The 36 congregations comprising the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania are seeking a new bishop specifically knowledgeable about working with small congregations and who will take an active role in the administration and pastoral life of the diocese, according to a profile developed by the episcopal search committee and introduced during the annual convention in October.

The period for nominations closes Dec. 25. The search committee will release the names of three to five nominees during the first week of April.

"To assist the bishop in her duties there are currently four full-time and three part-time staff members," the profile states. "It should be noted that there is considerable current discussion on whether the staff is too large and costly for a diocese of our size. There is also some discussion as to the location of the diocesan offices, since Erie is in the northwestern corner of the diocese."

With about 280,000 residents in the metropolitan region, Erie is the diocese's largest population center. The most populous and stable regions of the diocese, according to the profile, are the four counties along the Ohio border, along with one county in the southeastern corner. Total population of the region is 938,712.

"Our diocese is unique among the five dioceses in Pennsylvania," the report states. "While the other dioceses have significant and sizable cities, we have large sections of state forest lands as well as the Allegheny National Forest. There are areas for hiking, boating, bird watching, camping, hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, and swimming."

The diocese recently underwent a period of internal discernment and is coming to terms with the fact that it is primarily composed of small family-sized and pastoral-sized congregations, spread out over a significant geographical range, according to the profile. About 75 percent of the current $800,000 annual budget is raised through assessments. Most of the clergy have not served outside the diocese.

"We have only about 12 seminary-trained priests serving full time," the profile states. "Currently, we also have 13 locally trained priests and 9 deacons, most of whom have completed our diocesan school for ministry."

Northwestern Pennsylvania has been without episcopal oversight since Bishop Robert Rowley announced his intention to take terminal sabbatical leave in a letter to the diocese in July. The Very Rev. John P. Downey, dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, Erie, was selected president pro-tem and presided when convention met Oct. 27-28 at Gannon University in Erie.

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