RECTOR SEARCH

Search Committee updates:

September 3, 2010

The Parish Profile is finished and has been accepted for publication.   Information about the St. Stephen’s rector position is now posted on a website that is available to Episcopal clergy.  After a few weeks, Bishop Waggoner and Rev. Canon Kristi Philip will review the applications received and present a list of qualified candidates.  If you want to read the profile you can find it on our web page; copies are also available in the Narthex.  If you know of possible candidates, please contact Kristi.

August 21, 2010

The Parish Profile is now finished and has been accepted for publication.  The Position Profile portion of the application has also been completed. Information about the Stephen’s rector position is posted on a website that is available to Episcopal clergy.  Bishop Waggoner and Rev. Canon Kristi Philip will review applications and present a list of qualified candidates after the position has been posted for a few weeks.  If you want to read the profile CLICK HERE.  Copies will also be available in the Narthex beginning Aug. 29.  If members of St. Stephen’s know of possible candidates, please let Kristi know.

Cathy Henneberry, Chair for Search Process.

June 14, 2010

The Search Committee met the evening of June 14, to finalize the Parish Profile. The Parish Profile has been submitted to the Vestry. Upon the approval of the Vestry, the Parish Profile will be submitted to the Bishop’s Office.

June 3, 2010

Despite vacations, surgeries, and other scheduling conflicts, the Search Committee continues our work on the parish profile. We are extremely grateful for the high level of participation in the Parish Survey. Using the results from the survey, we have identified key qualities desired in our next rector as well as significant shared  goals for St. Stephen’s that our next rector will need to address.

During our meeting on June 3rd, we engaged in a line-by-line edit of  the latest draft of the parish profile. In the coming weeks, a final draft will be sent to Rev. Kristi Philip for her consideration and  feedback.

Report on Church Assessment  Tool Survey

Some 123 members of St. Stephen’s  completed the Church Assessment Tool, a survey  initiated by the search committee earlier this spring. The survey is administered by a consulting firm in Columbus, OH,  and is used by many Episcopal dioceses.

The search committee is using these survey results as one part of a self-study of the parish that will  form the basis for a profile of the parish. The profile is  a document  that contains information about the parish and   helps to guide  the search committee and vestry in the selection of a new priest.

Here are some highlights of the survey results:

  • Some 64 per cent of members are very satisfied with things in the church.  This figure suggests that morale is high.  That is important because morale is one of the best predictors of overall health and numeric growth.  It also suggests that  members have positive feelings, a strength on which the church can build.
  • According to those who responded, some critical factors for improving the vitality of St. Stephen’s include
    • How well the church helps every member feel called to ministry
    • That leaders are representative of the congregation
    • The quality of the worship experience
    • The quality of education provided for every age and stage of life
    • How well the church helps members discern their gifts.

The analysis of the survey noted that all of these factors are important to members, but none has a high level of urgency.

  • St. Stephen’s appears to be relatively skilled at dealing with potentially divisive issues that arise from time to time.  The conflict management score is high and few noted conflict.
  • Those who responded indicated that the church tends to be progressive theologically and is quite adaptable.  This suggests  an ability to make adjustments to how things are done.
  • The top four goals noted by those who responded include
    • Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to the church
    • Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people.
    • Move decisively to provide high quality education for every age and stage of life.
    • Develop ministries that work toward healing those broken by life circumstances.

The first two goals had the strongest response.  Many Episcopal churches regionally and nationally identify those same priorities.

The next task for the search committee is to complete work on the profile.  The profile then will be reviewed by the vestry and once it receives vestry approval it will be submitted to the Bishop and Canon to the Ordinary for their review.  Once it is finalized, it will be shared with those priests who have an interest in St. Stephen’s and with all who  are interested in the contents.