Tribute to Bishop Croneberger at his last Diocesan Convention

By Michael Francaviglia
Administrator of the Diocese of Newark, Secretary of Convention, and St. George's parishioner
Given at the Diocese of Newark Annual Convention

Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, so that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. (Isaiah 30:8)

Good afternoon.

I have been privileged to share in the ministry of Bishop Croneberger and to serve as a member of the staff. His light-heartedness, sense of humor and dedication to ministry have made the years pass by so quickly. Besides being your Diocesan Administrator and Secretary of Convention, I have also been a witness to some marvelous things accomplished under his leadership; a leadership that began at the dawn of a new century. Not many employees these days can say with candor that they will miss his or her departing boss. But Jack is an exception, because he has been exceptional. I'd like to share just a little of that with you.

Just about seven years ago to the day, on a Saturday in January 2000, Bishop Croneberger delivered his first State of the Diocese address. It was on the afternoon of his investiture when he took full responsibility as the diocesan bishop and the call to lead. His episcopacy was just beginning. He used the address to set forth his ideas and outlook for ministry within the diocese. He spoke about leadership and specifically the leadership arts described by one of his favorite authors, Leonard Sweet, in his book Aqua Church: Essential Leadership Arts for Piloting Your Church in Today's Fluid Culture. This book and the bishop spoke about the need for team work and collaboration, the necessity of risk taking, the shaking up of the status quo (or Vibrations as Sweet would write), and of course having a Vision. It was another writer, Joel Arthur Barker, that the bishop would sometimes quote with "Vision without action is merely a dream; action without vision just passes the time; but vision with action can change the world." He wanted us to see things differently. And surely he has and, in so doing, left his mark on us all.

Bishop Croneberger recognized and understood that the world around us was changing, locally and globally and wanted us to take action. That the responses had to be bold and had to make the church and our mission relevant to the lives of us all. That the effort had to be collaborative and partnered with risk taking, vibrations and visions. And it had to include absolutely everyone, "youth, seniors, baby-boomers, GenXers, gay/lesbian, straight, persons of color, differently challenged, traditional and cutting edge liturgists, urban, suburban and rural residents, conservatives and liberals, ordained and lay" into a process to envision a future for our diocese. And, so it began.

It wasn't much later that some of you were called together to participate on a design team to fashion a process to inquire into what's best in our diocese, what is the work of our diocese and how do we envision what our future together could be. After several months of study, it was decided that the start of the 21st century would have the Diocese of Newark gather for a two-day visioning convocation. In preparation for the event, many more of you participated in vestry gatherings, committee meetings and district sessions to answer such questions as "What have we done to create changes in our congregations and our communities? What were the outcomes? What happened afterwards? What supported the power and life-giving character of this experience? All of this work was done in the context of our baptismal covenant and it formed the structure of the convocation. As you know he takes seriously our baptismal covenant; it is at the core of his values.

Do you remember learning about the assumptions of appreciative inquiry during our visioning process? For instance, it is important to value differences. Or, in every society, organization or group, something works. Or, people have more confidence and comfort to journey to the future (the unknown) when they carry forward parts of the past (the known). You may or may not recall them, but I think they have quietly been imbued into the fabric of our diocese as we have come to appreciate and value the gifts of each other.

We are in a much different place today after these seven years than we were in 2000. Some of his initiatives were met with uneasiness -- district confirmations -- is one such that comes to my mind. (Little too much risk taking there, Buddy?) Several others were embraced for enriching our corporate lives in ministry -- increasing involvement of deacons, strengthening the operation of Cross Roads Outdoor Ministry, encouraging clergy collegiality, and sharing his episcopacy with assistant bishops.

Others were exciting because they presented opportunities for positive and effective long range change. Having the vision, willing to take the risk but knowing there would be vibrations, he was unafraid to be bold. He challenged the Diocesan Council to take on its canonical responsibilities (dare I use a sports metaphor, "to step up to the plate") and it has done so admirably. He urged congregations to become vibrant, life-giving faith communities that proclaim the Gospel in their own unique manner. Today there are many places expanding their capacity for ministry and feeling the vibrations of change. Knowing the value of resourcing, he established the Congregational Growth and Development Fund in partnership with the Trustees.

These I have witnessed. I have marveled at the ability of this gentle, patient and humble man to know what he wanted to do, make decisions that weren't always pleasant, work diligently daily, and find creative and different ways to accomplish the changes and to make them acceptable.

We still may not know what will result from the changes he introduced. We may even forget his role in initiating some of them. But we all will in some way and in some measure be affected, and I think touched all for the good. We are blessed. I am lucky and thankful to have witnessed Bishop Croneberger work his ministry. I wish him and Marilyn well and the best in their future, as do all the other members of the Episcopal House staff.

Godspeed, Bishop Croneberger. How can we thank God enough for you?

Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, so that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.

© 2007 Michael Francaviglia