The Diocese of Easton is in a Season of Leadership Transition
The Discernment Process has begun. The Diocese of Easton is in the First Phase of Discernment: Educating ourselves about dioceses and the Diocese of Easton in particular. Click the green Education Page button below to access the informational video and more information.
Stay Up-To-Date on Our Progress
This is the landing page for all things relating to our Transition and Search. This may include invitations, links, and updates.
Read the Latest Posts:
Discernment Committee Meets 9/16: Sends report to Standing Committee
The Diocese of Easton’s Discernment Committee met on September 16 to review its work over the summer and to provide an interim report to the Standing Committee. The Discernment Committee’s work teams are Prayer, Communications, Data Gathering, and Diocese...
SAVE THE DATE: GATHER, LISTEN, CONNECT!
On behalf of the Diocese of Easton, the Steering Committee invites you to join us as we gather together on Saturday, November 15th at Christ Church, Kent Island from 9:30 am - 3:00 pm to Gather, Listen, Connect. We believe your presence is vital as we faithfully...
THE STANDING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ASSISTING BISHOP
August 15, 2025 The Standing Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rt. Rev’d James J. “Bud” Shand to serve as the Assisting Bishop of our diocese following the retirement of Bishop Santosh Marray, the Eleventh Bishop of Easton, in October of this...
Overview:
Bishop Marray resigned on Otober 18, 2025 and so the Diocese of Easton is now in a leadership transition. In the Episcopal Church, the oversight and responsibility for a bishop search and transition falls to the Standing Committee, which assumes Ecclesiastical Authority until the next beishop is elected (Canon III.11.1 (a)).
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Easton, with the support of the Diocesan Convention (see Resolution 5) formed a Discernment Committee which has been tasked to help the Dicoese determine whether our participation in God’s mission could be strengthened by collaborating or partnering with another nearby diocese, by searching for the XII Bishop of Easton, or by identifying some other way forward.
The Discernment Committee commenced its work in a plenary session at the diocesan convention on March 8, 2025.
Discernment Committee
Timeline:
December 2024: Standing Committee asks for nominations to the Discernment Committee.
January 2025: Standing Committee submits resolution for debate for Diocesan Convention that outlines discernment process for Diocesan support.
February 2025: Standing Committee forms Discernment Committee and announces members; Discernment Committee holds organizational meeting.
March 2025: Standing Committee reports to Diocesan Convention; Discernment Committee facilitates discernment discussion at diocesan convention.
June 2025: Discernment Committee makes interim report to the Standing Committee, recommending an outside consultant be brought in to address discord and division within the diocese. Committee continues gathering data but refrains from engagement while Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves organizes her efforts.
Fall 2025: Gather, Listen, Connect events were held in each convocation to facilitate healing and reconciliation.
February 2026: An additional listening and reconciliation session was held at Diocesan Convention. Reports were given by the Steering Committee working with Bishop Gray-Reeves and the Discernment Committee. As a result Discernment Committee develops a plan to engage parishes and stakeholders.
June 2026 Discernment Committee initiates Phase One of its Discernment Plan: Education. Each parish is asked to conduct a Parish Discernment Information Day between June 14 and September 29. A toolkit has been developed to provide parishes with the instructions and resources to facilitate this session. A Discernment Education webpage has been created.
About:
Composition: The Discernment Committee will consist of no more than six lay people and six clergy who are representative of all three convocations and represent the gender, racial, ethnic, and generational diversity of the Diocese of Easton. The committee will include at least one member of the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council. The committee will be supported by a consultant provided by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s office.
Initial term of service: Diocesan Convention 2025 to Diocesan Convention 2026
Charge: Lead the Diocese of Easton in discerning our diocese’s future mission strategy, including whether our participation in God’s mission could be strengthened by collaborating or partnering with another nearby diocese.
Deliverables:
- Resources to encourage and support the members of the diocese in praying for the diocese’s discernment about its future ministry.
- Development and oversight of a process by which the entire diocese can provide input into our future mission strategy.
- Regular reports to the Standing Committee about the committee’s work.
- A profile of the Diocese of Easton’s history, ministry, challenges and strengths. (This profile will be suitable for assisting the diocese either in beginning conversations with neighboring dioceses or in calling its 12th bishop.)
- Recommendations to the Standing Committee about the diocese’s preferred structure and mission strategy, including, if appropriate, possible next steps for exploring collaboration with nearby dioceses.