Progress
Reports:
Future Rector Search Progress Reports will be given after both services on May 18, June 29, July 27, and at future dates yet to be set.
Corporate Prayer for the Search / Discernment Process:
Almighty God, bless and give guidance to the Vestry, the Search Committee and this congregation in our search for new clerical leadership. Open our eyes to your vision and our hearts to your will. Amen.
This prayer has been chosen by the Parish Involvement sub-committee as the winner of our discernment prayer contest. We encourage all SsAM members to use this prayer during services, at meetings, and at home. It was submitted by Cynthia Oates. Others were offered by Thomas Roberts, Elizabeth Feasel and Lois McGinnis. Our most sincere thanks goes out to all who participated.
Search
Committee:
As we move forward, the Rector Search Committee encourages all members of the parish to contact us:
- Jim Ballard
- Max Bell
- Walt Cheatham, Vice Chair
- Eudel Drain
- Pat Hampton
- Tom Roberts
- Alice Sawyer, Chair
- Alice Smith
- Wanda Smith
- Cheri Tyree
- Bob Young
The Parish Involvement Sub-committee plans to set up forums at individual homes, as well as at church, in order to gain YOUR INPUT. The Profile Sub-committee has the arduous job of compiling all the information from those meetings and creating a description of our parish that might draw a clergy person to submit his/her application. These two steps must be accomplished and reviewed by the Bishop and Standing Committee, before we can send out application requests. This is not a quick process. Several churches in the Diocese are currently looking to call new rectors and, in one case, the information-gathering and compiling of the profile has taken an entire year! Our committee will seek to keep you informed of our progress. Please feel free to contact any of us with your comments.
Seach Committee Wants You!
Please contact any of the committee members listed below to see how you can participate in the search process. Please also keep us, and our next rector, in your prayers.
Two Advisors from the Diocese
The Diocese has assigned two consultants: the Rev. Anna Waid of Grace Church, Brandywine Hundred, and the Rev. Mark Sullivan, St. Peter's, Smyrna. They will help guide us through the discernment process.
Interim Rector Announced
Peter Huiner became our Interim Rector in September, 2007, after serving many years as Associate Priest.
Searching for a
New Rector
Since we are entering a period of intensive work aimed at finding the path forward for SsAM, it is appropriate for everyone to understand the process that is usually followed in the Diocese of Delaware. The following comes from the Rev. Canon Gary Rowe, the Diocesan Deployment Officer. Now that an interim rector has been installed and search committee has been installed, the Vestry, in consultation with the parish, will create a Parish Profile.
Frequently asked questions for the transition and interim time:
1. What is a Transition Committee?
The Transition Committee exists as an "umbrella" committee that oversees the entire transition process from the announcement of a rector's leaving through the first year of a new rector.
2. What is a Search Committee?
The Search Committee is charged by the Vestry to work with a consultant to develop a parish profile, including how the parish sees its future and goals for the parish. The Search Committee also works with members of the Standing Committee of the Diocese to advertise for and screen candidates, interview candidates and recommend one candidate to the Vestry to serve as the next Rector.
3. Who serves on the Search Committee?
Active, pledging members, regular in attendance make good candidates for a Search Committee. Search Committees reflect the demographics and nature of the parish. They are diversified by age, gender, race, areas of parish life and ministries.
4. What are the Vestry's responsibilities during transition?
The Wardens and Vestry are responsible for day-to-day parish life and administration. The Vestry contracts with a consultant, the interim rector and the new rector. The Vestry also charges the Search Committee with its tasks.
5. How is an exit interview used?
An exit interview with a departing rector (or interim rector) is conducted by a consultant. The insights gained from this interview are helpful to the bishop and the vestry in considering the ministry of the parish, its life, its strengths and challenges.
6. Why have an Interim Rector and what does an Interim Rector do?
The Bishop's Office will provide the vestry with the names of potential Interim Rectors. A letter of agreement will be written and signed by the vestry and the interim rector. It is important to welcome the interim rector in a special way.
The interim rector provides the leadership necessary to maintain stability during the period of transition. A key task is to help the congregation complete its disengagement from previous chapters in its life as it begins the self-study related to the search process.
Specific tasks are decided with the vestry and may include helping the parish come to terms with its history and relationships with previous clergy; discovering the congregation's special identity, what God is calling it to be in the future; dealing with shifts in leadership roles that naturally evolve in times of transition, allowing new leaders to come to the fore constructively; renewing relationships with the diocese, so that each may be a more effective resource and support to the other; and building commitment to the leadership of the new rector in order to be prepared to move into the future with openness to new possibilities.
7. Why do interims take so long?
During the interim period the bishop assumes the role of rector and the wardens and vestry are responsible on a day-to-day basis. Lay leadership is very important during this time. The interim time allows a healthy transition and effective ministry while a congregation seeks a new priest. The interim period offers a congregation the time to look at themselves during a self study; to separate from the leadership of the departing rector; to strengthen and inform lay leadership; to clarify mission and direction; to find a priest to lead the congregation in that mission and direction.
The temptation at this stage is to want to rush through the interim. This is unwise for several reasons. The tasks that need to be accomplished during the interim period, which must be completed by part-time volunteers take time. The need for self-examination and reflection requires time in order to be insightful and beneficial. When a vestry tries to hurry the interim period, the result is often the call of a rector who is either a clone of the previous rector or a 180 degree opposite. Realistically, it is difficult to attract competent interim rectors for time periods of less than one year.
8. How do we say "good-bye" to the previous rector?
Encourage the rector to take time and make the effort to achieve a sense of closure with parishioners. Plan a celebration of ministry event. Provide an opportunity and/or space for parishioners to express their feelings over the departure of the rector. How the goodbye is handled will impact how both the parish and the rector will move forward in their lives. Good leave-taking is beneficial to the spiritual and emotional health of the congregation and the departing rector.
9. How do we welcome a new Rector?
Plan a welcoming event. Plan "get acquainted" sessions for the rector and members of the parish. Work together to plan a Celebration of New Ministry. The bishop will be in contact with the new rector and the wardens to schedule this service.
Welcome the new rector into the life of the congregation. Provide a support group for the new rector during the first year(s). Plan for a Mutual Ministry Review after the first six months, which will review goals, stated in the parish profile. Engage outside resources as necessary for a successful entry.