The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

Bishop’s Customary for Pastoral Visitation

The regular pastoral visitation of all parishes and worshiping communities of the diocese is among Bishop Mathes’ principal responsibilities. These visitations are his greatest joy.

The pastoral visitation is both business as usual and a special occasion in the life of the congregation. The bishop’s visitation ought not to be “unusual” no matter how infrequent. The central act of every visitation is the preaching of God’s word and the joint celebration of the Holy Eucharist. All other aspects of the visitation are auxiliary and must never be allowed to overshadow this central purpose.

Although Bishop Mathes will continue to do confirmations, receptions, and reaffirmations during visitations, he does not believe these rites are the principal reasons for the visitation. The availability of persons for confirmation or reception need not play any part in the scheduling of the visitation.

Scheduling

Pastoral visitations will be scheduled in such a way as to balance the following priorities:

• length of time since the last pastoral visitation;
• need to schedule episcopal rites: major parish anniversaries, dedications of new buildings, groundbreakings, etc. (Some of these will of necessity be scheduled on days other than Sunday);
• particular pastoral needs of the parish;
• celebration of the feast of title or other significant event in the life of the parish.

The scheduling of visitations may be initiated by the rector or vicar, or by the bishop’s office. As a general rule, Bishop Mathes does not return to a parish for a regular pastoral visitation until all other parishes have been visited.

In order to facilitate planning, the visitation schedule is created in fifteen to eighteen month increments. You may request upcoming dates, but normally we will not make final commitments more than six months in advance. Even with great care given to the bishop’s visitation schedule, there will still be some need for flexibility. There will be parish emergencies, personal illness, travel delays, and a host of other things that may require last minute rescheduling. It is my commitment that such changes will be kept to a minimum, but from time to time they will occur.

Before Visitation

Please make an appointment four to six weeks before the bishop’s visitation. Have a rough draft of the liturgies prepared as well as other outlines of events scheduled. In addition, please review the checklist below. If you wish, you can bring these records to our pre-visitation meeting for the bishop’s review.

The Day of the Visit

Bishop Mathes will arrive no less than 30 minutes before the first service or activity. 

In many of our parishes it is necessary to have multiple services in order to accommodate a growing congregation. In these cases we will have as many services as necessary. Where space is available to merge the morning liturgies into one, that is the bishop’s preference. An occasional opportunity to merge the whole parish together is good, and there is perhaps no better time than the bishop’s visitation. This also means there is more time to be flexible with adult forums, meetings with youth and children, spending time with the vestry, etc. If you are not able to merge services, Bishop Mathes will preach and celebrate at all Sunday morning liturgies. He makes every effort to include Saturday liturgies as well, but these can create special scheduling challenges.

The bishop is happy to meet with any configuration of parishioners during the education hour. For example, an open forum where we can engage in a discussion or presentation on a topic agreed to in advance. You may also simply use the time to enjoy fellowship with members of the parish.

Bishop Mathes expects to meet briefly with members of the vestry.

The bishop will stay through the coffee hour/reception after the final liturgy. In most cases the bishop can stay for lunch with the clergy, wardens and vestry, or any other combination of individuals deemed helpful.

The Liturgy of the Day

All visitations will be celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

When there are no baptisms, confirmations, or receptions, the liturgy on the day of the bishop’s visitation should include the renewal of baptismal vows. This should be substituted for the Nicene Creed at all services, even those that are otherwise Rite I. 

The Proper of the Day will be used, even when initiation rites are to take place, and normally the liturgical color will be that of the day. Any departure from this should be discussed before the day of the visitation.

Bishop Mathes needs to be informed whether the parish is using the lectionary of the Prayer Book or the Revised Common Lectionary.

If there is a children’s sermon, Bishop Mathes will prepare a children’s message as well. If this is not your regular practice please provide an opportunity for the children to connect with the bishop. Please alert him to this custom. In addition, Bishop Mathes is always happy to spend time with the children in the parish in other contexts.

Bishop Mathes is always pleased to sing as much of the liturgy as desired. He prefers simple tone.

To emphasize his pastoral relationship, the bishop will normally wear the vestments of the parish. He brings a plain alb, mitre, and pastoral staff. He wears the chasuble for the entire liturgy. He will not wear a cope except when it is appropriate for non-eucharistic liturgies, or on those rare occasions when he will be present for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist but not the principal celebrant.

Because every liturgical space has it own challenges, he will generally preside from the place/chair from which it is normally done. He prefers to stand for confirmations and receptions, so the bishop’s chair need not be front and center except in unusual circumstances.

If the parish has a deacon, he or she should be prepared to assist the bishop. The details will vary, but will normally include such things as:

• holding the Prayer Book so that the bishop’s hands are free for liturgical gestures;
• holding the mitre during prayers;
• holding the pastoral staff when not in procession;
• assisting with chrism at baptisms;

In the absence of a deacon, these duties may be performed by a senior acolyte or assisting lay minister. Except under unusual circumstances these duties are not to be performed by presbyters.

It may be possible for Canon Holding or Canon Smith to join the bishop. If you would prefer that they assist him or assist in the liturgy in another role, please let him know. 

The rector, vicar, or priest-in-charge should make the necessary parish announcements. While it is always pleasant to be greeted, I would ask that you not welcome me as a newcomer.  Such language tends to diminish my role as chief pastor.

It is important to remind the congregation that the undesignated offering goes to the bishop’s discretionary fund for support of emergencies and non-budgeted ministries that arise in the course of the year.

Bishop Mathes will resume the presidency of the liturgy with the offertory sentence.

When There are Baptisms

The pastoral visitation of the bishop is one of the principal times for baptism and every effort should be made to make the visitation a baptismal feast, in contrast to an occasion for confirmation and reception.

Please notify Bishop Mathes in advance if chrism is required. Otherwise, he will anticipate an adequate supply. Please have the chrism in an open dish or bowl suitable for a public liturgy.

 Confirmation, Reception, Reaffirmation

The question of who should be confirmed, received, and reaffirmed is not as complicated as it once was. Changes made in the canons with respect to church membership by the General Convention of 1985, and refined in 1988, have made this fairly simple in practical application: 

• confirmation is for children who were baptized in the Episcopal Church or who came to this church with their families before making a mature commitment;
• confirmation is also appropriate for those of any age who are making a mature commitment for the first time;
• reception is for those who have previously made a mature commitment in any other Christian church, regardless of the pedigree of the minister. The previous practice of receiving Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and confirming everyone else, no longer applies. The requirement of Called to Common Mission, that we receive ELCA Lutherans and not confirm them, is not an exception to the canonical position, but is consistent with it.

Since the canons require that all persons come “under the hands” of the bishop, persons who are received are, for canonical purposes, understood to be confirmed.

When there is to be confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation at a parish visitation, candidates may come in the most convenient order. Nametags are preferable to cards to identify the names of candidates.

Chrism is not used for confirmation. In the New Testament, anointing is associated with baptism. In the Prayer Book, the use of chrism occurs only in the baptismal liturgy, while the laying on of hands is associated with confirmation.

After the Visitation

Please return the confirmation record signed by the clergy to the Office of the Bishop. In addition, please send contributions to the Bishop’s Fund.