7 Step process to elect Bishop Candidates



If I have a say in the election process of Bishop Candidates, I would
suggest the following 7 steps to avoid unnecessary deliberations and
hatred in this process.



Step 1: The Holy Synod decides the number of Bishop Candidates needed
for the church in consultation with the Managing/Working Committees of
the Church.



Qualification: A celibate priest working under the jurisdiction of a
Bishop of our Church for atleast 10 years.



Step 2: Each diocesan assembly or council will send a list of such
candidates based on their experience they feel are suitable to become
Bishops for the church (not for the diocese). They can even suggest
Candidates from other dioceses. There is no limit for the number of
candidates they can recommend and the candidates who have not been
elected before can also form part of the list. No upper age limitation.



Step 3: There will be a screening committee who would consolidate the
applications and will seek the opinion of the candidates as to whether
they are willing to become the Bishop as per the policies set up by
the Church and call for all required details in a prescribed format.



Step 4: All willing candidates should be asked to attend a camp for
13 days where they will spend there time in prayer and meditation
observing fasting and lent (similar to the apostles lent) and will not
have any contact with the outside world in any manner. No mass media
including phone. They will do their own cooking and washing during
this period. A senior Priest or Bishop will be the Dean of the Camp.
If a person becomes sick and have to go out of the camp or for any
other genuine reason due to the death of a relative etc. they should
not be allowed to continue in that camp. He can wait for the next
opportunity.



Step 5: Since the Holy Synod is convened twice a year, if the
February Synod decides the number of Bishop Candidates required, the
process of short listing can be done before August and last day of the
13 day camp for the candidates can coincide with the last day of the
August Synod. Let there be Holy Qurbana on the last day of the Holy
Synod/Camp and all our Bishops be present and draw the number of
required Bishop Candidates from a lot after the Holy Qurbana.



Step 6: All the candidates will be given a similar size of paper to
write their names and they will put them in a draw box in front of the
members of the Synod. Let there be video recording of the proceedings
which can be telecast later to the faithful. The senior Bishop will
then draw the number of candidates needed from the lot in front of
others and also in the spiritual presence of the heavenly managing
committee and association members of God.



Step 7: Declare the name of the candidate whose name/s came from the
lot and announce the date of ordination.



You can neither term the above process as democracy or hypocrisy. You
may call it for name sake 'Faithocracy'. We do this in pure faith
with the hope God is sending His Holy Spirit to elect a candidate for
the Church. I am sure there will not be much grudge and hatred
amongst the faithful in this process. The benefits are tremendous.
Remember how many of our democratically elected candidates be it in
Politics or Church have turned out to be a headache later. Atleast in
this process of faithocracy we can say "let Thy will be done".



Those who want to listen let them listen.



Philip Ayyamplackal, Auckland