Episcopal Transition Update
These past several months have been full of much prayer and discussion among our diocesan leadership, with the kind leading of Interim Bishop Ryan Reed and Consulting Bishop Paul Donison, regarding both the challenges being faced and potential next steps our diocese might take. The issues we’ve addressed have been numerous, and no doubt there is more work to be done in the future. Thankfully, the spirit of our meetings has been gracious and with an heart for the long-term mission and ministry of our diocese.
As part of those meetings, we received a proposal from Bishop Julian Dobbs, Provincial Dean and Acting Archbishop, that our diocese nominate and elect Bishop Paul Donison, currently Bishop for the GPMD, as our sole nominee. Our diocese would be joined immediately thereafter by the churches in the Great Plains Missionary District (GPMD; a group of 10 churches largely in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area) to form a diocese of 25 churches in total.
The proposal has been discussed openly by our Diocesan Council, Rectors and Clergy, as well as among the GPMD Rectors, and copies of the proposal have been distributed to be shared openly (you can click here to download a copy of the proposal). Overall, the reception has been positive, and the DWGC Diocesan Council has chosen to move forward with the plan as proposed.
In order for the diocese to better understand the plan and get to know Bishop Paul, we have scheduled walkabouts in the three different regions of the diocese as follows:
Monday, October 19th @ 6:30PM | Holy Cross Anglican Church, Baton Rouge, LA
Tuesday, October 20th @ 6:30PM | St. Timothy Anglican Church, Spring, TX
Wednesday, October 21st @ 6:30PM | Christ Our King Anglican Church, New Braunfels, TX
While we understand that these walkabouts are right around the corner, we encourage the churches of the DWGC to make every effort to attend these meetings. They will be invaluable opportunities for you to better engage this novel process of bringing together two groups of churches for the sake of Gospel ministry. In addition, we have included both an interview with and Nominee Profile for Bishop Paul below. Finally, we have included a button (below) where you can access Bishop Paul’s position paper on Holy Orders. Our hope is that these resources will provide you with additional ways to get to know our nominee.
Finally, the proposed plan is that the DWGC will hold its Synod on November 6-7 (St. Timothy Anglican Church, Spring, TX), at which time we will hold the election for our next Bishop. Subsequently, the churches of the GPMD will join our diocese, and we will begin the process of growing together into what we pray will be a vibrant and robust family of faith for years to come.
We know that’s a lot to consider, so please participate. Attend the walkabouts. Ask questions. And join as we continue to lift all of this to God in prayer, for the furthering of His Kingdom in our region.
