Op-Ed in Union Leader
April 2026
Union Leader — By, Search Committee Chair, Sarah Ambrogi
Write a new chapter for the Episcopal Church in NH
The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire has reached an important milestone: we have opened the application process in the search for our next bishop as Bishop Rob Hirschfeld, our current leader, has announced he is retiring.
While this may sound like an internal church matter, it reflects something much broader -- a moment of reflection about who we are, what we value, and how we serve our communities across the state.
The Episcopal Church here includes approximately 10,000 members across 46 congregations and eight seasonal chapels. But our reach extends well beyond our pews. Our churches are places where people gather for food programs, recovery support, community events, and spiritual care. The leadership we choose will help shape how that work continues and grows.
In a time marked by division and uncertainty, institutions that foster connection and shared purpose matter. This search is an opportunity to strengthen that role -- to ensure that the church continues to serve as a place of welcome, reflection, and engagement in communities across New Hampshire.
Over the past several months, we have engaged in a statewide discernment process, listening to clergy and parishioners from rural towns to Seacoast congregations. Through conversations and a diocesan-wide survey, we asked a simple but important question: what is God calling us to be in this moment?
The result is a diocesan profile that is honest and grounded. It reflects a diocese that is geographically diverse, spiritually resilient, and deeply rooted in relationships. It also acknowledges our challenges and our shared hope for what comes next.
We are seeking a bishop who will walk with us -- someone grounded in prayer and theological depth, who can articulate a clear vision, strengthen unity across diverse congregations, and help cultivate the next generation of leaders. Just as importantly, we are looking for someone who will be present: in our churches, in our communities, and in moments of both joy and crisis.
We invite you to join us as a community of prayer and service, renewing our commitment to the Granite State and seeking new leadership. Please share this profile with others who might want to join us in our ministry and with any ordained Episcopal leader who might serve as bishop.
Nominations and applications for New Hampshire’s 11th Bishop are open through May 11, and the full profile is available on our website at www.nhepiscopalbishoptransition.org.
More than anything, this process is about the future -- not just of one religious institution, but of how we live out our values together in the communities we call home.
--
Sarah Ambrogi is an attorney, serves as a trustee of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, and is currently co-chair of its Bishop Search Committee. She lives in Manchester.