Standing Committee Charge to the Search Committee

Working within the context of prayer and discernment, the task of the Search Committee ("the Committee") is to discover the requirements, hopes and dreams of the people of the Diocese of Virginia as we move into this new phase of our collective life.

At the earliest opportunity the Committee shall initiate an education program within the Diocese on the role of, and process for, election of a Bishop in the Episcopal Church. During the entire process, the Committee will take the opportunity to educate others about the role and responsibilities of Bishops, and will foster unity of purpose among the people of the Diocese of Virginia

The Committee will develop a self-study process using a variety of methods to ensure that the people of the diocese are an integral part of the process of discernment, and that they know it.

The Committee may wish to conduct a conference with clergy to obtain their views and suggestions as well as to obtain their knowledge of past diocesan bishops, the present bishop, and the changing and future role for bishops in the church.

The Committee will construct a Diocesan Profile that reflects who we are, and the needs of the entire Diocese. The final draft (before printing) must go to the Standing Committee for review.

The completed profile will then be sent to Standing Committees, diocesan bishops, deans of seminaries and others throughout the General Church, and will be published on the web.

The Committee's primary responsibility then becomes the selection and presentation of appropriate nominees. No fewer than 3 and no more than 5 nominees should be presented by the Committee.

All activities leading up to the election will adhere to the published schedule.

The Search Committee needs to ensure that all nominees meet the constitutional and canonical requirements set forth by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America:

1. Individual must be at least 30 years of age. The compulsory retirement age for bishops is 72.
2. Suffragan Bishops are eligible nominees; those currently serving as Bishop or Bishop Coadjutor of a Diocese must have served in that Diocese for at least five years to be eligible.

The Standing Committee will prepare the compensation and benefit package for the bishop-elect. The Search Committee will present this financial package clearly and explicitly to each finalist.

The Standing Committee will establish procedures and standards for a petition process to be carried out by the Search Committee. There will be no nominations from the floor.

The chair or co-chair of the Committee shall be responsible for sending a written report monthly detailing their progress, addressed to the President of the Standing Committee. The Committee is responsible for regular communication with the people and churches of the Diocese of Virginia.

The Committee is for responsible developing its own rules and discipline for conducting its business, subject to the following:

• No clergy person or his or her spouse can remain on the Committee if they accept nomination for Bishop Coadjutor.

• The Search Committee will gather a great deal of confidential information. All personal information must be kept in strict confidence. All information regarding Committee process is to be released by action of the whole Committee as is appropriate. The process itself should be transparent; personal information must remain confidential.

We entrust you to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and will support you in prayer throughout your work.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Virginia
March 18, 2006