The Early Church had various methods for choosing a bishop.  For Ambrose, a fourth century bishop, the job came as a surprise.  Ambrose was acting as a mediator between two rival factions trying to put forth a candidate for bishop of Milan.  When Ambrose began to try to keep order among both factions, people reportedly began to say, “Ambrose shall be our bishop!”  He was baptized very quickly and ordained bishop the same year.

In the Episcopal Church, the process for electing a bishop follows a similar process to that of a congregation looking for a new rector.  [If you have followed any of the recent stories in the news about the search in England for a new Bishop of Southwark, you will recognize that the Church of England has a very different process.  Likewise, other churches in the Anglican Communion differ in the way they choose bishops.]

The Standing Committee of the diocese received applications and nominations for people to serve on a search committee, and that committee is now in place. Focus groups are being held around the diocese and there is an online survey (http://search.edow.org/article.php?id=29) which will inform the work of the committee, and more information and a detailed timeline may be found by visiting the Diocese of Washington’s website, www.edow.org.   Once the position profile is finalized and made public, the search committee will receive nominations for bishop from August through October.  In March of 2011 the committee will announce a slate of candidates for bishop and there will be a process for meeting and hearing the candidates.  In June 2011 there will be a special meeting of the Diocesan Convention, which will choose a new bishop.  The person will be consecrated Ninth Bishop of Washington on November 12, 2011.

 
Let us pray for those involved with the search process and for those serving on the search and transition committees.  Pray for the priests who may be feeling the promptings of the Holy Spirit to be open to the call to be our bishop.  Pray for the staff of the diocese, as they continue to work through the transition of the next year.  And finally, let us also pray for Bishop Chane and Mrs. Chane, as they continue to minister among us until the election of a new bishop. John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . Please note that the submission date for the September issue of The Message is July 25.  Please send articles to the newsletter mailbox at message.allsoulsdc@gmail.com . . . The rector will be on retreat with the Shalem Institute in Western Maryland from Tuesday, July 20 through Tuesday, July 27 . . . Attendance last Sunday at the 8:30 a.m. Mass: 25; at the 11 a.m. Mass: 98 . . . Total pledge offerings for the week were $5,302.00 and the plate offering was $890.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Roger Mahan, Ana Hernandez, B.J. Warren, Diorica von Rago, Walter Hollis, Gene Dunn, Susan Johnson, Jim Wallace, Susan Kornacki, Frasier, MaryJane, Bob and Louise Osborne, Joan Shapiro, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, Mona Bauer, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, I. Kathryn McKewen, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colborn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter and Sally Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, and Ted Field . . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Tim Zlatich, Chuck Hunter, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson. . . If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

Liturgical Notes . . . On Sunday, July 25, Father Worthley will preach and celebrate at both Masses . . . Thursday, July 22 is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene.  Morning Prayer is at 7:15 a.m. and Mass from the Reserved Sacrament will be at 7:30 a.m. . .  Flowers at the main altar are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for All Souls Parish by Barry Huber . . . If you would like to dedicate flowers in celebration of an event or a person, or in memory of a loved one, please contact the parish office.

Episcopal Men’s Fellowship . . . Please join with EMF on Thursday evening July 22 for an evening of fun and good fellowship.  Joe Howell and Roy Woodall will be discussing the early days of All Souls.  Both were senior wardens in their turn and have many memories of the funny things that happened to the parish during there terms.  We are sure to enjoy the reminiscences of these two great story tellers.  7:00 P.M. in the undercroft.  See the sign up sheet and add you name.

Transitional Housing Summer Needs . . . Transitional Housing Corporation (THC) has 7 new families moving from the overcrowded DC family shelter into Partner Arms 1 and 2 in July and early August.   All 7 units must be furnished immediately.  THC faces a crisis situation in furnishing four 3-bedroom, one 2-bedroom apartment and two 1-bedroom apartments!  As one of THC’s Adopt-an-Apartment church partners, we want to support them as much as we can.  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation in the amount of $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25 to THC and mailing it to: THC, 5101 16^th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011 or by making a secure on-line donation at www.thcdc.org and clicking on “Support” and in the Comment Section please write “Home Connections.”  THC is also asking for new or very gently used kitchen table/chairs, loveseats, chest of drawers.  For furniture donations, contact Andrew Adams at aadams@thcdc.org or 202-291-5535, ext. 405.

South Africa Mission . . . We are getting close to finalizing our immunizations, our arrangements, and flight plans, so if you’re at all interested in joining us, please let us know.  A delegation from All Souls will visit the Kwasa Centre in Springs, South Africa, and the Diocese of the Highveld, October 11 through October 20, 2010. Airfare costs approximately $1,300 and we will plan to stay at a Bed and Breakfast or inn in Springs, South Africa. If you are interested in joining the mission trip, please speak with Marcia Anderson or Father Beddingfield.

Especially during the Summer Months we Pray for those who travel . . .

O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  [Book of Common Prayer, p. 831]