Feast of Frederick Denison Maurice
Dear Friends in Christ,
I write to you today as the chief priest, pastor, and teacher of this diocese.
As you know, this past December, I announced the commencement of the process to elect the Ninth Bishop of Long Island. I am truly excited and energized by the initial work of the Joint Oversight Committee in coordination with the Office of the Presiding Bishop. A date has been set in Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s calendar for the Ordination and Consecration of our next diocesan bishop—September 19, 2026. This date will also mark my 17th anniversary as Bishop and the Feast of Theodore of Tarsus.
It is my earnest prayer that the stages of this process—conversation, profile development, nominations, interviewing, and the creation of a final slate of candidates—will be a faithful, prayerful, and joy-filled time in our life as a diocese. This process should be engaging and inclusive, free from rancor, gossip, politics, caucusing, and manipulation.
One pastoral concern I wish to share is this: anyone already claiming to be a candidate for bishop should be ignored and reminded that prayerful discernment, not personal ambition, is the means by which we elect a bishop in our church. True discernment can only take place once a diocesan profile has been created. No one can claim they are called to be a candidate when no direction has been set and no profile yet exists. It is through the faithful and prayerful discernment of the people of our diocese—not ego or ambition—that God’s will for our future will be revealed.
A year from now, we will be prepared to elect a bishop from a slate of well-chosen candidates who have prayerfully discerned God’s call in their lives—one that aligns with our diocesan profile and the direction established by the Joint Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Transition Committees, and the delegates and clergy of the diocese.
As we journey through this exciting and meaningful time, I ask for your prayers, your faithfulness, and your encouragement in support of our diocesan ministries, our parishes, and the people we serve. I also ask for your prayers for me and my family as we move through the next 18 months leading to my retirement as diocesan bishop. I love this diocese, its people, and the communities we serve. I am deeply grateful for the privilege and responsibility God has given me in this work and ministry. This is a great diocese, and together, we will move forward in faithfulness and joy.
Let’s have some fun discerning what God has in store for us!
Faithfully in Christ, with prayer and blessings,
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The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island