Dear friends in Christ:

 

Ever since that cold February day in 2008 when you welcomed me with a glorious ordination celebration, it has been a great privilege to serve God with you as your bishop. Now, trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the counsel of those dearest to me, I believe it is time for you to choose someone new to carry this ministry into the future. Accordingly, I am writing today to announce my intent to retire eighteen months from now, in August 2020, and to call for the election of the thirteenth bishop of Chicago.

 

Searching for a new bishop--a process that will be led by the Standing Committee--will take all of that time and perhaps more. The work began last evening, when Bishop Todd Ousley, bishop for pastoral development on Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's staff, met by teleconference with the members of the Standing Committee. You will hear more from them soon about a timetable for the election and transition and the process for forming a bishop search committee.

 

When I reflect on the work we have done together, I am most grateful for our shared success in focusing the work of my staff and the diocese's leaders on congregational vitality. As you have often heard me say, the only excuse for something like a diocese is to foster thriving congregations in local communities using the best data and resources we can muster. Together, through prayer and song and fierce conversations, we have accomplished that cultural shift, and it is bearing fruit across our region. 

 

Together, too, we have made God's love real in the world by making the Peoria Deanery a place of welcome to all of God's children and a witness to the power of resurrection. We have made important progress toward repentance and reconciliation as we have reckoned with the legacy of slavery in our diocese. And we have sought to keep our baptismal promises as we have stood with LGBTQ people, with victims of gun violence, with immigrants and refugees, and with people of all sorts and conditions in need of God's grace and healing. Many of you have devoted years of ministry to these efforts and other essential parts of our common life, and it has been a great joy to share and support what you have brought forth.

 

Although today marks the beginning of my transition to retirement, there is still much work for us to do together. In my remaining time as your bishop, I intend to do all I can to advance the excellent work of the Taskforce on Hispanic/Latino Mission and Ministry Sustainability, to forge a new partnership between the diocese and Episcopal Charities, and to attract energetic, talented clergy who want to join us in fostering vital congregations. Finally, I hope to leave a gift for the future vitality of God's ministry in this place by increasing the diocese's program endowment and supporting the capacity of congregations to raise capital funds.

 

Over and over again during my years as your bishop, we have gathered around the table in places large and small to be sustained by the nourishment of Jesus' body and blood. As we travel together toward the place where our paths will diverge, I will cherish each remaining opportunity to celebrate the sacraments with you and to pray together for a time of transition filled with hope and trust in God's never-failing goodness. 

 

Faithfully,

 

The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee

Bishop of Chicago

 

Read this letter on the website.