The Episcopate

The room where it happened.

In this case, that would be the main hall of the Riverside Convention Center, where after two days of deliberation and multiple ballots, the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles was chosen.

In my nearly twenty years as an ordained minister, this was the first time I participated in electing a bishop. In some ways it is a byzantine process, shaped by multiple layers of rules and procedures. But interwoven with the systematic nuts and bolts was a palpable sense of the sacred.

Before and after each vote there were periods of silence, prayer, reflection, and the occasional hymn. There was no posturing. There was no combative debate. And when the selection was finally announced, the room was filled with a solemn silence. 

On that day the episcopate, certainly a position of power and privilege, became more lamb than lion, a reminder that to be chosen bishop is to be recognized as the lead pastor.

"Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge." - Simon Sinek