Committee (Michigan), the Commission on Ministry (Upper South Carolina, Michigan and Newark), and chaired the Christian Education Committee (Newark).
John is a spiritual director, and anticipates the completion this spring of the Sursum Corda program, a two year process for the formation of spiritual directors. He loves music, and plays classical guitar for fun. He also enjoys walking in beautiful places, cooking, relaxing with a good book, and taking a ride in the mountains on his old Gold Wing.
The Reverend Dr. Michael Louis Vono, Rector
St. Paul’s Within the Walls, Rome, Italy
I was born in Providence, RI, the second of four children in a close-knit family. I had a clear sense of vocation from an early age, and my sixteen years of seminary formation included Catholic, Protestant and Anglican theological training. I completed my doctoral degree in Congregational Studies in 1986. My spiritual gifts are pastoral care, community building, administration, preaching and evangelism.
As Curate in an inner-city multicultural church, I lived with people in crisis, transition, conflict, and confusion. I learned how to be a shepherd, counselor, and friend, as my parishioners struggled to recognize God in their personal wildernesses. My primary responsibility was to parish and local youth, mostly African and Spanish, as well as to newly married couples and the elderly, visiting hospitals and nursing homes. I came to understand how preaching the Gospel, the sacraments, pastoral care and building community effectively changed lives and inspired hope and faithfulness.
As its Vicar, the ‘bedroom community’ of Christ Church, Leicester taught me the value of living in a spiritually intimate community. I began to concentrate on congregational development, and studied at Hartford Theological Seminary. I learned that I had the pastoral gifts to bring an economic mix of people together, enable pastoral visioning and inspire positive results in conflict management situations. I learned how to be a priest, pastor and teacher at Christ Church. In my twelve years there I learned to appreciate the uniqueness of every relationship and love the complex diversities of the Body of Christ.
Now as Rector of St. Paul’s, Rome, I live and work with people of diverse cultures and religious backgrounds. My church is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, ecumenical and interfaith community. Our ministries include the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center, a sizable Latin American community, service to the elderly poor of the city as well as displaced youth. At the center of our mission and witness is a profound ministry of radical hospitality.
My spiritual and physical disciplines include praying and studying Scripture/theology each morning and taking physical exercise each day. I meet with my spiritual director monthly, and make a monastic retreat each year. I love community gatherings, theatre, music, travel and writing, and nothing invigorates me more than a challenge.
The Standing Committee expresses appreciation to all members of the Search Team who have devoted hundreds of hours of prayer and work in discerning these nominees.
The Search Committee used the following criteria, drawn from the Diocesan Profile, to shape its discernment
We seek a Bishop who…
- Will walk with us in our continued journey towards healing and reconciliation
- Is able to inspire a shared vision, and to motivate and empower others in its implementation
- Will lead us to a new way of being Christ’s church in the 21st century
- Has leadership experience as a parish Rector or Vicar, and as a member of Diocesan committees or commissions
- Has experience serving and creating community in a diocese with distant, rural parishes
Other nominations may be made through the petition process (equivalent to nomination from the floor) which officially opens on January 19, 2010. The deadline for receipt of nomination by petition packets is February 1, 2010 at 4:00 PM. Instructions for this process were posted on the website and mailed to all clergy and churches on
January 5.
Names of those nominated by petition will be announced when all background checks are completed (early April.) Written answers to essay questions for both Standing Committee nominees and petition nominees will be released at that same time. All nominees will be invited to participate in the walk-abouts currently scheduled for April 8-14, 2010.
You are urged to continue to pray for this process. The following prayer was composed by the Search Committee Chaplain, the Rev. Adams Lovekin:
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, giver of every good gift, send forth your Holy Spirit and raise up for us a bishop of your own choosing: a shepherd to lead and guide us with personal holiness, wisdom, compassion and grace.
Father, we pray for a bishop with vision and the commitment to heal and unite your faithful people of the Diocese of the Rio Grande that we all may make known the love of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself for us and the whole world, in whose Name we pray.
Amen.
Nomination by Petition Process
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande will accept nominations by petition for the election of the ninth bishop of the diocese beginning January 19, 2010. The deadline for receipt of nomination by petition packets is February 1, 2010 at 4:00 PM.
On January 18, 2010 the Standing Committee will announce the Search Committee’s nominees for the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande to be elected in Special Convention on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at The Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition to candidates nominated by the Search Committee, candidates may be nominated by Petition.
Canonically resident clergy and lay persons who are adult communicants in good standing are eligible to nominate candidates in the petition process. Communicants in good standing are defined by the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church as follows:
CANON I.17.2-3
Sec. 2 (a) All members of this Church who have received Holy
Communion in this Church at least three times during the preceding
year are to be considered communicants of this Church.
(b) For the purposes of statistical consistency throughout the
Church, communicants sixteen years of age and over are to be
considered adult communicants.
Sec. 3. All communicants of this Church who for the previous year
have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause
prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and giving for
the spread of the Kingdom of God, are to be considered
communicants in good standing.
To view the Profile and Nomination by Petition Application, please follow the links below:
Nomination by Petition Application
Timeline for an Episcopal Election in the Diocese of the Rio Grande
Summer 2008
Standing Committee appoints Committees to begin the processes of New Life, Search and Transition.
• New Life works on developing a process to seek healing and reconciliation for the Diocese and its People.
• Search and Transition form subcommittees to outline tasks required to begin process of searching for a new Bishop.
Fall 2008
• New Life Process begins with retreats in the Diocese
• Search Committee begins monthly meetings to develop the aspects of the Diocesan Profile
• Transition Committee forms committees to plan for the Introduction of the Candidates to the Diocese, the Episcopal Election, and the Consecration
Winter 2008-9
• New Life retreats continue and develop information for inclusion in Diocesan Profile
• Search Committee develops and institutes methods for conducting survey and census of the congregations in the Diocese
• Transition Committee develops vision statements for the Consecration and Introduction of the Candidates (Walk Abouts)
Spring 2009
• New Life begins to develop next phase of the Process
• Search Committee compiles data, develops application process, and publishes Diocesan Profile
• Transition Committee develops itinerary and works on format for Walk Abouts
Summer and Fall 2009
• Search Committee receives and screens applications for candidates for Bishop - Application Deadline July 25 (review of responses to essay questions, reference checks, telephone interviews)
• Transition Committee formalizes Walk About locations and process for election
Winter 2009-10
• Search Committee presents slate candidates to the Standing Committee (January 2010)
• Standing Committee opens process for nominations by petition (January 2010)
April 2010
• Walk About conducted throughout Diocese
• Electing Convention – April 24, 2010
Fall 2010
• Consecration of the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande (by Canon, at least 120 days following election)
• Sunday following Consecration Bishop seated at the Cathedral of St. John
Feeds