Dear Diocesan Family,

It seems like just yesterday that the bishop-search website went live in late August, but here we are nearly six months later. It has been exciting to see and hear what our community is looking forward to in their ninth bishop.

As we move forward in this process the Standing Committee is excited to announce the full consecration and transition committees.

We received 44 applications across our diocese who volunteered for each committee. Applicants were pooled from our initial Bishop Search Committee applications as well as additional applications accepted through 12/31/2023. The Standing Committee looked for a diverse group of individuals who represented our diocese well, including geography, congregational size, age, urban/rural context, gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity/language, disability, and ministry order.

We are honored to announce the members of the committees:

Transition

• Canon Shirley Bolden – Kansas City – St. Augustine’s Church (Co-chair)
• The Rev. Collin Larimore – Carthage – Grace Church (Co-chair) 
• Rebecca Ann Adams – Excelsior Springs – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 
• Sara Copeland – Kansas City – Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral 
• Christopher (CJ) Duffie – Kansas City – St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church 
• The Very Rev. Peter DeVeau – Kansas City – Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral 
• Patricia Griffin – Liberty – Grace Episcopal Church 
• Edith Van Hoesen – Springfield – Christ Episcopal Church 
• The Rev. Dr. Sean Kim – Kansas City – St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 
• The Rev. Dr. James E. Lile, Jr. – Nevada – All Saints’ Episcopal Church 
• The Rev. Karen L. Mann – Independence – Trinity Episcopal Church 
• Karen Miller – Lebanon – Trinity Episcopal Church 
• The Rev. Meg Rhodes – Lee’s Summit – St. Anne’s Episcopal Church (Chaplain) 
• Julia Taylor – Springfield – Christ Church (Secretary)

The Transition Committee will lead the process once the slate of candidates is announced. This group will introduce the candidates to the diocese, shepherd the candidates as they visit West Missouri, work with the Convention Planning Committee to conduct the election of the bishop at the 2024 Diocesan Convention, and be pastorally present to all the candidates following the election.

Consecration

• The Rev. Adam James – Kansas City – St. Andrew’s Church (Co-chair) 
• The Rev. Barbara Wegener – Kansas City – Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral (Co-chair) 
• Kathleen (Kathy) Alexander – Springfield – Christ Episcopal Church 
• The Rev. Vicky Anderson – Independence – Trinity Church (Secretary) 
• The Very Rev. Chandler C Jackson – Ozark – St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 
• The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Keyse – Kansas City – Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral 
• Philip Michael Han Lofflin – Kansas City – St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 
• Shirley Ann McCarty – Independence – Trinity Episcopal Church 
• Chris Morrison – Kansas City – Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral 
• The Rev. Meg Rhodes – Lee’s Summit – St. Anne’s Episcopal Church (Chaplain) 
• Emily Sarah Spradling Stuart (goes by Sally) – Carthage – Grace Episcopal Church 
• The Rev. Warren Thomas Swenson – Sewanee, Tennessee – The School of Theology 
• Hayden Vaughn – Springfield – St. James Episcopal Church 
• Dr. Thomas R. Vozzella – Kansas City – St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Once a bishop is elected at the 2024 Diocesan Convention, the Consecration Committee will take the lead in planning the liturgy and other events related to our new bishop’s consecration, as well as tending to the new bishop and family members, the presiding bishop and staff, visiting bishops, and honored guests onsite.

Our committees will begin the formation of their work this coming March 16th when the Standing Committee will gather with the Consecration and Transition Committees along with our search consultant, the Rev. Canon Brian Nordwick. In addition to team building, the retreat will orient participants to the work of each process.

We’re so grateful to all those who applied. Each and every one of you is a blessing to the work done here in the diocese. Thank you for being you.

As we move into this next phase, please continue seeking God’s blessing on our search process – both in your congregation’s worship and in your own prayers.