Image Description: The stamp for the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. The bottom of the stamp is a orange-yellow shield with a dark blue outline that reads "Estd. 2024" in highly stylized type with two Episcopal-style crosses. On the top of the shield, like it's sailing on it, is the two-sailed ship from the diocesan seal, along with the three stars in the sky. the largest of which represents our new diocese while the two smaller stars represent our two legacy dioceses.
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Image Description: The wordmark for our diocese that reads, "EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE GREAT LAKES." The first four words are in all caps in a simple-yet-wide sans serif font. "Great Lakes" is also in all-caps, but in a highly stylized font that is reminiscent of vintage sign art. The G, L and S all have added flourishes that look like waves. This is the horizontal orientation of the wordmark and it is shown in the warm gray (off-white) brand color.
The image reads: "The First Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes." The word "Bishop" is in the same highly stylized, all-caps serif font that includes flourishes that are reminiscent of illustrations of waves - like waves on the Great Lakes - that is used in the diocese's wordmark. The rest of the text is in an italicized, all caps, sans serif font. The italicization and the shape of the more stylized text give the graphic a feeling of forward motion. Above the "IS" in "Bishop," the illustration of a mitre from our diocesan seal sits.

Transition Committee

A group photo of the Bishop Transition Committee
The Transition Committee for the First Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. // Back row, L to R: David Hawley-Lowry, Becky Bennett, John Wakefield, Bethany Cramer // Front row, L to R: Catherine Cameron-Heldt, Sonia Jacobson, Beckett LeClaire, Laura Rozeboom, Barbara Ilkka // Not pictured: Linda Crane

Transition Committee Members

Catherine Cameron-Heldt, Co-chair
Lay Person, Grace Grand Rapids

Beckett LeClaire, Co-chair
Deacon, AuSable Inclusion Center

John Wakefield, Chaplain
Priest, Epiphany South Haven

Becky Bennett
Lay Person, St. Paul’s Flint

Bethany Cramer
Lay Person, St. John’s Grand Haven

Linda Crane
Deacon, Grace Port Huron

David Hawley-Lowry
Lay Person, Grace Holland

Barbara Ilkka
Lay Person, St. John’s Saginaw

Sonia Jacobson
Lay Person, Grace Traverse City

Laura Rozeboom
Lay Person, Grace Holland

Transition Committee Charge

The Standing Committee gave the following charge to the Bishop Transition Committee:

The transition committee is empowered to:

  • develop and execute plans, for the bishop candidate visits in such a way that facilitates relationship building and authentic, two-way connections between candidates and our diocese,
  • shape and direct the election portion of our electing convention in consultation with the Diocesan Convention Planning Committee, and
  • plan and manage the consecration and related events in consultation with the Bishop-Elect, the Office of the Presiding Bishop, and the Diocesan Liturgy Committee.

To lead a holy and Spirit-led process:

  • Be hospitable. We want our bishop candidates to know that they are beloved and welcome, so that they feel comfortable being their authentic, non-performative selves in what is an extraordinarily vulnerable and public process. 
  • Be authentic. There is no pressure to present an overly-polished and aspirational version of our diocese, our history, our hopes, our quirks, or our gifts. Let’s be ourselves because we are wonderful! 
  • Be detail-oriented. Bishop candidate visits, the  election, the consecration (and other ordination weekend events) take big picture and granular planning and effective project management with clearly assigned roles, tasks, and deadlines.