When his 300 successors gather in Baltimore this November to celebrate the anniversary, they will be holding their own elections. They will be choosing a new president and vice president for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as some new committee chairs. They will also elect delegates to the 1990 synod of bishops. NCCB elections are important and can determine the direction of the conference in the years ahead. In addition, conference elections allow the public to see how bishops are viewed by their peers.
Many religious orders elect their superiors and, of course, the pope is chosen through an election.
But most officials in the church are appointed. Bishops are appointed by the pope, and pastors by bishops. The conference electoral process does not resemble anything on the American political scene. In fact, there will be no announced candidates pressing the flesh and asking for episcopal votes. Such tactics would be considered undignified and unspiritual.