Greetings from the Rector Search Committee. We have met several times since the committee was commissioned on Pentecost Sunday and have recently returned from an overnight retreat at DuBose Conference Center, where we got to know each other better and focused on our role as search committee members in the process of calling a new rector to St. Paul's. We have received our charge from the vestry and are very prayerfully working on developing the details of the process for calling a new rector.
In the early fall, we'll begin getting input from the congregation about how you see St. Paul's and what direction you believe the church should be heading. We also want to hear about your hopes and dreams for the future of our church. Once we are sure that we can accurately describe St. Paul's to the candidates for rector, we will use that information to help develop a parish profile, which is the next step in the rector search process. We hope that all of you will take the time to be part of this process and to tell us what you think.
After the parish profile is completed, we will advertise the position opening in several different places. Forms will be available for parishioners to recommend candidates for the position. Absolute confidentiality will be maintained regarding the individuals being considered. Candidates will be carefully screened and the search committee will conduct phone interviews with selected candidates. After the phone interviews, the candidate list will be shortened again and members of the search committee will visit the candidates in their churches. Once that second round of screening is completed, the search committee will recommend three to five candidates to the vestry.
The vestry will then consider the candidates and arrange for them to visit St. Paul's and be interviewed by the vestry. The vestry will evaluate the candidates and make a selection, which must then be approved by Bishop John Bauerschmidt.
Searching for a new rector is a very informative time in the life of a parish. As we ask ourselves questions about St. Paul’s, we all grow in our faith and come to better understand the ministries God is calling us to carry on. Calling a new rector won't be a quick process. It usually takes between 12 and 18 months from start to finish, and the search committee members believe we should do this on God's schedule. We know that all of you have many questions about the process and want to know what is happening. As new information is available, it will be included in the Evangel and on an easel or bulletin board at the church. Informational announcements will be made from time to time during the worship services as the process continues. We ask that you continue to pray for us, for our church, and for the new rector.