Good News with Bishop Carrie Schofield-Broadbent

In this inaugural episode of the second season of Good News, hosts Deacons Jon Shematek and Lauren Welch sit down with the Right Reverend Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, the fifteenth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and the first woman to hold that role. Bishop Carrie shares highlights of her first year as bishop, including the privilege of ordaining others, and the joy of hearing transformative stories from congregants across the diocese. She discusses the importance of inclusion, intentionality in leadership, and how the Episcopal Church nurtures real conversations across differences. The episode concludes with reflections on her recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land and her hopes for the church's future, emphasizing the mission to follow Jesus and embody values that welcome and respect all individuals.

00:00 Introduction to Bishop Carrie Schofield-Broadbent

00:51 Bishop Carrie's Journey and Election

01:28 High Points and Joys of Ministry

04:32 Challenges and Surprises in the Role

05:28 Future of the Episcopal Church

08:32 Inclusivity and Welcoming in the Church

11:47 Impact of Women in Ministry

15:02 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

19:04 Final Thoughts and Farewell

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland: https://episcopalmaryland.org/

Bishop Carrie's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.schofieldbroadbent

ListeningforClues website: https://listeningforclues.com/

About Bishop Carrie: The Rt. Rev. Carrie K. Schofield-Broadbent was elected on March 25, 2023, as bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. She was ordained and consecrated on September 16, 2023, at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, with Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves as the Chief Consecrator.

Bishop Carrie came from the Diocese of Central New York. She worked as the youth minister at St James’, Skaneateles, as a conflict resolution trainer and consultant in educational settings until she entered Virginia Theological Seminary. After graduating in 2003, Bishop Carrie served in three small parishes, St. Paul’s, Syracuse, and then as the rector of St. Matthew’s, Liverpool for ten years. In 2017 she became a canon on diocesan staff serving in transition ministry and congregational development. She has served as a as a conflict resolution consultant for churches and a trainer in the College for Congregational Development.

Deeply committed to honoring the dignity of every human being, Bishop Carrie consistently attends to her own work around race, climate change, economic justice, and full inclusion of LGBTQAI+ persons and is committed to helping the Church grow in these areas. She identifies her own core values of ministry as: trust and relationships, truth and transparency, and compassion and faithfulness.

Bishop Carrie and her husband, Keith have two young adult children, Will and Kate. They have two dogs and enjoy traveling, camping, kayaking, and hiking together. Her hobbies include making pottery in a community studio, reading, growing houseplants, antique/thrifting and practicing yoga.

© 2025 Listening for Clues

Episode Transcript

Dolores (00:00):
Let's meet the Right Reverend Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, the

(00:03):
fifteenth Bishop of the EpiscopalDiocese of Maryland, and the
first woman to serve in that role.
With Bishop Carrie today is our GoodNews team, Deacons Jon Shematek and
Lauren Welch as we launch our very firstepisode in our second season of Good News!
All about people making adifference in the world.

Jon Shematek (00:22):
Bishop We're so thrilled that you're here with us
today We've been really lookingforward to having a conversation
with you and are absolutely grateful
We know that you are really busy anddoing so many things and just that
you're taking this time, for us toget to, know you and talk with you
a little bit, is a wonderful thing
so thanks.
It's just great that you're here.

Bishop Carrie (00:42):
Well, I am honored to be here and I always love spending time
with you what a privilege it is to behere to kick off your second season.
Congratulations on that.

Jon Shematek (00:53):
..............March
of 2023.
Lauren and I were sitting at St.
John's Episcopal Church inEllicott City voting for our
next bishop, Bishop Coadjutor,
And that was you, and that's when thiswhole idea for this series was born.
you were elected as BishopCoadjutor in March of -23.
You were consecrated and ordainedas a bishop in the Episcopal

(01:15):
Church in September of 2023.
And since April of 2024,you have been the bishop.
Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland.
So, how's it going?

Bishop Carrie (01:30):
I love this call.
I did not know how much I would love it.
I went in thinking that this job wouldprobably be about 60 percent awesome
and about 40 percent really hard.
And, um, I think we'recoming in at about 95.
5 right now.

(01:51):
I didn't know I could hope for that.
I'm glad that I'm called to beBishop in the Diocese of Maryland.
This feels like a really good fit.
so I'm glad that I'm becoming a bishophere with people who are open and
curious and understanding and forgiving,authentic and able to tell the truth.

