Dear Brothers and Sisters, Congregants, Clergy, and Friends of the Diocese of Christ Our Hope,
A few days from now, around 5:30 pm on November 8, I will pass the Diocesan Episcopal Staff to Bishop Alan Hawkins, symbolizing the transfer of my authority and ministry as Bishop Ordinary to my able successor. I will have much to say about the past twelve years as Bishop Ordinary during the upcoming meetings of the Colleges of Presbyters and Deacons, the Convocation, the Eucharist service and celebration banquet, and the Saturday Synod. (I start the clock of my episcopal service among you from my consecration on October 29, 2012, when I assumed the role of Bishop Ordinary of the Atlantic Coast Network of PEARUSA, the embryonic jurisdiction that developed into Christ Our Hope.) When I was consecrated, the Lord strongly imprinted on my mind, “This is for twelve years. After that you will have a different assignment.” So this transition, and the future that lies ahead, has always been in the back of thought and prayer for Sally, me, and my family. In other words, “retirement” as is traditionally conceptualized has never been a prominent vision for my future – only that “different assignment” that the Spirit whispered to me.
Since many are asking, I’d like to tell you about what seems clear now and what is currently on the table of possibilities down the road.
Thankfully, I still have good health, good energy, and the incredible, undeserved blessing of a partner and co-laborer in my gifted, wonderful wife. We believe great years of ministry lie ahead for both of us. At the same time, we are both excited to have a more relaxed and flexible schedule. We especially look forward to approximately twenty additional weekends when I will not have ministry duties, when we can relax and enjoy time together with kids, grandkids, and each other. That alone will be a big change, and added to an overall schedule which we hope to limit to about 75% of our current pace, we hope to measurably increase relational time with family and friends.
We have a bucket list of trips, hikes, and pilgrimages that we hope to make for as long as we have health and strength. The first of those is ten days in Salisbury (UK, not MD, :-) and the Isle of Wight, starting November 29. A couple of weeks of spiritual retreat and hiking in England and Wales next August and an Eight Day Ignatian Silent Retreat in October are on the books for 2025, both part of a three-month sabbatical from ministry duties (July 1 – October 12).
In addition to this plan for physical, spiritual, and relational revitalization, we hope to continue to grow spiritually and mentally. We are kicking around an idea of a multi-year cohort-based plan for guided postgraduate studies in Patristic Spirituality and Theology – a deep dive into the writings of the early Church Fathers. I am also beginning to pray about and research joining an eight-month Transformation Intensive cohort, developed and implemented by the Isaiah 40 Foundation, beginning in October 2025.
In terms of ministry, there are significant opportunities that God has graciously brought my way. Bishop Alan is asking me to stay on the DCOH as an assisting bishop. Duties would include 15-20 episcopal visits per year, ordinations, confirmations, Deanery Retreats, Ordinands and Come & See Retreats, staff meetings, and the possible development of a consultation-and-coaching ministry of strategic revitalization for congregations in the DCOH.
Archbishop Steve Wood has asked me to lead the (newly revamped) Common Life Commission and has expanded the responsibilities of that team significantly. The work of that 12-member team of bishops will hopefully do much to create and strengthen unity and common values among the 50+ bishops of the Anglican Church in North America by developing and implementing much of Abp Wood’s vision for the Province. Some highlights of our work include:
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Developing and leading activities designed to foster fellowship, friendship, and camaraderie among bishops;
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Organizing, envisioning, and resourcing regional groupings of bishops and dioceses that will mutually support each other in mission-critical diocesan ministries;
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Managing the election of new bishops through the Regions;
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Mediating conflict between and with bishops, dioceses, and churches/clergy (yes, it happens!);
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Developing and operating a multi-year three-level bishops’ training program for the ACNA;
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Deploying and empowering the service of as many bishops as possible in the development of “our common life” in the ACNA.
In addition, Abp Wood has kindly asked me to join his standing Advisory Cabinet of nine bishops.
Training new bishops is also core to the work I am being invited to do with GAFCON. Chairman Abp Laurent Mbanda and General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison have graciously welcomed me to participate in strategic planning and teaching for the Bishops’ Training Institute, an annual week-long training event for new bishops in GAFCON provinces. Abp Mbanda has begun to think aloud with me about ways to expand training and revitalization work to strengthen mid-career bishops.
I also have ideas for a couple of books on the back burner of my mind (as if the world needs another book!). Nevertheless, the topics of Godly spiritual authority and leadership rooted in brokenness and humility burn deep in my heart. A vision for the transformation of desire through the ongoing training work of grace has emerged in the last year as a significant question for the church in an age where “desire” reigns supreme as the defining issue of human identity.
For her part, Sally is energized by the work of Selah Anglican, the spiritual direction training program sponsored by our Diocese. She also hopes to continue the work associated with Eighth Day Prayers, a devotional resource movement that follows the Church calendar. Both are growing strong. In addition, I keep bugging her to rewrite Choosing Rest. It’s out of print, but she consistently hears from people about how much God has used it in their lives.
I am thankful for God’s grace and excited for the future. I am happy to imagine a lively, ongoing life together with the clergy, congregants, and congregations of the DCOH. Thanks, Bishop Alan, for welcoming me to continue on the team.
Wading into 2025, I want to try on all these ministries and see if I can, indeed, bring the total down to that goal of “75% of my current load.” Looking at the possibilities, I nevertheless have a deep desire to make family, friends, and friendship with Jesus the top priorities for the years ahead.
I do want to take the occasion to affirm my joy and confidence as I look at the future of the Diocese of Christ Our Hope under the leadership of Bishop Alan Hawkins. He is indeed “the man of the hour” for this robust, growing corner of the Kingdom.
Serving as the Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of Christ Our Hope has been the greatest honor and privilege of my ministry. Thank you, thank you, for receiving me and giving me a place to serve as Christ’s undershepherd in the oversight of the birth and growth of this Diocese.
SERVUS SERVORUM DEI,
Bishop Steve