Dear friends,

Over the two weeks since we last wrote to you, the committee has been steadfastly working to organize and plan feedback and listening sessions to which all members of the diocese will be invited. These listening sessions will provide a time for prayerful conversation that will guide the creation of our profile, will lead us in conversations with applicants as we continue our discernment, and will offer a time for all of us to look with hope toward future, shared ministry in this diocese. Your participation is essential and we are looking forward to sharing these holy conversations with you. As we plan these conversations, please know that is our intention to come as near to you as we can so please join us in this discernment work. Members of the Bishop Search Committee will be present to lead these conversations and we hope to hear from you! 

In addition to many in-person opportunities for feedback on this process, we also will convene several online-only options in order to create as much access to sharing with us as possible. Next week, we intend to share with you the full schedule of these listening and feedback sessions. When you receive that, mark your calendars and plan to join us as you are able. In order to accommodate the full calendar of these conversations, our first gathering did need to be scheduled in December. We want to share that invitation with you now so that you have plenty of time to have it on your calendar. Our first listening session will be held on Sunday, December 17 from 3:00-5:00pm at Trinity, Lebanon. We look forward to that conversation and to sharing the full schedule with you in the next few days.

A reminder that the best way to be in direct contact with us is through email: bishopsearch@diowestmo.org.

As we wait in expectation and hope in this Advent season for the birth of our Savior, know that each of you are in our prayers just as we ask for your prayers too.