First, I am sincerely grateful for and commend the work of the Discernment and Search Committee (DSC) that resulted in their recommendation of four candidates for the Rector position to the vestry. The DSC did a superb job of helping the congregation discern the desired characteristics of the Rector that we are seeking. The parish survey they conducted and their guidance led to a Parish Profile document that captured the essence of our community and was much admired by all who read it. The criteria they established to judge potential candidates were clear and reflected the wishes of the congregation. They efficiently managed the complex logistics of evaluating 24 possible candidates, including visits to the churches of the most promising ones, and meetings in Washington with each of the four finalists. The Vestry benefitted enormously from the wisdom and months of faithful work that led to their final recommendations.

 

In December the Vestry met with the entire DSC to review written reports on each of the four finalists and to hear directly from the DSC about the strengths and areas for growth for each of the candidates. The Vestry's first decision was about which of several decision-making processes we would adopt as we moved forward. We decided that for routine administrative steps like when to schedule visits, we would use majority rule. But importantly, we decided that we would use consensus to make our final decision to call someone to serve as our Rector. That meant that we would all need to agree to support our final choice. If just one of us felt that the person was not appropriate we would not offer him or her the position.

 

During in-depth interviews in Washington with each of the four candidates the Vestry discovered the qualities that had made them attractive to the DSC. Nonetheless, like the DSC, we could not reach consensus that any of them was a clear first choice.

 

At that point we sought guidance from Bishop Marianne Budde about whether we could consider Michele Morgan in a role beyond her Interim Rector status. The role of an Interim Rector is to prepare the congregation to move forward with new leadership and to make administrative or programmatic changes necessary to smooth that transition. In general, it is not the policy of the Episcopal Church to allow an Interim Rector to serve beyond a limited period, but after consultation with us the Bishop gave us permission to consider Michele in the role of our Priest-in-Charge for a three-year period. The understanding is that if, after a period of a year or more, Michele and the Vestry agree that she should remain with us permanently, we will petition the Bishop to elevate Michele beyond her Priest-in-Charge role to become our 12^th Rector.

 

We are incredibly fortunate to have found in Michele someone with the authenticity, preaching ability, interpersonal, pastoral and management skills that we believe will serve us well. I have worked very closely with Michele over the last several months. I am convinced that she is the person who understands how to honor our past while discerning an exciting future with us. Please join the Vestry in asking what you can do over the next few months to get Michele off to a fast and successful start in her new role with us as Priest-in-Charge. 

 

I hope you will also take whatever opportunity presents itself to personally thank the members of the DSC and the Vestry who have worked so long, hard and faithfully to bring about this successful, albeit unanticipated conclusion to our search for a new rector.

 

Please feel free to let me hear from you directly about this decision. You can reach me at peter@expmatters.com.

 

Hugs all around.

 

 

 

 

Peter Sherer

Senior Warden