Question 1: Area for Growth

What do you anticipate will be your most significant area for growth as the spiritual and organizational leader of our diocese?

 

Susan Bell: I foresee that the most important area of growth will be in keeping my priorities and relationships in focus: with God; with my primary communities – my family and my closest co-workers; and with the wider community of the diocese.  

As this is a time of transition and therefore some anxiety in the life of the diocese, I will need to keep close company with Jesus as I intentionally listen for God’s leading in the days and years ahead. I also know that I will want to find places to be led for spiritual refreshment - and I think I will have to be more disciplined about times of Sabbath.

In terms of an organizational growth edge, I expect to be diligent in familiarizing myself with the structures and culture of Niagara diocese; in immersing myself in its systems and in maintaining a judicious balance between people and policy.

And lastly, I would want to be accountable in all of these things – accountable to God and accountable to you. I would covet your prayers as I learned to live into a new vocation and would want to ask that you encouraged me in my ministry as I encouraged you in yours. 

 

David Burrows: ‘…since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart...  but we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us… carrying the body of the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.’ (II Corinthians 4:1, 7,10)

Paul’s words offer a clear perspective for my ministry. If chosen as bishop, my scope and responsibility will broaden. Presently, I supervise six staff; provide leadership in ministry, and administer a budget of $750,000 between the Ascension and Home Again Furniture Bank. Through diocesan, multi-faith, national and international responsibilities, I partner with many lay and ordained leaders providing guidance, receiving direction, and continuing God’s work.

Niagara’s ministry scope and responsibility is much wider. The episcopacy is a lonely calling, where one is a leader, pastor, visionary, administrator, conflict manager, mentor, delegator and prophet. I would need to listen carefully, and begin to understand the dynamics of leadership and organization within the diocese. Through prayer and presence I would have to share my time and effort across a larger milieu, enabling leadership teams to have trust and faith in me, in turn I would have to trust and have faith in others. Yet, I am only a clay vessel; my presence and effectiveness is shaped by the ways that I hold the crucified and resurrected Christ in the world. 

 

Robert Hurkmans: As a farm boy I know that growing crops takes patience. Some crops (like corn) may take only a few months from planting to harvest.  Other crops (like Christmas trees) may take 10 or 15 years! That’s why Christmas tree farmers need LOTS of patience and faith, knowing that it may take a while before their work comes to fruition. The lesson of patience will be an important lesson for me to relearn.  I’ll be honest:  patience isn’t my strongest gift. As both my parish and my family will tell you, I tend to be a bit of a “go-getter”. I like to be busy, to innovate, and to see results. Therefore, as Bishop my prayer would be a prayer for the gift of patience.    

The seeds of change that need to be grown in our diocese are more like Christmas trees than corn. There is a lot to be done!  Assessing the struggles and opportunities of parishes, prayerfully discerning and listening, forming local and diocesan Mission Action Plans (MAPs), recruiting and training the right leaders, planting new churches, revisiting the Cathedral Place Revitalization Project: these things will take time! These seeds may require 10 or 20 years to be fully grown and fully realized. Thankfully there will certainly be times of celebration along the way, but we’re talking about “generational change” and we will need to take the loooooong view. But, thanks be to God that “the fruit of the Spirit is… patience.” (Galatians 5:22)

 

Robert Fead: A number of years ago many Anglican churches participated in a program called Natural Church Development. It challenged us to look at the strengths and weaknesses of our various congregations. We discovered that our greatest weakness as Anglicans is fostering “Passionate Spirituality”. I believe passionate spirituality has to be our greatest strength! Ultimately the Christian faith is about passionate discipleship and sharing the Good News of Christ with the world. Cultural attitudes towards organized religion have changed significantly in the last number of decades. I believe that the only way Christians can reverse this trend is to courageously engage with the culture by convincingly witnessing to our faith outside the walls of our churches. People need to see us living our faith joyfully, hopefully, convincingly and passionately. They need to see us engaged in the world feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, welcoming the refugee and visiting the sick. Having inspiring parish programs, liturgy and music will only take us so far; there is no way of getting around the hard work of doing the mission of Jesus in the world. It is my hope that every parish in the diocese focus on mission. That all our congregations are so engaged in the wider community that they are aware of the needs and develop plans to respond to those needs in faith. Our parish programs need to focus on giving us the theological language to courageously speak to the culture as to why faith is essential and life changing. We cannot change the culture if we do not engage the culture.

 

Stuart Pike:  Finding and maintaining balance. I expect that the demands on my time and personal resources will be greater and wider than currently, even in my busy parish. I am very disciplined regarding trying to keep a balance in body, mind, spirit, but I don’t always get it right. I will need to continue to practice my daily contemplative prayer to help me keep focus. I will also need to keep to my regular physical exercise regime. I would need to rely on a supportive staff to help me keep a balanced agenda. I expect practicing delegation will be my most significant growth area, and would be an essential piece in maintaining balance for the long-term. There will be many other balancing acts. Family and work, parochial and diocesan work and national work. I will also need to continue to regularly see my own spiritual director to help me with these balancing acts.

 

Martha Tatarnic: The process of an episcopal election is perhaps most odd in that is launches a priest into a new role with very little training provided in what that role is. My experience of serving in three different dioceses and on a number of national committees has shown me a variety of ways of “being Bishop.” I would want to be very deliberate in reaching out to those bishops who I have seen able to be effective in this office and who bring a sense of joy to the ministry. I would want to make sure that as I grow into this new role, I am equipped with mentors and teachers. I understand the role to be a lonely one, and yet, parish ministry has taught me that having trusted colleagues is one of the most important components in being able to embrace a fruitful ministry. Similarly, I would want to develop channels of communication across our diocese that would enable the people serving on the ground in leadership in our diocese to know their experience, their insight, ideas and gifts are being utilized in the work of our shared diocesan ministry.    

 

David Anderson: It is difficult for any of us to imagine what the demands of a dramatically different role will make upon us and what our most significant areas of growth may be. I know that a significant area of growth would be for me in maintaining a healthy outlook and life in the midst of the increased stress and new challenges the role of bishop will bring. We ask a great deal of episcopal leadership in this diocese. As a regional archdeacon, I’ve had the opportunity to see this first hand. Our bishop needs to have healthy boundaries and practices in order remain a healthy and balanced person, and to be able to offer their best self in the role.

Many of you will know that with a great deal of support and encouragement, I recently lost more than 100 pounds and began a healthier life. I realize I could not take on this role without increased attention to a healthy lifestyle, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With the support of family and friends, I’ve already begun to deepen practices of healthy diet and exercise, prayer, and retreat. A sense of humour, especially with respect to myself, has been a gift.

I know that in the role of bishop I will be called upon to grow in these practices as I seek to remain a healthy person, offering my best self as a pastor and leader of the diocese.

 

In the lead up to the election, the Electoral Synod Nominations and Planning Committee is asking candidates to respond to a final series of questions. We’ll post the responses to two questions each week on our electoral synod webpage and share those responses on Facebook and Twitter too.