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Q and A

ELECTION OF THE NINTH BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE

What is a Bishop?
A bishop in The Episcopal Church is the chief pastor of the Diocese in which he or she is elected. As stated in “An Outline of the Faith” in the Book of Common Prayer,
“The ministry of a bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ’s name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to ordain others to continue Christ’s ministry.”

The word “bishop” comes from the Greek word for overseer, episcopas, which was translated in the English New Testament as bishop, and is the source for the name of The Episcopal Church, a church based on the governance of bishops. Bishops are elected for life, and are required to retire at age 72.

According to Canon 3 of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, “The Bishop shall be the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese, except as may otherwise be provided in the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention or of this Diocese.”

Bishop William Frey currently serves the Diocese of the Rio Grande as an Assisting Bishop, who carries out the liturgical and ceremonial functions that require a bishop’s presence. In the absence of a Diocesan Bishop, and until the ninth bishop of the Rio Grande is elected and consecrated, the Standing Committee acts as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese.

According to Canon 12 of The Episcopal Church, the duties of a diocesan bishop include; To keep a record of all official acts; to visit each of the congregations within the diocese at least once in three years – at every visitation the bishop “shall preside at Holy Eucharist and at the Initiatory Rites, as required, preach the Word, examine the records of the Congregation …, and examine the life and ministry of the Clergy and Congregation.” The bishop also may deliver a charge to the clergy of the diocese and a pastoral letter to the congregants on points of doctrine, discipline, or worship. The Bishop may require the clergy to read the pastoral letter to their congregations. The Canon also requires the bishop to make a report on the state of the Diocese at each annual meeting of the Diocesan Convention. Beyond the Diocese, the Bishop participates in the councils of the wider church, such as provincial meetings, the House of Bishops, and the Lambeth Conference, which is held every ten years.

What is a Diocese?
The Diocese is the foundation for the Episcopal Church – a geographic region that contains the parishes and people within. The Episcopal Church is governed General Convention through deputies elected by Dioceses. There are 100 Dioceses within the United States and 10 Dioceses in other countries and outlying U.S. territories, as well as Convocation of American Churches in Europe, which is similar to a Diocese. Each Diocese is led by a Bishop and the councils of the Diocese elected by its people. All church property is held in trust by the congregation for the Dioceses, which holds its property in trust for the national church.

The Diocese of the Rio Grande was formed in 1952 from what had been the Missionary District of New Mexico and Southwest Texas. Geographically, it is the largest diocese in the contiguous 48 United States. The Diocesan boundaries include the state of New Mexico and the area of Texas west of the Pecos River.

Election of a Bishop
(from the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, Article VI, Sections 1-4)

1. A Diocesan Bishop, a Bishop Coadjutor, or a Suffragan Bishop shall be elected at an Annual Convention, or at a Special Convention called for that purpose. The membership of Convention shall consist of the lay membership as provided by canon and all clergy canonically resident for at least one year who are in compliance with any canonical reporting requirements of the Diocese and the Episcopal Church for the preceding two years. (the preceding was approved at first reading in 2008 and will be voted on at Convocation 2009 as required to change the Constitution).
2. When there is a vacancy in the office of Bishop, the Standing Committee shall nominate at least three qualified persons. Other nominations may be made from the floor of the Convention.
[The Canons of the national church, which have precedence, have done away with nominations from the floor, and our constitution and canons will be updated accordingly. Because of the requirement for background checks – which may take up to two months – a process of nomination by petition will take the place of nominations from the floor of electing convention.]
3. After nominations have been made, the clergy and lay members in each Order shall vote concurrently by Orders. A majority of the membership in each Order shall be required for election.
4. A quorum for the election of a Bishop, a Bishop Coadjutor, or a Suffragan Bishop shall be a majority of the eligible Clergy and a majority of the Lay membership. The majority of the Lay membership must represent a majority of the congregations.