Today’s post is the second of five this week (one each day, in no particular order) that are “letters to the people of Rhode Island” from the nominees for bishop. Today’s letter is from the Rev. Cathy George, currently on a writing sabbatical and former priest-in-charge of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dorchester, Mass.
Dear Members of the Diocese of Rhode Island,
I write to you from our home in New Hampshire on a beautiful spring day. The window near my desk is open and birds fill the air with song.
It was a cold Saturday morning in January, following the invitation to continue in your process of discernment, when my husband Michael and I packed a bag and drove to
Rhode Island. I lived in
Providence and worked at
Brown University more than 30 years ago, and have visited the coastal beaches and towns of your state. But this visit was to your parishes. We drove from one parish to another, stepping inside if a door was open, noticing how close or far you are from each other, how many bridges linked you across the water. I prayed for guidance in your parking lots as we stopped in
Central Falls and
Cumberland;
Cranston and Wickford;
Portsmouth, Tiverton and
Barrington, to name a few. It was a Saturday so most of the doors were locked. I peeked into windows, and prayed for you. By late afternoon we checked into a hotel in
Providence and walked to each of the parishes on the east side, up the hill and across the campuses of
Brown and RISD. Sunday morning was well below zero, cold and sunny. My prayers continued as I worshipped in several downtown churches, staying for the readings at one, hearing the sermon at another and receiving communion once I arrived at the cathedral. In each place I was warmly welcomed as a visitor and prayed with your communities of faith.
This trip helped me get to know you and it allowed me to see what it is that God has given me that I have to offer you as your bishop. God has blessed me with experiences that match what you seek in a leader. In rural
New Hampshire, a summer parish was nearly closed when I led the devoted people as an effective and compassionate pastor helping them open their doors, change how they did things, and invite others to their church. In an affluent suburb of
Boston, I exercised visionary leadership through strong communication skills, and a passionate love for preaching relevant to people’s lives. With compassion I led our parish through change, spiritual growth and a sizable building project. We faced conflict together and deepened our maturity in faith as we learned to listen, compromise and laugh together. With hearts set on mission, we entered partnerships in the inner city, which led to my call to
Dorchester. There, strengthening the role of lay leaders, I forged a future for ministry in neighborhoods living the gospel, offering food to the hungry, a playground for children and summer school for kids.
God has shaped me into a visionary leader who builds collaborative teams, welcomes change, is peaceful in the midst of conflict, prayerful and decisive in strategy, dependent upon Jesus, and enjoys the blessings of life.
Thank you for the generosity of your prayers as you faithfully prepare for the election of your 13th Bishop. I look forward to meeting you on May 12.
In faith,
The Reverend Cathy H George
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