Questions

Covenant polled around the Diocese for questions that might be asked to those who aspire to be our next bishop when they come to visit in February (or now, by mail). These are some of the questions we got:

1) How do you understand the authority of Holy Scripture in relation to the guidance that the Holy Spirit provides to the Church today?

2) How do you understand your commitment as a priest and potential bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee to "conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church"?

3) The diocese of Tennessee is a diverse diocese. Will you commit yourself to including a variety of points of view, including lay people and clergy who disagree with you, in the Standing Committee, diocesan commissions, and other positions of authority and trust? How would you encourage their inclusion?

4) What is your commitment to ministry in small, rural churches? How would you promote this vital part of the mission and ministry of our diocese?

5) Describe your leadership style. How do you work with other clergy and lay leaders?

6) Have you signed the Confessional Statement of the American Anglican Council? What is your attitude to the Anglican Communion Network and its realignment strategy? Are you a member of the ACN?

7) How have you fostered the ministry of women in your vocational life? What would your policies be regarding ordination of women and others who have had marginalized status, if you are elected bishop?

8) Some clergy in our diocese have said that if the June 2006 General Convention does not adhere to the recommendations of the Windsor Report, as they interpret them, that they are leaving the Episcopal Church. It is unclear whether their intent is to try to take Church property too. How would you approach this situation?

9) What is your understanding of the role of dioceses in the ministry of the Church?

10) How do you understand the place of gay and lesbian people in the life of the Church and how has your ministry illustrated that understanding?

11) What is your theology of youth ministry and how does the ministry of a diocese foster it, if at all?

12) Polarization in our diocese has marked much of our discourse and decision-making over the last ten years, leaving us deeply conflicted. Share with us a situation where you encountered such conflict and how you resolved it.

13) Some clergy in our diocese have publicly announced that they are no longer Episcopalians and that their parishes are no longer in the Episcopal Church. Under what conditions would you depose clergy?

[COVENANT, Number 22, January 2006]