Jon Shematek (02:13):
Yeah, that's great, Bishop.
in thinking about your Episcopate,over this last almost a year.
That you've been the diocesan bishop, havethere been, any particular high points
for you I think you have a lot of momentsof utter joy just from knowing you a
bit, but can you identify any particularhigh points in your ministry so far?

Bishop Carrie (02:35):
I've been very moved every time I've been
able to ordain other people.
that is just a thrill and an honor.
definitely high points.
Such a privilege to be able to do that.
the more quiet high points have beenwhen I'm able to hear stories from people

(02:55):
that talk about how God is transformingtheir lives through their congregation.
I can tell one specific story about that.
I was at Christmas Eve.
at the cathedral early, watchingeverybody get ready for the pageant.
there was so much excitement and, amom pulled me aside and said, there's
something that I want you to know.

(03:16):
I want you to know that every nightwhen my head hits the pillow, I give
thanks to God for this church community.
I can't tell you the ways that it is.
shaping my life and the life of my family.
And so to hear stories from peopleabout how God is working in their
lives through their congregation, it'sa quieter, more subtle high point for

(03:39):
me, but it, oh, it's so beautiful.
And that's happening across thediocese, not just at our cathedral.

Jon Shematek (03:47):
Yeah, but Bishop, you invite that.
I recall even in the videos whenyou were a nominee, ever since
you've been true to this, is thevalue that you place on listening.
And I think that people, when they seeyou think, wow, she's a bishop and she's
our first female diocesan, which is great.
but there are, and I should say not but,and they see someone who is compassionate.

(04:10):
And will listen and ispastoral to, to all of us.
So, that's one of the gifts you bringto the church and to the diocese.

Lauren Welch (04:18):
Thank you.
I would add in one who is always joyful.
I've always anytime I have seenyou or and all of the pictures
on Facebook, there's just so muchjoy that surrounds your presence.
Has there been any surprises?
In your experience so far

Bishop Carrie (04:41):
I think in general, I'm consistently surprised by how
ready and willing the Diocese ofMaryland is to love their bishop.
I thought that I would have to hustlefor my self worth or hustle for
belonging here and I've never felt that.

(05:02):
people were just ready to receivethe new bishop, with open arms
and that's felt really beautiful.

Lauren Welch (05:12):
That's wonderful.
And I think, again, as Jon said, youinvite that kind of relationship, and I
know that relationship is important toyou, and you invite people to want to have
a relationship with you, so thank you.
what do you think thefuture of our church is?

Bishop Carrie (05:34):
I am very hopeful.
about the future of our church.
if I'm listening to what I'm hearingacross the diocese, our churches are
growing, average Sunday attendancenumbers don't always show that
because our most, faithful and regularattenders, it used to be that they

(05:54):
were there every single Sunday and nowchurch attendance is just different.
People may come every otherSunday or maybe once a month
because They're balancing allthat life is throwing at them.
but I hear consistently across thediocese that our churches are welcoming
new people, and they're staying.
The Episcopal Church, I think, isespecially well suited for this time, and

(06:19):
I know I'm completely biased, but I'lljust speak, you know, as an Episcopalian.
we know how to hold the middle road, andacross our diocese, Our congregations
know how to have deep, real relationshipsand conversations across differences

(06:39):
and divides in ways that, are nothappening in other spaces in the country.
I hear this lament from people,online and throughout society.
Where are these places that peoplecan go to have Real conversations with
people who have different opinions.
where can we go where conversationsare civil and people know how to get

(07:01):
along places where those things canhappen, I think, are an endangered
species and our Episcopal Church isholding those spaces really well.
so Bishop Carrie, would you say that?
There's some real intentionality aboutthat, in terms of, it's not just something

(07:22):
that is spontaneously happening, but it'sthat it's being kind of nurtured because
it seems to me that there's so much,you know, we use the word polarization.

Jon Shematek (07:33):
the question really does come up is, to what extent do
you see this as part of our call to befollowers of Jesus and the Jesus way?

Bishop Carrie (07:43):
I think it's absolutely rooted in our call to follow Jesus to
make sure that relationships are at thecenter and that we're looking to the
margins and making sure that people feelwelcome and included and that they belong.
I think it's part of our.
Cultural heritage as Episcopalians,one of the good parts of our cultural

(08:04):
heritage, it's, one of the ways we liveout our core values, and there are some
congregations that are noticing thatand living into that intentionally.
But I think because it's woveninto the fabric of who we are.
we sometimes live that outwithout intentionality as well.

