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. Sheila 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.