Dear Brother and Sisters

Following Sis. Lewis point listed recently. I have a list of points for your consideration in the requirements to be used in selecting the next class of Bishops.

Pastoral Experience (Leading of a flock or flocks)

What is your opinion of this point. Does a good Pastor mean he or she can become a good Bishop? Can they manage both the personal and financial assets of a District?

Education Experience

Should our Bishops have experience in education to inspire others in aspiring to the level of Clergy? Will they have the understanding to assist the various schools in our Church? Is this important?

Ministerial Vision (my favorite)

Can our leaders articulate a vision for our future (Sis. Lewis this one's for you) Zion? Should they be required to write it down for the masses to see?

Defining Episcopal Leadership

How will they handle the complex issues dealing with the hundreds of Churces and thousands of Pastors while being sensitive to the tens of thousands of members. How will they deal with the requests of others who wish their son or daughter elevated in a District?

Financial Vision (My Second favorite)

How can the candidate articulate a plan that will elevate our Church both on the local and Connectional level. Parson Paris has a point of leaders dealing with the issues within their District. Can they address this as well as the international? Will we have a plan that will grow our finances so as not to continuously asking more of our members?

Youth and Young Adult Vision (Potentially the most important in our history today)

How will we win back our youth? How will we provide access to opportunity for growth and development? Should we be developing youth Churches like Allen Cathedral in New York?

Are there any other points you feel should be added?

Place you values against each point and lets see how we score.

Hope to see your insight and points

Blessings from Bermuda

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2004

Answers

I like this criteria list! No revisions from my end. Hopefully informed and prayerful delegates will be using this as a yardstick for measuring Episcopal "fitness" for our candidates. QED

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2004

Thanks for your post, Brother Brangman! So timely! I think if I were to rank the list I would say that "Ministerial Vision" or "Vision for the Denomination" should be first. When I mentioned in an earlier post that candidates came to a recent district meeting, I noticed that none (at least none of the ones that I heard speak) mentioned any kind of vision statement or how they "visualized" the future of the AME Church. They all talked about their "Pastoral Experience" infinitum. Education is extremely important. If there is a mandate for "educated Itinerant Elders", we certainly need "Educated Bishops". I am not sure if this point should fall under "Financial Vision", but I think some point should be addressed about how the connectional church will financially support the pastors. Thanks.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2004

May I suggest the reply Jesus gave to Nicodemus, "They must be born again."

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2004

Dear Pastor Paris

I always look forward to your suggestions and comments. Thank you to all submitted thus far.

Blessings from Bermuda

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2004

1. Someone who fears God more than they fear man. 2. Someone who exhibits spiritual maturity and sound moral character. 3. Someone who inspires us to believe that our best days are ahead. 4. Someone who "can walk with Kings, yet not lose the common touch." 5. Someone who is running not to "be something" but to "do something" for the Lord. 6. Someone who is unblemished by financial impropriety. 7. Someone who is willing to lose the election if wining means compromising the precepts of God.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2004

Don't forget to compare I Timothy 3.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2004

Thanks you Rev. Byrd Your comments are indeed most timely and welcome. Many in our Church feel the same way. God Bless You all and thanks for the responses

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2004

If Steven Covey can become an international best selling author and speaker for his "Seven Habits for Successful People" perhaps Parson Byrd can achieve equal fame for his insight about the "Seven Essential Requirements for Episcopal Service". With the good Parson's permission I will share his perspicacious commentary at my District Lay Meeting on Saturday. QED

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2004