Jon Shematek (08:23):
I'm reminded of many church signs Episcopal churches say
the Episcopal church welcomes you.
people have that in different ways,the banners they put up, and so on.
there will be some non Episcopaliansand non Christians who will
be listening or watching this.
it's a wonderful message You are socommitted to, people at the margins the

(08:46):
economically disadvantaged and victimsof racism and gender issues and LGBTQIA
plus, communities, which I know youare absolutely committed to personally.
And for the church.

Bishop Carrie (09:02):
Absolutely.
it is a source of such joy for me that theEpiscopal Church can offer a warm welcome,
to people who have been hurt by otherexpressions of Christianity, that our
congregations are safe places for people.
I think sometimes in our effortsto be inclusive there's a shadow

(09:26):
side that I've seen, sometimes,
We've run into churches that takethis all are welcome message and they
shift it unintentionally to say thatAll behaviors are welcome in church.
all people are welcome in church, but notall behaviors I've seen some congregations

(09:49):
throughout my career, lack the spineto stand up to bullies or to people who
are, not making the church a safe place.
I'm beginning to see a shift in ourchurches to, some more backbone to say all
people are welcome, but not all behaviors.
Are welcome in our church.
I have a sign in my office.

(10:10):
I can't, I can't see it fromhere, but it says all y'all are
welcome, but you got to act right.
I think that's, part of being Awelcoming, open, affirming church
we need to make sure our behaviorsare in line with our values

Jon Shematek (10:25):
That is such a profound statement because I'm reminded about
over the centuries how the scriptureshave been misused and how the church has
been misused to hurt people, as you said.
So this is.
Great to know that we stand upfor not that, but for people to
actually be like Christ to everyone.

Bishop Carrie (10:47):
which is easy to say but not always easy to do

Jon Shematek (10:50):
It's the lifelong task

Bishop Carrie (10:53):
it's a good task

Lauren Welch (10:56):
Lifelong is good task, but to follow Jesus It's just not something
that we have to intentionally do thatIt's not something that necessarily
comes, normal or, easy for all of us.
So to be intentional, I think that'swhat you're talking about, right?

Bishop Carrie (11:14):
Absolutely.
And it's counter cultural.
To follow Jesus, to rely and lean intocommunity instead of being, self reliant
and self focused, to think about the goodof the whole instead of self interest.
That's not a message we hearin wider society as much.

Jon Shematek (11:33):
I think you've really given us some good, insights into,
dealing with, polarization and so on.
And I think so much of it does goback to, respecting the dignity
of every human being, which ourbaptismal covenant calls us to do.

Lauren Welch (11:47):
Bishop Carrie,
since you are the first woman who hasbeen elected as our Diocesan Bishop,
how has the ordination of womeninfluenced you and your ministry?

Bishop Carrie (12:01):
Yeah, thank you.
So, I was born in 1974.
Which is the year, when, women werefirst ordained in the Episcopal Church.
granted in my early years Iwasn't really tracking on that.
my, my family, all grew upCatholic, Roman Catholic.
And when my parents had girls they decidedit was time to find another church, and

(12:26):
found a home in the Episcopal Church.
they, they even, even then werechafing against, you know, the,
the local parish's custom that thegirls couldn't be on the altar, and
they didn't see women in leadership.
They switched to the Episcopal Church,which, liturgically they found very
comfortable like home, and they founda beautiful, Christian community in

(12:47):
our little town and our little church,and their best friends were there.
five years after I was ordained,my mother was ordained as a priest.
I always remember seeing women priests,even though our parish priest was a man.
we had supply priests that were women.
as soon as I got involved inthe wider church and youth

(13:08):
ministry, there was women priests.
you know, I'd go to convention and I'd seewomen priests get up to the microphone.
representation can't be underestimatedto be, we're incarnational people.
And for me to be able to see ministry.
Embodied by people who, looked moresimilar to me was really important.

(13:30):
a pivotal time in my call was whenI served, in the official youth
presence at a general convention.
in the late 90s in Phoenix, Arizona.
I remember looking aroundand seeing people in collars.
Of all sorts I thought, maybethis is something I could do.
Maybe this is a profession thatI could see myself and maybe

(13:52):
this is a call I could follow.
that's been really important.
I want to say a word about, womenmentors who have, walked with me in so
many ways on this journey we cautionone another, we lift one another
up, we listen to one another having.
Women, colleagues, mentors, supportsin ministry has made me the leader.

(14:15):
I am today.

Lauren Welch (14:21):
think that having, and having you, as our 1st, Bishop who, who
is a woman has, has brought life to thechurch in a way that wasn't there before.
I see a lot of energy, in, in our, inour churches that, and it's different.

