Dear Beloved People of the Diocese of Long Island,
The season of Advent invites us to slow down, pay attention, and await the inbreaking of God with us. While it is tempting to give in to the many distractions and tasks ahead of celebrating Christmas, the gift of these days is to pause, reflect, and be fully present as we anticipate the coming of Christ. It is in the spirit of joyful watching and hopeful waiting that we write today.
The Search Committee remains active in its discernment for the Ninth Bishop of Long Island, but we will enter a quieter, less public phase over the coming month. We have selected from a field of highly qualified, diverse candidates, guided by the qualities you identified on our survey and listening sessions. We will be conducting a second round of interviews of these candidates this month. We look forward to an announcement from the Joint Oversight Committee of a slate of nominees at the end of January.
In the meantime, we wish you a very blessed Advent and Christmastide. You are in our prayers as we carry on our work, and we ask for your prayers for us and for all those who have put their names forward for our next Bishop.
Faithfully,
The Search Committee for the Ninth Bishop of Long Island