We have a new Bishop!

Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,

This past Saturday, at a Special Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, the Rev. Jeffrey Mello was elected to serve as our XVI Bishop Diocesan. You can read more about him and his election here. Elected on the sixth ballot, Bishop Elect Jeff received the support of a majority of the clergy and the laity.

In our prayers on Sunday, we gave thanks for all who had offered themselves as Nominees in this process. And we asked God's blessing on our new Bishop. Every person on the slate would have been a "first" for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut in some way. They were a diverse and wonderful group of people, each offering us different gifts and a different path forward. Bishop Elect Jeff will be the first person who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community to serve as Bishop in this Diocese. I am confident in his gifts, his pastoral presence, and his desire to serve, grow, and work with us. Jeff brings us an authenticity that is palpable, a deep faith in Jesus, a joy in the work of the Gospel, and a desire to work collaboratively that is contagious.

If you didn't watch the election on Sunday, I'd encourage you to click here and just fast forward to 5:30:55. What you'll see is a humble, excited, faithful address from our Bishop Elect to this diocese - to you. I can't wait for you to meet him, for our work together to begin. I am personally excited to work with him and look forward to the day when I can introduce him to you here at St. Matt's. The path ahead is bright for us and for ECCT. We never know where God will lead us, and there is surely work ahead of us. For me, though, there's nothing better than getting to do that work together - one step at a time - joyfully, together, with Jesus.

I give thanks for the faithful leadership of our Bishops, Ian and Laura. For all the ways their ministry and leadership have served us well, enriched our faith, and encouraged us to grow. I hope you'll join me in the next few months in wishing Ian our best as he enters a new phase of life and ministry. And I give thanks that Bishop Laura will stay with us and continue to build up the Body of Christ here in this place. We are richly blessed.

Please continue to pray with me for Jeff as he makes this transition, for the parish he loves and is leaving in Brookline, and for this diocese as we prepare for this historic transition of leadership. If you have questions or want to know more about what's ahead and about the Consecration in October, I hope you'll be in touch! Preparations are already underway for several celebrations, and I'm so privileged to be a part of this work. I'd love to tell you about it and invite you to participate in the ways that you can as time moves forward.

As always, if there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to be in touch. I give thanks for you and for our ministry in this place. And I look forward to what God has in store for us as we begin a new journey with our Bishop Elect. God loves you. And so do I.

Faithfully,

-- Marissa +