wfn.org | Transition begins as Griswold meets

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org (ENS)]

September 26, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

97-1960
Transition begins as Griswold meets with staff 
in New York

by James Solheim and Michael Barwell
      (ENS) The era of new leadership for the Episcopal Church has
begun. In a series of recent meetings at the Episcopal Church Center in
New York, Presiding Bishop-elect Frank T. Griswold III of Chicago
joined a meeting of the whole staff and met to appoint members of
interim bodies.
      Griswold was welcomed to the Church Center by Presiding
Bishop Edmond Browning who is finishing his 12-year term. "I'm going
to call him at midnight on December 31 and tell him, 'Frank, baby, it's
all yours,'" Browning said with a chuckle in his introduction of Griswold
to the assembled staff during an In House meeting on September 22. 
      "He is an extremely gifted person and has used these gifts in a
wonderful way for this church," Browning said in welcoming what he
called "fresh leadership." He cited Griswold's strong ecumenical and
interfaith work and his significant leadership in "helping the House of
Bishops to claim its identity. He's on the side of the angels," he said.
      In welcoming the "continuity," Griswold said that "many of
Browning's concerns and perspectives are my own" but added that there
will be some obvious "differences in style." 

Season of transition
      Griswold told the staff that they would enter a "season of
transition" before the direction would be clear. "I don't see myself as a
revolutionary," he said, "but I do see myself as an agent of change."
      Citing his experience in Chicago, he expressed the hope that he
and his staff would "live in a way that is transparent and accessible" so
that they could be of service to the community. 
      With frequent flashes of humor, Griswold characterized his
leadership style as one of "collaborative listening." As a "pastor of
systems," he said that he delegates authority and trusts his staff, while
demanding accountability. "I can live with ambiguity but I like decision-
making," he said. "It's important to keep in mind that ours is a ministry
of service."
      Admitting that there are "destroying angels at work in our
church," Griswold said that the task is to "name them and try to convert
these angels of hostility and mistrust" with transparent openness. "If we
are going to talk about reconciliation, then we must live that way."

Broad search for chief operating officer
      His first priority, he told the staff, is the appointment of a chief
operating officer, authorized by the 1997 General Convention in
Philadelphia. In a later interview, he said that a job description is being
written and a search committee will be appointed in coming weeks. He
announced that Bishop Claude Payne of Texas had agreed to chair the
committee. 
      Promising a "broad search," Griswold said that the job description
would be circulated in all dioceses and that candidates would be sought
among laity and clergy. The most important attributes for the position, he
said, would be someone who is good at details, understands the systems,
and works collaboratively. He said that he hoped that he and Pamela
Chinnis, president of the House of Deputies, would have three names
before the Executive Council meeting in February.
      Shortly after his election as the 25th presiding bishop, Griswold
announced that the Rev. Canon Carlson Gerdau, canon to the ordinary in
Chicago since 1987, will serve as his personal assistant. Gerdau will
begin his duties by February 1, he said.

Interim bodies appointed
      After several intense working sessions with Chinnis and
Browning, Griswold said that they had completed their work on
appointments to committees and commissions. "The choices were
complex because of changes made at the General Convention in church
structure." He said that they were "confident that we have honored the
diversity which is our church" but admitted that "no process is perfect."
      While plans for his installation at the Washington National
Cathedral on January 10 are still in the early stages, he did express some
of his hopes for the service. "The liturgy will reflect the real diversity
that is integral to our Anglican identity," he said in an interview. It will
emphasize that "the welfare of the church depends on everyone." He
added that his homily will draw on his recent experiences at an
international conference in Assisi which discussed the spirituality of
children, especially their role as agents of renewal. He said that he was
amazed at the "innate religious sensitivities" of children and their "unique
understanding of the Eucharist." He said that he would draw on the
sacrament of baptism as the source of community in the church.
      (Tickets will be available, the transition team has announced, on a
first- come, first-served  basis with no reserved seating at the cathedral.
There will be a limit of two tickets per request which should be sent by
mail to the Rev. Preston Kelsey at the Episcopal Church Center.)

A wonderful irony
      The Griswolds will move to New York after the installation "so
that we can spend Christmas in Chicago." He added that he was trying to
keep his perspective on the change in roles, "making sure to take
personal time for retreat and prayer." 
      "It is very important that I finish my term as bishop of Chicago."
In the meantime, he expressed gratitude for the "seasoned vision" of staff
members in New York during this time of transition.
      In what Griswold described as a "wonderful irony," Browning had
previously scheduled a visit the Diocese of Chicago in November--his
last visit to a diocese during his episcopacy. When that visit was
scheduled, Griswold noted, "we never anticipated that we would both be
in transition."

--James Solheim is director of news and information for the Episcopal
Church and Michael Barwell is the deputy director.