Bishop Richard Ellena of Nelson will be Commissary for the Wellington Electoral College to find a successor to Bishop Tom Brown.

The Electoral College will meet in the Convention Centre, Palmerston North, from Friday-Sunday, March 23-25.

Meanwhile, a liturgical farewell for Bishop Tom and Dwyllis will be held from 4pm on Sunday, February 26, in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Other events leading to the Electoral College include:

• Three regional meetings in November

• A docesan profile and questions to candidates to be prepared late November/early December

• Nomination papers and candidate disclosure forms available mid-December

• Nominations open on January 1 and close on January 31.

Regional Meetings

The purpose of the regional meetings is to help the diocese frame questions for candidates to answer in their written and video presentations to the Electoral College.

The regional discussions will begin with the office and ministry of a bishop (outlined in the NZ Prayer Book, p913) and the character of an episkopē (overseer/bishop) as found in 1 Timothy 3:2-7.

The regional meetings will be open to all members of the diocese, and will encompass:

• Greater Wellington – Sunday. 6 November from 2-4pm, at the Loaves and Fishes, Wellington Cathedral.
• Wanganui/Manawatu – Sunday, 13 November from 2- 4pm, at St John’s, Feilding.
• Wairarapa – date and venue to be confirmed

A prayer has been composed to help the diocese prepare to nominate someone for the ‘noble task’ that St Paul writes of:

 God of all wisdom, patience and compassion; we come before you as a Diocese to seek your guidance as we work through the process of nominating our new Bishop.  May our hearts, ears and eyes be open to listen, hear and be lead by your Holy Spirit.  Help us to lay aside our own desires and ambitions that true discernment can prevail and that the person you are calling will emerge. In all we do, may the name of your Son Jesus be glorified.

Amen