June 17, 2025 in Bishop, Bishop messages, News
June: An apology and clarification
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
A Message from Bishop Bryan Penman
I am writing today to apologize and clarify my June Bishop Message which was published on June 16, 2025.
First, I ask your forgiveness for what was an oversight on my part. While I was attempting to raise awareness around the process the ELCA uses to elect bishops, my message instead caused pain and misunderstanding.
Please hear me clearly, I believe the New Jersey Synod raised up by the working of the Holy Spirit two faithful and gifted leaders in the process of their election for Bishop. I, in no way, intended my message to be interpreted as asking Bishop -Elect Compton to step down or out of the election process. Doing so would discredit her own discernment process and the work of the Spirit. I am excited for the ministry she will bring to the Office of Bishop. She was on my short list of people I was hoping would consider the call to serve as Bishop and I am thankful to welcome her as a new colleague. I am profoundly sorry that my message about process led to confusion and pain in what should be the joyous welcome of a new colleague bishop. I also need to confess and apologize that I mis credentialed Bishop-elect Compton. Her PhD is in Education. I am aware now, that commenting on the election of other synods is out of my purview and wish to ask the forgiveness of Bishop-Elect Compton, Pastor Frieberg, Bishop Bartholemew, the people of the New Jersey synod and my fellow bishops.
In preaching, it’s not so much about what you say, as much as it is about what is heard. My June Bishop’s message was heard in a way that was far from the intent I had when writing the message. I continue to lament the fact that we are a church that struggles to raise up leaders from under-represented populations and yearn for a place to have dialogue about what it means to support leaders of all kinds in this church. I do believe the Spirit is at work in the process we use to elect and appoint leaders in our church. I wanted to raise awareness about how bias can come into the process of electing bishops, calling pastors, in appointing, and in our nomination processes.
This is difficult and faithful work, I continue to pray for the Spirit to come and make us the Church that speaks gospel in word and deed for the healing of this very broken world.
Bishop Bryan J. Penman
