“O God, who has blessed and sustained us through the years; we ask that you continue to lead us, stretch us, and direct us, in our search for a new rector. Raise for us, we pray, a priest and pastor who will boldly proclaim your Gospel, faithfully administer your sacraments, and serve your people with love and compassion, that we may continue to grow in the likeness of Christ and be a beacon of love and hope to our community and the world. To the glory of your Holy Name. Amen.”

The Steps to Find Our New Rector

Since the retirement of Fr. Thomas, the search committee has been hard at work. We wanted to share the many steps in this process to find our next full-time Priest.

Listening: Thanks to all who participated in this part of our search. Our consultant, Canon Fletcher Montgomery, led a great exercise to help clarify our culture and what we want in our next priest. It is extremely difficult to narrow down one characteristic from a list of 40 that is most important in our next priest. We also reviewed the key findings from the Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) survey.

Prepare to Cast Net: In this step, the search committee writes two key documents. The national Office of the Transition Ministry provides a questionnaire (OTM) focused on key topics including our liturgical style and how we deal with change. This form also provides the salary and benefits we are offering for a new priest. The second key document is the Parish Profile. This document tells our story and what is important to us as a parish. We are also making sure our website is up-to-date and reflects our vitality. Once all of this is completed, we can officially post the position for a new priest with the Office of Transition Ministry.

Review Applicants: Interested priests submit their names to the Diocese, which help make sure there are no background issues with each applicant. Then the applicants submit a written application, similar to the OTM document that the search committee had completed. Next the search committee reviews all the applications received from the diocese and decides who to interview.

Interviews: The search committee interviews the candidates, listens to sermons and watches how they conduct services – thank goodness for Zoom and online services. We may travel to see an applicant and have a few come to see St. David’s. Lastly, the search committee submits one name to the vestry who votes to accept the recommendation.

Transition: The final step is officially hiring the new priest. Then the welcome begins including introducing the new rector and family to the community and helping them relocate.

Questions? Please contact Search Committee Chair Howard Barrett.

Our Parish Profile

View our digital search profile for an insight into the qualities and attributes we seek in our new rector at St. David’s in the Pines Episcopal Church. We aim to create a welcoming community where all are embraced. We need a compassionate, dedicated individual who shares our values and vision. Our ideal candidate has strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of Episcopal traditions, and a genuine passion for serving others. They must have a proven track record of nurturing spiritual growth within a diverse congregation. Effective communication, inspiration, and forward-thinking leadership are essential qualities we seek. Join us on this important journey as we explore exciting opportunities for our new rector. Let us continue to flourish in faith, love, and service to our community. All are welcome at St. David’s in the Pines Episcopal Church as we set out to fulfill our mission of welcoming seekers, forming disciples and sending apostles.