Bishop Search & Transition Prayer
Listening Sessions - January 2026
Listening Sessions are a vital part of the Bishop Search discernment process. The Bishop Search Committee warmly invites and encourages every member of our diocesan family to participate, either in person or online. What they learn from these sessions, along with the responses to the online survey early in the new year, will shape the diocesan profile.
The following Listening Sessions are open to both lay and clergy, except for the two clergy-only sessions:
● Wednesday, January 7 at 6:00 pm- St. Paul’s, Concord
● Thursday, January 8 at 7:30 pm- St. Matthew’s, Goffstown and Online via Zoom
● Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 pm- All Saints, Wolfeboro
● Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 pm- St. John’s, Walpole
● Monday, January 12 at 6:30 pm- St. John’s, Portsmouth
● Wednesday, January 14 at 6pm- Online via Zoom
● Thursday, January 15 at 10:00 am- Clergy Only Session at St. Andrew’s, Hopkinton
● Thursday, January 15 at 7:00 pm- Clergy Only Session via Zoom
● Sunday, January 18 at 1:30 pm St. Paul’s, Lancaster and Online via Zoom
Listening is holy work. In these sessions, we will engage in holy listening, creating space for your voices, hopes, questions, dreams, and prayers for the future of our diocese. Members of the Search Committee will facilitate and listen deeply to all who attend.
The questions we will be reflecting on together in our sessions are:
What experiences in your parish do you value most? How have you changed as a result of these experiences? How has the diocese supported or enhanced these experiences? What else might be helpful from them?
What message or example does our diocese offer the world today?
What is our greatest opportunity as a diocese? Who is God calling us to become?
Given everything you shared and reflected on, what qualities are most important in a bishop at this time in our life as a diocese?
We urge you to come and share. Whether you are a long-time parishioner, a new member, or someone who feels on the margins, your voice matters!
For questions about the Listening Sessions, please email the Search Committee at ECNHsearch@gmail.com.
Bishop Hirschfeld’s Intent to Retire
Bishop Rob Hirschfeld has announced plans to retire in March of 2027. He has called for the Diocese of New Hampshire to begin the process of electing a new bishop. Hirschfeld has served as the 10th Bishop of New Hampshire since his consecration in 2012. To read his announcement, click here.
Seeking the Next Bishop
Three main committees are responsible for the election of the next bishop—the Standing Committee, the Search Committee, and the Transition Committee. Below are their roles and responsibilities.
Committee Appointments
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee is responsible for the process of searching for, electing, and consecrating a new bishop. The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire is committed to ensuring a fair, hopeful, holy, and Spirit-led process for calling the 11th Bishop of New Hampshire. They become the ecclesiastical authority in a situation where there is no bishop in place.
Search & Nomination Committee
The Search & Nomination Committee seeks and presents a slate of candidates to the Standing Committee within parameters (size, deadline) outlined in the official “Charge to the Search Committee.” The Search & Nomination Committee’s work is grounded in discernment, prayerfulness, and confidentiality through consensus. These members include:
Chairs
Ms. Sarah Ambrogi, Lay Co-chair, St. Matthew’s, Goffstown
The Rev. Kate Atkinson, Clergy Co-chair, retired
Lay
Mr. Seth Bonvouloir, Grace Church, Manchester
Ms. Corinne Brooks, St. Thomas, Hanover
Ms. Kathryn Dodge, All Saints, Peterborough
Mr. James McKim, St. Matthew’s, Goffstown
Ms. Margaret Mulley, St. Thomas, Hanover
Mr. Richard Ingram, Christ Church, Exeter
Clergy
The Rev. Kathy Boss, Church of the Good Shepherd, Nashua
The Rev. Tim Brooks, St. Paul’s, Lancaster
The Rev. Celeste Hemingson, St. Andrew’s, Hopkinton
The Rev. Aaron Jenkyn, St. John’s, Portsmouth
The Rev. Kate Harmon Siberine, SpiritBound Faith Digital Mission
The Rev. Deacon Shawn LaFrance, Grace Church, East Concord
The Rev. Robin Soller, St. Andrew’s-in-the-Valley, Tamworth
The Rev. Kit Wang, St. John’s, Sanbornville
Election & Transition Committee
The Election & Transition Committee welcomes and hosts candidates to the diocese, providing opportunities for shared common discernment and learning, celebrating the resigning bishop diocesan, and organizing an electing convention and the ordination weekend events. This committee conducts much of the planning before the candidate slate is announced, at which stage it takes over from the Search & Nomination Committee. These members include:
Chairs
The Rev. Michele Bonner, Clergy Co-chair, Christ Church, Portsmouth
Mr. Michael Jewer, Lay Co-chair, St. Christopher’s, Hampstead
Lay
Ms. Kathryn Gray, St. Paul’s, Concord
Ms. Sheelagh Higginson, All Saints, Littleton
Mr. Mike Mortensen, Trinity, Meredith
Clergy
The Rev. Teresa Gocha, Church of the Messiah, North Woodstock
The Rev. Stephen Rugg, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Ashland
Chaplain to the Committees
The Rt. Rev. Dorsey McConnell (retired)
Consultant to the Process
The Rev. Timothy Hodapp, Diocese of Connecticut
Proposed Timeline for Search and Transition
To print the timeline, click here.
2025
September
Bishop Rob Hirschfeld announces resignation
Standing Committee opens applications and nominations for Search and Transition Committees
Mid-October
Standing Committee announces Search and Transition Committees, chairs, and chaplain
November 8
Leadership Retreat for Standing, Search, and Transition Committees, Consultant and Chaplain
2026
January-March
Profile and application development, discernment process development
March
Diocesan Profile published, application period opens (about 1 month)
April
Application period ends
April-August
Applicant/Nominee discernment by Search Committee, background and ministry checks
Discernment Retreat with semi-finalists and Search Committee
Transition Committee and Convention Planning Committee plan for Electing Convention
Transition Committee prepares introduction of slate to diocese, plans Meet and Greets
August
Search Committee submits slate to Standing Committee
Standing Committee announces slate, petition period opens
Petition period ends
September
Standing Committee announces final slate
September or October
Nominees visit the diocese as participants in Meet and Greets
October 23-24, 224th Diocesan Convention and Electing Convention
Consent period begins
2027
March 6, Ordination of the 11th Bishop of New Hampshire
Our Prayer
Almighty and ever gracious God. We thank you for the loving, wise and generous ministry of our Bishop, Rob. We ask your blessing upon him and his family as they move through this time of transition. We ask your blessing on all the clergy and people of the Diocese of New Hampshire as we discern together to call the next Bishop of New Hampshire. Guide us in wisdom, patience and love as we seek your will for us and for the leader you will send to be our shepherd. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.