"An Embarrassment of Riches"

That is what one of our fellow clergy called the roster of candidates vying  to become the new bishop of our diocese at next month's election.

It is true.  We who are voting delegates stand amazed at the people who are running for the position.  Any one of them could be a wonderful bishop for us.  When the list of candidates was released a few days ago I read it and nearly wept with happiness that God is so prepared to take such good care of us after the departure of our last dearly beloved bishop. That man set us on a good and progressive path that apparently any and all of the candidates are prepared to continue to move forward on.  They seem to have a good grasp of what we need here.  I was so impressed by the answers each of them gave in response to the questions set forth by the episcopal search committee. All seem prepared to attempt to take on the problems that are particular to our diocese.

That being said, a list of candidates like this is going to create one problem, but a happy one.  It is possible we will be going to more than 2 or 3 ballots on this election.  We may be voting all day long.  BUT in the end we trust that the one elected will be God's choice to lead us forward into the next phase of recovery in what was a dying diocese until a few years ago.  There is hope.  New people are starting to attend church in some areas, in other areas there is a return to church by some who have left in times past.  There is more education for lay folk and clergy available.  There are Cursillo retreat weekends that are beginning to draw interest.  The diocesan camp has drawn new attention from church congregations throughout the diocese who abandoned it for a time.

Hope is continuing to grow and that is a good thing.