Rector      Search

FORM AND LAUNCH SEARCH COMMITTEE

In close coordination with the Diocese, the Vestry will charter and kick off a Search Committee to facilitate the process. A separate search committee will be able to focus on the work of the search process, while the vestry can focus on the day-to-day running of the parish during this interim season. We will have an open self-nomination process for anyone interested in being on the Search Committee who are members in good standing, 16 years or older and have been attending regularly for at least a year. The vestry will then select 6-8 people, including co-chairs, to be on the committee. The committee is not necessarily meant to be a full representation of our parish, but people that will bring their skills and insight to running the process in working through the hard work with a joyful heart, seeking and gathering input from across the entire parish, and working with Christian charity and prayerful discernment. For those not selected, there are so many ways to serve over the next year across vestry, committees, and other ministries we will need help on!

The Seach Committee gathers input from the whole parish and builds the Parish Profile. This will be accomplished through a survey all parishes across the denomination use to get perspectives across a wide range of factors, that can then be benchmarked across thousands of other parishes. The committee will then facilitate small group discussions to gather direct conversational input from across the parish. With these inputs, they will then produce a Parish Profile to share with potential candidates about who we are, what we value, and what we are looking for in our next rector. They will also produce a diocesan Office of Transitional Management (OTM) document that is used internally across the denomination that includes more specific info of note for potential candidates. These two documents will be reviewed and approved by the Vestry.

POST THE POSITION

Next, the position will be posted across the denomination on the Diocesan website. All are encouraged to help get the word out across various networks, and we might advertise it in various forums that potential candidates aligned with our ethos might see. As candidates apply, the diocesan OTM will do an initial review and screening, and then forward the candidates to the Search Committee.

REVIEW AND DOWNSELECT CANDIDATES

The Search Committee will review the applicants, and go through a process of down-selecting candidates. This will include reviewing their applications, reviewing sermons online, phone screenings, etc. They will then start interviews with some of the top potential candidates, ultimately working towards the top 2-3 Finalists. Please be aware that this part of the process will by necessity have strict confidentiality, even from the Vestry – only the Search Committee can and should know all the applicants, to protect both the candidates and their parishes, as well ensure the Search Committee is able to discuss and discern as one body.

FINALISTS

The Search Committee will then invite the Finalists to come visit for an in-person interview, say a private Mass, and giving them an opportunity to see the parish and neighborhood. The candidates will also meet with diocesan staff while they are here as well. The Vestry will participate in the private mass as well as a reception with them so that they have the opportunity to get to know the candidates as well, though will not participate in the interviews. After this, the Search Committee will prayerfully work towards a decision of recommending one candidate to the vestry.

DECISION

The vestry will take the Search Committee’s recommendation, including a discussion to understand the committee’s thinking. The vestry will then vote on whether to issue a call to that candidate.

FINAL STEPS

Once the vestry makes the decision, the Senior Warden will share it with the Diocese. At this point Bp. Clarke will have a discussion with the bishop of the diocese the candidate is coming as a final pastoral step. Barring nothing of note, the diocese will confirm all is well and the wardens and vestry will work with the diocese to prepare a Letter of Agreement (LOA) and formally extend the calling to the candidate. The candidate then will discern and decide if they accept the calling, and if so the LOA will be signed by the candidate, the Senior Warden, and the Bishop. If during any of these final steps all parties do not all align, the Vestry will then go back to the search committee and ask if they can formally recommend another candidate. These final decisions and steps are all strictly confidential to just the Search Committee, Vestry and diocese for the same reasons noted above.

NEW RECTOR ARRIVAL

Once the calling is accepted, the Vestry will work with the new rector to agree on their start date, coordinate on communications and announcements, and plan logistics such as moving. This will be a joyful moment at the end of what will be a hard but hopefully good process.

CALL TO ACTION

What can you do to help?

• PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Pray that we will discern and see God’s will, pray for our parish, pray for those involved in the search, pray for potential candidates, and pray for Christian charity and love throughout this whole process and season for our parish.

• Consider self-nominating yourself if you are interested in being on the Search Committee. You can also nominate someone else but only with their permission. You can download a copy of the nomination form HERE.

• Actively participate in the survey and small group discussions so that you can share your hopes, dreams and priorities for our parish and next rector.

• Support those on the Search Committee and Vestry with encouragement.

• Respect the confidentiality of the process.

• PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

With Faith and Hope,

The Vestry