As we say good-bye to Eric and Susan and give thanks for the almost thirteen years of their transformative ministry at St. Luke's, we look forward to the arrival on December 4th of The Reverend Elizabeth ("Liz") Huskey Simmons and the commencement of her interim ministry.

One might wonder why we need an interim ministry and what to expect during one. The interim period, a time between clergy leadership, is a prime time for renewal of parish life and mission. During the interim period, there is a need for leadership, for maintenance of a healthy congregational life, and for the development of short-range goals. In addition, a congregation must take the time to prepare itself for calling and working with a new Rector. To this end, an Interim Rector will help the congregation deal with specific tasks that may need to be addressed in order for the congregation to be in a position to call a new Rector. These tasks include: 

• Coming to terms with the congregation's history and its relationship with previous clergy.  

• Discovering the congregation's special identity, what it dreams of being and doing apart from the personality and priorities of previous clergy leadership.

• Dealing with shifts in lay leadership that naturally evolve in times of transition.

• Renewing and reworking relationships with the diocese, so that each may be a more effective resource and support to one another.

• Building a commitment to the future and a relationship with the new Rector that will lead the congregation and the Rector to a genuine sense of call to mission and to cooperative work to fulfill that mission.  

The role and responsibilities of the Interim Rector include serving as pastor, priest and teacher, sharing in the councils of the congregation and of the whole church, in communion with our Bishop. The Interim Rector represents and extends the ministry which is the Bishop's pastoral and canonical responsibility for congregations in leadership transition.

Working closely with the Wardens, Vestry and other parish leaders, and with the Bishop and his staff, the major goal of the Interim Rector's ministry is to prepare the congregation for the coming of the new Rector. To this end, the Interim Rector:  

• Helps the congregation deal with its grief and any other unresolved issues arising from the Rector's departure.  

• Deal with internal conflicts and help heal any divisions within the congregation, working with a Diocesan consultant as appropriate.  

• Helps Vestry and lay leaders bring about such change as may be needed to align parish life and administration with generally accepted standards in the diocese.  

The Interim Rector communicates regularly with the Deployment Officer and the Interim Consultant, but will not work with the Search Committee as they develop the parish profile, position description, solicit and screen candidates.

I invite you to welcome Liz this next week as she joins with us in this new chapter in the life of our St. Luke's church family and to pray for her and St. Luke's during this time of change and transition.                           

                                                                ~ Paul R. Johnson, Warden