Bishop Brian Cole updates the people of the Diocese of East Tennessee on the next steps with regards to the Office of the Canon to the Ordinary as well as plans for an open house celebration for Canon Michelle Bolt on Monday, November 27, from 4:00-6:30 pm. Please join us for this celebration!
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Transcript
Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. Last week, Canon Michelle Bolt shared really important news with the diocese about her decision to step away as the Canon to the Ordinary, where she has served faithfully for five years. She has been a gift to me, to our staff, to our diocese, to the people of East Tennessee.
On Monday, November 27th, at the diocesan house from 4 to 6:30 p.m., we will have an open house. I invite you to come and celebrate her, celebrate the great work she’s done with us as she steps away for a season and just know that you’re invited to be a part of that. So I hope you’ll be able to join us on Monday, November 27th at the Diocesan House from 4 to 6:30 p.m..
I also want to give you an update on what will be next. Archdeacon Jerry Askew has accepted my call to serve as the Interim Canon to the Ordinary. He will start December 1st and he and Michelle are already having conversations about the transition of that work.
Jerry knows our diocese well, particularly our small parishes as well. He’s a trusted face and voice and presence in our diocese, and I’m grateful for him saying yes. He will continue to serve as the Deacon at St John’s Cathedral, but will take on this role as Interim Canon to the Ordinary. This will give us a chance to have a smooth transition as we search for the next Canon to the Ordinary in our diocese.
So, keep Michelle, keep Jerry, keep their families in your prayers as they all embark on this transition, as we all do. I know, again, how grateful I am to serve as your bishop, to serve with a great staff, with great clergy and lay leaders in this diocese. This is a diocese where people show up, show up for each other, show up for ministry, show up for what’s next.
So as we continue to give thanks for Michelle’s great work, I invite you to that open house on the 27th November. So, we give thanks for Jerry Askew saying yes to serve as Interim Canon to the Ordinary. Pray for all the folks who will be a part of what’s next for all of us, those folks who will be discerning a call to serve as our Canon to the Ordinary in the years to come, folks to serve in our parishes, just to know that we continue to raise up people for ministry in this time. So much of the life of church is about saying hello, about saying goodbye, and about helping people put down roots.
So, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the ways in which you are part of this ministry in this season and this chapter in our diocese. Thank you.