[Magdalen] Fwd: A Letter from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to the Diocese of Virginiaorfinary’s departure was

[Grace Cangialosi]

Lynn,
What was surprising to some of us about the Canon to the Ordinary’s departure was that he left to take a position as an interim rector. I’ve forgotten where he went, but it was quite far away, and to go that far for an interim position seemed strange. But, of course, that will position him well for a future call in that Diocese. And I think it puts him closer to family.
The even stranger thing is that the interim Canon to the Ordinary is a retired bishop...

We have some 39 churches in search right now, and the smaller ones—most of them—are getting almost no help from the transition office. I’ve done long-term supply for a couple of them until they could get a “real” interim or priest-in-charge, and they were having a terrible time getting emails or calls returned and being offered suitable candidates.
The turnover and reshuffling of  the diocesan staff  has been remarkable. Of course, in that regard, Bishop Lee was a tough act to follow; most of his staff was there for the whole 25 years of his episcopate.
Anyway, I think Curry’s letter is the last word we’re going to get. I think it was at least partly to lay to rest the speculation about Shannon’s resignation. I’m not sure it succeeded.

> On Aug 8, 2018, at 11:06 PM, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> from letter below :Canon to the Ordinary announced that he was leaving the diocese to accept another call.
> 
> Yes, I remember reading that because I know that person and was surprised at the time.
> 
> Sigh.
> Lynn
> 
> website: www.ichthysdesigns.com
> 
> When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." attributed to Erma Bombeck
> 
> "Mercy and compassion are more than personal options. They are the antidotes to that fear and hatred." Mark Singel
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Suzie Buchanan" <buchanan.suzie at gmail.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2018 9:38 PM
> To: "Magdalen at herberthouse.org" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
> Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Fwd: A Letter from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to the Diocese of Virginia
> 
>> I have refrained from jumping in on all of this - even a year later my own
>> exit from that diocese is still a bit painful (the one chance contact I had
>> with the bishop was actually much worse than nothing would have been, as my
>> parish was running me out of town) so I have tried to not comment on his
>> situation.  BUT . . . there was that first letter back on May 24 which I
>> think sheds all the light needed on this.  It is not health issues.  It is
>> not "wouldn't it be great to be retired, young."  Here's the pertinent part
>> from the letter which went out to inform the diocese that the search for a
>> second Suffragan Bishop was being halted (for those who don't know,
>> Virginia is a large diocese that normally operates with three
>> bishops):  *emphasis
>> mine*
>> 
>> "We have taken this extraordinary step [stopping an already underway bishop
>> search process] for two fundamental reasons. First, over the past few
>> months, *serious questions have been brought forward by members of the
>> diocesan staff having to do with the leadership and the culture among
>> diocesan staff.* As Bishop I must take full responsibility for this
>> situation. Utmost in my priorities will be to ensure that all of us
>> function well together. The crucial point as we face this reality is that
>> this is not the time to introduce a new bishop into the diocesan system.
>> Rather, it is much preferable to bring in the help we need to address the
>> difficulties and identify ways that the staff as a culture and system can
>> be become fully functional again. To this end, it is my hope to engage the
>> services of the Lombard-Mennonite Peace Center, the leading church
>> organizational consultant group in the country, to work with us. I have
>> been in touch with the Presiding Bishop's office about our situation and
>> the possibilities to address it, and we have been advised that they are in
>> full agreement with our decision. I am confident we will succeed in the
>> tasks before us because our staff is a talented group and each person is
>> deeply committed to the Church, to this Diocese and to building up the
>> Kingdom of God."
>> 
>> Me again:  The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center specializes in conflict
>> mediation work.  They are not just an "organizational consultant group" -
>> they do CONFLICT MEDIATION.  It seems obvious to me that the result of that
>> work has been that the parties involved (diocesan staff) have NOT worked
>> out the differences, and the solution has been for the bishop to resign
>> ("retire").  I think he must be relieved that he CAN retire young.  This
>> May 24 letter to the diocese went out exactly one month after the Canon to
>> the Ordinary announced that he was leaving the diocese to accept another
>> call. Was his choice influenced by the problems needing the mediation??
>> 
>> Anyway - I don't think speculation about health issues (for Shannon or
>> Ellen)  is warranted.  I think pretty much all that we will really know is
>> found in that May 24 letter.
>> 
>> Suzie
>> VERY happily just celebrated my first anniversary in a new parish and a new
>> diocese - both of which are joys to be a part of!  But I'm still making the
>> 300 mile each way commuter marriage trek to spend a few days every other
>> week with my husband who is still at his job in Richmond.  THAT part of
>> this past year has had its challenges! 
>