Committee on Nominations

Similar to prior years, this year the Committee on Nominations included several dedicated and faithful people who worked to ensure the nominations process unfolded smoothly.  I am extremely grateful for their time and faithful commitment to our electoral process of discernment.  I extend a huge “thank you,” to the following members of the Committee on Nominations, and I encourage you to do the same: Don Miller and the Rev. James Dahlin representing the Alameda Deanery; Jim Wiant representing the Contra Costa Deanery (I also represented the Contra Costa Deanery); William “Bill” Burrell and Anna Haight representing the Marin Deanery; Christine Bensen, a representative of the Executive Council; the Rev. Jane Stratford, a representative of the Standing Committee; and the Rev. Br. Richard Edward Helmer, Secretary of the Convention.

 Again this year, the Committee continued to be supported by our diocesan staff.  We are all extremely grateful for the support from Ellie Simpson, Communications Associate, Amy Cook, Canon for Formation, and Caren Miles, Associate for Faith Formation.  Ellie updated webpages and forms, included nominations information in diocesan newsletters, and supported us in so many other important ways.  Amy and Caren provided information about training requirements and communicated with nominees about the training they would need to complete to ensure they remain current on anti-racism and Safe Church trainings.  Their support ensured nominees were aware of the requirements to serve and the reasons why these trainings are so important. 

The nominations process is a process of electoral discernment.  Each person that stepped forward, including those who withdrew their nomination, discerned a desire to serve our diocese in a particular way.  Other people spent time discerning and identifying a person or persons who possess the gifts, wisdom, and experience to serve on a particular body.  As a result of those acts of faithful discernment, we have nominees who are willing to offer their gifts and wisdom, out of love for their church, to serve God’s people in this area. 

Committee members are paired with nominees for different offices that will be elected at Convention.  While nominees are responsible for completing all required submittals and trainings, each Committee liaison is available for questions, to respond to concerns, and to provide information as needs arise.  I want to assure the Convention that, although two members of the Committee have been nominated to serve on the Standing Committee, to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, neither was assigned as a liaison to any other nominee to the Standing Committee.  In future years, when we have nominees for the General Convention deputation, it is our hope that we will have more Deanery representatives on the Committee.  This will ensure that we can evenly distribute the workload of the Committee without overwhelming Committee members.

Again, many thanks to every member of the Committee, to our diocesan staff, and to each and every nominator and nominee.  May God grant our Convention delegates discerning minds and hearts as our first ballot opens.