|
Dearly beloved of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina,
One of the first tasks for any new bishop is to build an effective executive team to assist the bishop in serving the diocese's parishes, missions, and ministries. Prayerful discernment is critical to identifying individuals with unique gifts and talents that can accomplish the important work before us and work well together as part of a team. Since my consecration, I have been prayerfully engaged in identifying such individuals and evaluating the responsibilities of existing diocesan staff to focus on better serving the clergy and lay orders of the diocese.
As your bishop, I serve as the chief priest and pastor of the diocese, working to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church, a vow I made to the diocese at my consecration. Living into that promise requires an executive team that is firmly grounded in the faith and dedicated to caring for and serving the members of the Church in *every*order of ministry. After careful and prayerful consideration, I have decided that the best way to organize my executive team is through two ordained positions: a Canon to the Ordinary and an Archdeacon. I am pleased to announce that I have now filled both positions.
I am excited to announce that the Rev. Stephen Rhoades has accepted my call to serve as our new Canon to the Ordinary beginning June 1, 2022. Stephen has served as Rector of St. James in Greenville for eight years. He brings not only a strong background in parish ministry, but he has also served for the last two years as President of the Standing Committee (Diocesan Executive Council) and the Episcopal Transition Committee. Stephen worked alongside diocesan staff while President of the Standing Committee and during the bishop search process. In addition, he and I have worked closely together as I transitioned into the life of this diocese. His experience as a rector, gifts in administration, knowledge of the diocese, and legal training are unique skill sets that make him an ideal candidate to serve as Canon to the Ordinary. He also brings a lively sense of humor to his work, a spirit of collegiality, and an ability to bring order to complicated matters.
As Canon to the Ordinary, Stephen’s primary focus will be on encouraging and supporting the work of the priesthood in the diocese. He will assist in the recruitment, discernment, and formation of new priests and clergy transitions and discipline. In addition, he will be tasked with bringing order to our common life and work, making sure that our work together is grounded by the canons, constitutions, and by-laws of our various levels of organizational life. Finally, the Canon to the Ordinary serves as a close confidant of the bishop and represents the bishop when the diocesan is out of office.
Recognizing the geographical breadth of the diocese and out of a desire to make diocesan staff more relatable and accessible to our churches, missions, ministries, and the people we serve, Stephen will work from two locations. The diocese will maintain an office for the Canon to the Ordinary in Greenville to serve the Foothills and Piedmont convocations and an office at Diocesan House in Columbia to serve the Catawba, Midlands, and Gravatt convocations.
I am also excited to announce that the Rev. Dorothy d’Rue Hazel has accepted my call to serve as Archdeacon and has already begun serving in this role. Archdeacon Hazel will work closely with the bishop and the Canon to the Ordinary as part of the executive team. As depicted in the Acts of the Apostles, the role of deacons is centered on ensuring that everyone is fed and the food distributed fairly, a role that significantly freed up the apostles to pray, teach, preach, and lead the Church. Likewise, in the Church today, the vocational diaconate works closely with the bishop to support and inspire all in their vocational callings. Archdeacon Hazel will focus on revitalizing the recruitment and formation of deacons in the diocese and encouraging and supporting the work of the diaconate. As Archdeacon, she will also continue working with vestries and search committees, supporting their canonical responsibility of calling skilled clergy through the ministry of transition.
Please join me in welcoming both the Rev. Canon Stephen Rhoades and the Venerable Dorothy d’Rue Hazel in their new roles in service to the Diocese!
I will soon share the structure of the rest of the diocesan staff and their responsibilities. In upcoming issues, we will feature each diocesan staff member individually and in-depth so that you get to know the diocesan staff better.
We are also working to fulfill a key promise I have made to the Diocese since I came on board. We intend to focus on healthy congregations. Both Canon and Archdeacon have obvious roles in that fulfillment. Still, we are looking to bring on a Congregational Development group that will work with our parishes and missions soon. Please be sure to look for more information as we continue to work out the details.
I want you to know that we are living into our vows as your bishop and diocesan staff, together with you, clergy, and laity of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. We all promised in our baptismal covenant to be the Body of Christ, bringing the Good News of God in Christ here and around the world. It is an exciting time to be in this diocese in these days with you.
Christ is Risen!
+Daniel
|
