While choosing leadership for a church is similar to secular search processes in some ways, it is also vastly different. It is a spiritual process. It is a prime time for renewal in the congregation. It is a time when new leadership comes forth and new connections are made with the bishop and the wider diocesan community. It is also a time to review and restate the hopes and dreams of the parish.
Gary Gleason
The process for calling a new rector is an important time and should be carried out prayerfully and with due care. We fully trust that God is at work and will help us discern a new rector for Nativity.
Traditional Transition Process & Formation of Search Committee
Nativity’s Vestry is charged with the responsibility for the call of our new rector. As previously mentioned, the Vestry met in mid-October with Bishop Sam Rodman and Canon Catherine Massey. The Vestry has discerned, with their guidance, that Nativity will conduct a Traditional Transition search in choosing our new rector. As part of this process, the Vestry will call a Search Committee and delegate portions of the search process to them. While it is the Vestry’s responsibility to call the next rector, the Search Committee will carry out the search. Ideally, this committee will be comprised of 8–10 parishioners, where approximately a third of those will be current Vestry members.
The Vestry is currently seeking nominations of parishioners who wish to be considered for the Search Committee. The goal is to have the committee formed by mid-December. We are looking for members who feel called to — and have sufficient time, energy and resources to commit to — this work. The committee’s main tasks will be (1) conducting, with parishioners’ help, a self-assessment of Nativity, (2) putting together a written community portfolio (e.g., Nativity’s demographics, compensation, history, challenges, and vision for the future), (3) conducting discernment conversations with various priests, and (4) discerning one candidate to present to the Vestry. The Search Committee will work closely with the Diocese in this work.
Serving on the Search Committee is an incredible way to serve Nativity. However, it will require a large time commitment from each member. We ask that individuals pray about their decision before they put their or others’ names up for consideration. If you would like to be considered, or nominate someone for the Search Committee, please let the Vestry know by submitting your or your nominee’s name to Beth Crow, Senior Warden (mary.crow@me.com), no later than Monday, November 13.
Please be assured that there will be an opportunity for all Parishioners’ voices to be heard, even if they are not serving on the Search Committee.
Interim Rector
Nativity has clergy scheduled for Sunday worship through the end of December. The Vestry will work with the Diocese to call an Interim Rector who will serve until a new Rector is called. The Diocese has already heard from several clergy interested in possibly serving Nativity in this role.
Frequent, Open and Transparent Communication & Parishioners’ Questions
The Vestry will communicate openly and regularly about the transition process. We will have a weekly update in Glad Tidings which will also then be posted on the Clergy Transition page on Nativity’s Website. We also invite parishioners to submit any questions they may have about the process to the Vestry using this Google Form.