Tell it to SurveyMonkey

Should the Episcopal Church’s 27th presiding bishop be an evangelist with a sense of humor, a resilient social-justice advocate, or a collaborative, skillful manager of people and resources?

The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of a Presiding Bishop has turned to a popular tool among dioceses: asking Episcopalians, through the web-based SurveyMonkey [English; Spanish], about what qualities they seek in their next leader.

These are the categories and survey methods:

Drop-down priority menus

The Presiding Bishop should be”:

  • a person whose life is deeply formed by scripture and prayer
  • a public leader for a Christian point-of-view to the State and the World
  • a skillful manager of people and resources
  • a strong guardian of faith, unity, and discipline of the Episcopal Church
  • able to understand and speak multiple languages
  • effective in using social media to promote the Gospel and the Church
  • an evangelist proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Episcopal Church

“The Presiding Bishop should be actively engaged in”:

  • promoting increased diversity within the Church
  • engaging in fund raising
  • encouraging dioceses to meet their asking for the Episcopal Church’s program and budget
  • helping lead the restructuring of the Episcopal Church
  • helping under-resourced dioceses
  • helping the Episcopal Church develop outreach ministries
  • preaching and teaching for personal transformation
  • strengthening our relationships within the Anglican Communion

“The Presiding Bishop should be actively engaged in”:

  • promoting increased diversity within the Church
  • engaging in fund raising
  • encouraging dioceses to meet their asking for the Episcopal Church’s program and budget
  • helping lead the restructuring of the Episcopal Church
  • helping under-resourced dioceses
  • helping the Episcopal Church develop outreach ministries
  • preaching and teaching for personal transformation
  • strengthening our relationships within the Anglican Communion

“The Presiding Bishop should be actively engaged in”:

  • promoting increased diversity within the Church
  • engaging in fund raising
  • encouraging dioceses to meet their asking for the Episcopal Church’s program and budget
  • helping lead the restructuring of the Episcopal Church
  • helping under-resourced dioceses
  • helping the Episcopal Church develop outreach ministries
  • preaching and teaching for personal transformation
  • strengthening our relationships within the Anglican Communion

“The next Presiding Bishop should focus on”:

  • nurturing the health and vitality of our congregations and dioceses
  • communicating with the Church and the world through innovative technology
  • demonstrating a commitment to interfaith and ecumenical cooperation
  • enforcing the disciplinary canons
  • giving attention to and support for dealing with conflict in the Church
  • articulating a compelling vision for the Episcopal Church
  • making ministry with youth and young adults a priority
  • presenting a clear picture of the Episcopal Church that others can understand
  • working to heal divisions in the Church

Bullets (from somewhat important to not important) — “the next Presiding Bishop should promote the following”:

  • Mission projects with Anglican Communion partners
  • Peace and social justice in the world
  • Peace and social justice within the Episcopal Church
  • Stewardship throughout the Episcopal Church

Checkboxes — In addition to sound judgment and a strong theological background, the presiding bishop should have seven of these other personal qualities:

  • A Person of Integrity
  • Deeply spiritual and prayerful
  • Visionary
  • Courageous
  • Just and Fair
  • Humble
  • Resilient
  • Collaborative
  • Optimistic
  • Strong communicator
  • Flexible and open minded
  • Good sense of humor
  • Pastoral
  • Organized
  • Physically Robust and healthy
  • Focused and Present
  • Culturally aware
  • Charismatic leader
  • Promotes justice
  • Other Skill or Quality

Open-ended questions:

  • What are the three most important issues for the next Presiding Bishop during the term of office?
  • Please list three ways the Episcopal Church could improve.

The survey asks each respondent to identify as an Episcopalian or member of another Anglican province and to state order of ministry, diocese, race/ethnicity, “gender” (male, female, or transgender), year of birth, and years as an Episcopalian.

The survey is open until September 20.

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