Beloved Siblings in Christ:
With joy, the Transition Committee invites you to meet the candidates for our next Bishop. Candidates will travel together around our Diocese during the first week of January for a variety of public and private events ahead of the election to be held at Convention the last weekend of January. Three meet-and-greet events will be open to everyone as a forum to get to know the candidates better. All are welcome to attend one or more of the Meet and Greets planned for January 6-8. Delegates and clergy, who will be voting in the election at Convention, are especially encouraged to attend.
Each of the three Meet and Greets is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be livestreamed. Please join us at any or all of these events, either in person, or online. Recordings will be available for later viewing.
| Grace Episcopal Church, Lexington | 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6 |
| Westminster Canterbury, Lynchburg | 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7 |
| Christ Episcopal Church, Marion | 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 8 |
More information on the Meet and Greets is below and can also be found on our Diocesan website. Please share this invitation widely. Please also submit any questions you have for the candidates by filling out the meet-and-greet questionnaire available here.
We kindly ask that those who plan to attend in-person RSVP (using the link below) so that our hosts can prepare.
Blessings,
The Rev. Ben Cowgill
Chair, Bishop Transition Committee
Meet and Greet Information
Q: What are Meet and Greets?
A: Meet and Greets are a series of open meetings where you can be present as our candidates respond to a list of prepared questions, which will be followed by a short reception and informal time to visit with one another and the candidates. You may know the Meet and Greets by its former name, “walk-abouts.” Meet and Greets are our chance to meet our Bishop candidates and enjoy fellowship with one another.
Q: Where are they being held?
A: We will have three public Meet and Greets throughout the diocese during the first full week of January. The schedule for Meet and Greets is as follows:
- Tuesday, January 6th, at Grace Episcopal Church, 123 W Washington St, Lexington, VA 24450
- Wednesday, January 7th, at Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503
- Thursday, January 8th, at Christ Episcopal Church, 409 West Main Street, Marion, VA 24354
Each will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and there will be time to greet candidates informally following the program at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Q: What can I expect during the evening?
A: Each Meet and Greet will begin promptly at 6 p.m. with an opening prayer. Each evening will have a slightly different questioning format, allowing all candidates to answer questions in both a panel format and an individual format. Questions have been sourced from the Diocese including the Questions Forms and feedback at Fall Mission Day. Questions will rotate throughout all three Meet and Greets, optimizing our time with the candidates. There will be light refreshments at the conclusion of each program, when candidates and attendees will have the opportunity to mingle informally and greet one another. Livestreams will only include the formal portion of the program, and will be recorded and available to watch at a later time as well.
Q: How do I submit my question(s) for the candidates?
A: You are invited to submit a question via our Meet-and-Greet Questions Form. While we will do our best to get as many questions answered as possible, we will likely combine similar questions and themes. No questions will be asked “from the floor.”
Q: Should I RSVP? Why?
A: An RSVP will allow each host site to better plan for your visit, prepare adequate refreshments, and allow us to communicate directly with registered attendees in the event of any cancellation or change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. The RSVP form also includes an option to receive an email reminder and a livestream link.
Q: How do I get to the Meet and Greets? Where do I park?
A: Another good reason to RSVP! Parking may be limited at all three locations, and we strongly encourage carpooling. Each location may have different parking instructions that will be shared via the RSVP list and Diocesan channels closer to the day of each event.
Q: What else will the candidates do during their time in our Diocese besides the Meet and Greets?
A: We have a full schedule of events planned for our candidates! Candidates will spend meaningful time in all five convocations, including private visits to several Diocesan institutions, time with clergy and diocesan staff, and time for prayer and rest between events. The Transition Committee will share updates from the journey on Diocesan channels throughout the week so that you can follow along with both prayer and celebration.
Q: I am not able to make it to the Meet and Greet. Will they be streamed?
A: Yes! All three events will be livestreamed and available for viewing afterwards. We encourage those who attend in-person to view the livestreams of other Meet and Greets, as candidates will answer different questions each evening.
Q: Do I need to be a convention delegate to attend a Meet and Greet?
A: No, you do not need to be a delegate to attend a Meet and Greet. All members of our diocese are encouraged to attend to meet and learn about the candidates for bishop.
Q: I am not a convention delegate. I do not have a vote. What is my role at a Meet and Greet?
A: The Meet-and-Greet process provides all people in our diocese an opportunity to get to know the candidates for our next bishop. It is also a chance for the candidates to get to know our Diocese, and that includes you! While you may not be voting in the election, your participation does matter and speaks loudly to the importance of our next Bishop in our common life. Every parish in our diocese has lay delegates who are elected by the parish and granted voice and vote at the electing convention. In addition, our canonically resident clergy have voice and vote in the convention. You may speak with your lay representative, clergy, or your Wardens to share your opinions. If you do not have a parish priest, you are also encouraged to reach out to your Convocation Dean with questions or concerns.
Q: I am a church leader, and I would like to share this information at my church. How might I do that?
A: We encourage all our churches to share this information with their members. You are welcome to copy and paste the information above from this email to use in your bulletins, announcements, or other channels. Please re-format it as is best for your context; we only ask that you not change the content when you re-use it. You may always visit the Bishop’s Search and Transition page on the Diocesan website for the latest information.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meet-and-Greet Week for Our Next Bishop – An Invitation from the Transition Committee Email