(14:43):
It's just.
there is, there is a difference.
I think people are excited, abouthaving someone, who, looks like them.
the little girls, I mean, it's makinga big difference in their lives.
I know that I'm reallygrateful for your ministry.

Bishop Carrie (15:00):
Thank you.
Thank you, Lauren.
That means a lot to me.

Lauren Welch (15:04):
you are just back from the Holy Land.
I love the pictures.
It was wonderful.
I felt like I was over there.
So tell us about your experience.

Bishop Carrie (15:17):
thank you.
I'm glad you enjoyed the post.
That was my hope is that I could kindof bring people along, along with me.
I think there's a sometimes I feelthere's a bit of a risk on social
media I don't want my posts to ever.
Show like, oh, look what I get to do,but it's an experience I don't want
to keep to myself it was an incredibleprivilege to be able to travel and

(15:42):
go on pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
what a trying and wild time it is there.
are people are really suffering.
Before I went, I definitelyunderstood, the economic impact of
not having pilgrims in the Holy Land.

(16:02):
But I underestimated what a spiritualgift so many people have there for
sharing their land and their storiesand their faith and their experiences.
people seemed hungry to tell the story

(16:23):
and to share it.
and in that way, it felt very good to bethere, to be able to receive those gifts.
we had so many incredibleopportunities and we just felt
so richly blessed by all of this.
people kept thanking us for beingthere and we're like, Oh, we're the
ones who are thankful to be here.
Why are you thanking us?
But there was something deeply,deeply spiritually real that

(16:46):
was happening as people shared.
What was holy and precious for them inthat place, even when we went to Haram al
Sharif, which is also known as the TempleMount, and there's, Al Aqsa Mosque, and
the Dome of the Rock, there is a museum onthat complex, And the folks in the museum
took us around it's an Islamic museum.

(17:08):
And they were like, look thisis the biggest Quran ever.
This is one of the 10 oldest and theywere so overjoyed to share their stories.
So it wasn't just Christians who were,overjoyed to share what they had.
but It is hard for peopleto live there right now.
It is hard.
we understand the ministry ofpresence, that being with people

(17:29):
who are suffering matters.
I had a lot of questionsas I prepared for the trip.
How could I help in this situation withall of this suffering that's happening?
How could one small,insignificant person help.
we all know that ministry is builton relationships and relationships

(17:54):
require, tending to, and that inthe midst of suffering, having
someone present with us is helpful.
some of my takeaways from the trip.

Jon Shematek (18:08):
Thanks so much for that, Bishop, and thanks for bringing
us Maryland, to the Holy Land.
The times are so difficult, and thefolks that would normally think, gosh,
I'd really like to go on pilgrimageare holding back for a while.
But personally, for me, I lovedyour stories and pictures as well.

(18:32):
I went on a diocesan pilgrimage 14years ago with Bishop Sutton and I was
reliving some of those moments, althoughwe were not permitted at that time to
go into any of the, Islam holy sites.
we were kind of out in the courtyard.

Bishop Carrie (18:49):
That's where I had been on my first pilgrimage.
I was amazed that we were invited inand, that seemed really important.
The people who showed usaround wanted us to see.

Jon Shematek (19:03):
That's Great.
So Bishop Carrie, do you have any finalwords you'd like to share with us, advice?
Anything, that our viewers and listenersmight be interested in hearing that
you would like to tell us about?

Bishop Carrie (19:20):
I'm so pleased with the work you're doing, to do this
work, week after week, month aftermonth, to share the good news.
you all are having real conversationsabout things that matter and reminding us
that even in the midst of struggle and,unrest and political divisions God is

(19:42):
still weaving a story that is good news.
I appreciate your commitment to showingup in this space and pointing to those
good news stories, not to joy wash thingsor pretend everything's perfect, but
to remind us that light is shining inthe darkness and that God is at work.

(20:02):
even as many of us feel,ill at ease in these times.
thank you so much.

Jon Shematek (20:10):
Thank you, Bishop.
we appreciate your presence, yourtime, your thoughts, your words.
thank you for being here with us today.

Bishop Carrie (20:18):
And I appreciate your ministry.
look at the deacons.
Deacons are here at work.

Jon Shematek (20:24):
We are.
Digital deacons are at it.

Bishop Carrie (20:27):
I love it.

Jon Shematek (20:28):
Yeah.

Lauren Welch (20:29):
Deacons rock.
thank you so much, BishopCarrie, for being with us.
Jon and I want to thank all who arelistening and watching with us today.
Until next time, peace and blessings.

Dolores (20:45):
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