Prayer for a bishop election



Now eighteen months of 
prayer, discerning, searching, wondering... 
after reviewing, considering, interviewing, 
listening, wondering, praying. 

 Now, this day, 
the day of an election 
who will be elected Bishop? 

 Will the Holy Spirit prevail? 
Will the course be set, 
 a prophetic course, or 
one that holds the course, 
the status quo, 
the comfortable and safe? 

 Who knows? 
 Only time will tell. 

 But out of all who 
 made themselves vulnerable - 
 willing to stand 
and reveal and 
try to be authentic - 
these four nominated 
have given their all. 

 I pray for each of them. 

One will be elected, 
thrilled, humbled, honored. 

Three will be broken hearted 
 and the loss great 
and for them my prayers are 
 deeper, longer, grateful. 

 There is no saying that one 
is actually better than the others. 
 Only that one was elected, 
Bishop. 

 Pray this day as we vote. 
Pray this day for the one elected. 
Pray this day for those electing. 
Pray this day for those not elected. 
Pray for their families. 
Pray for the church. 
 Pray. 
 Amen. 

 Prayer poem and photo by Terri C. Pilarski, election of the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan

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