On December 4, 2014, on the eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas of Myra, the nominating and election committee met and tabulated the ballots returned by the professed members of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. After tallying the vote and contacting the leading candidate, we are pleased to announce that Sister Susan “Shoshanah” Kay was elected in the first round and has agreed to serve as the Minister General of OEF. In addition, as she promised in her election discernment statement, she has appointed Br. John “Juniper” Robertson to serve as the Co-Minister of OEF for the same term.
The Ministers-Elect joined the Servant Team meeting on December 14th, which began at 8:00 PM Eastern Standard time. They have assumed responsibility for moderating the team meetings from January onward. There will be a rite of installation for the Ministers during worship at the 2015 Chapter/Convocation in St. Louis, celebrating in prayer and song what the Holy Spirit has done among us.
Please hold the new Ministers in prayer, that God would grant them the energy to fulfill their office and the commitment to serve the whole order in love.
Please continue to hold the team in prayer, when we meet and throughout the week, that we would be guided into doing God’s will and serving the order with compassion and love. May the Holy Spirit remain ever at our side as a community as we discern together how we are called to serve in the world.
Many thanks to Sr. Lorraine DiDio, Sr. Markie Oliver and Br. Ron Nuss-Warren for their willingness to serve and for providing the order with many excellent choices in this election. Many thanks to Sr. Dale Carmen, who has served as the interim MG during our time of transition.
Many thanks to the brothers and sisters who took the time to nominate, pray, discern, ponder and vote. Many thanks to God for carrying along this little community of Franciscans as we follow Jesus.
