A Letter from Canon John Johanssen
Dear Bishop Smith, Bishop-elect White, and Colleagues,
I write to share with you that my interim position as canon to the ordinary will be coming to an end in March, when I will be returning to retirement. The specific date will be determined after the ordination of Bishop-elect White as she chooses her new canon to the ordinary. Until then, I am happy to continue to support her transition as may be helpful.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve as canon to the ordinary during the last four years of transition, from Bishop Briedenthal to Bishop-elect White. The opportunity to serve Bishop Price, Bishop Smith, the diocesan staff and leadership, and the congregations throughout the diocese has been immensely rewarding.
Please accept my deepest gratitude for your support of my ministry among you, and please know that you are in my prayers as we continue to serve our Lord through the work of this diocese.
Blessings,
John
A Letter from Bishop-elect Kristin White
Dear People of Southern Ohio,
I am grateful to the Rev. Canon John Johanssen for his ministry through the past four years as canon to the ordinary. When he returns to retirement this spring, Canon Johanssen’s season in this role will have spanned the leadership of multiple bishops. I give thanks for his willingness to serve God and the people of this diocese throughout this time of transition. Canon Johanssen has been particularly helpful to me as I have come into this role by sharing the context and history of this diocese and helping me to connect with you. He has shown steadfast care, skill, and commitment to the work of the church in the midst of change.
Please join me in giving thanks to Canon Johanssen for his service to God and the people of southern Ohio. Later this spring we will celebrate with him as he retires from full-time ministry. We won’t say goodbye for good, though, because Canon Johanssen has graciously agreed to serve in a consulting role as needed. I am grateful for his willingness to support the diocese again, in a new way. Please pray for John and for his wife, Pam, and for their family through this season.
In the coming weeks, we will begin the search for a new canon to the ordinary. In addition to serving as chief of staff and advisor to me, the new canon to the ordinary will play a particularly important role as we discern and develop a shared diocesan mission and begin to align our ministries to bring that mission into being. Canon Michael Spencer will serve as the contact person for this important search.
I am grateful as well to the team at Canticle Communications for their work with the Diocese of Southern Ohio during the past two years. In early 2022, Bishop Smith asked Canticle Communications to fill the role of communications director on an interim basis and respond to the needs raised in a communications audit conducted by Vehr Communications in mid-2021. Bishop Smith made this decision in order to leave the job of communications director open for the new bishop to fill.
Since then, Canticle has been working in partnership with Julie Murray, our canon for communications. Together they have developed a new diocesan website, a new format for the diocesan magazine and new tools for reporting on diocesan news and sharing stories from congregations. Canticle will continue with us until at least the end of February, or longer if we need more time for our search for a new communications director. I am grateful to the Canticle team for their work on diocesan communications and the particular needs of the episcopal search process, and now, in preparing for the ordination and consecration. I am grateful to Julie as well, and give thanks that she will continue in her role on diocesan staff.
I have engaged search consultants from Ministry Architects to work with diocesan leaders, stakeholders, and staff to develop a job description for director of communications that fits our needs as a diocese. Ministry Architects will also facilitate the search process.
These two staff transitions—canon to the ordinary and director of communications—have always been envisioned as part of the transition to a new episcopacy. I have worked in consultation with Bishop Smith throughout this process, and I continue to be grateful for his wise counsel.
We are blessed with good work that God has given us to do, here in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. I give thanks for all of the staff and leaders and people who comprise the Body of Christ that is the Church, and for the real blessing that it is to serve here with you.
In Christ,
The Rev. Canon Kristin Uffelman White
Bishop-elect
