Your Search/Nominating Committee, along with the Search Chaplain, spent three days last week attending a Discernment Retreat with eight potential candidates for XI Bishop. The time was spent in prayerful discernment, where one of the participants said we were “cloaked in love and prayer.” The retreat included meals, praying the Office, twenty-minute presentations from each of the candidates, dialogues, questions, and also information about our current Diocesan Staff. Candidates had the opportunity to learn about the Diocese of Newark, and we gained an insight into them.
As we wrap up reference checks and continue to receive Oxford Background Checks, we enter our final stage of discernment. We ask your intentional prayers on Tuesday, February 27 in the evening as we gather to prayerfully raise up 3-5 candidates. The names will then be presented to the Standing Committee later in the week with a public slate announcement planned for Monday, March 5.
After this, the Transition Committee will take over the work, as the Standing Committee opens the petition candidate window. We thank you for your prayers thus far, and ask that you continue them. Watch for updates on the Bishop Search page of the Diocesan website. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at BishopSearch@DioceseofNewark.org.
The Rev. Jerry Racioppi, Holy Spirit, Verona (Co-Chair)
Ms. Michele Simon, St. Paul's, Englewood (Co-Chair)
Search/Nominating Members:
Ms. Nerissa Boccino, St. Peter’s, Morristown
Ms. Yvonne DeLaCruz, Grace, Union City
Ms. Janelle Grant, St. Paul's, Paterson
Ms. Patrice Henderson, St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange
Mr. Joe LaVela, St. Paul’s, Chatham
Ms. Geri Livengood, Christ Church, Newton
Ms. Rhonda Lutz, Our Saviour, Denville
The Rev. Tom Mathews, Christ Church, Ridgewood
The Rev. Chris McCloud, Holy Innocents, West Orange
Mr. Bernie Milano, Trinity, Allendale
The Rev. Thomas Murphy, St. Paul's, Jersey City
The Rev. Paul Olsson, St. Paul’s, Morris Plains
The Rev. Bernie Poppe, St. George's, Maplewood
The Rev. Shawn Carty, St. Mark’s, Mendham (Chaplain)
