Calvary
Episcopal Church
Rector Search Update
September 13, 2009
Search Committee
Noel Booker, Art Dietz, Jamie Hendon, Kit Llewellyn, Mary Sanders, Meg Scharre, Gwathmey Tyler, Will Vail, David Webb
Our Prayer
Almighty and loving God, You have guided Calvary Church for more than 145 years, and you have given us blessings far beyond what we have deserved. We thank you for this parish, which is our spiritual home, for the Gospel preached here, for the Sacraments celebrated here, for the majesty of the building and the beauty of the music, and for the friendships that have enriched our lives beyond measure. We ask that you guide our search committee and our vestry as they seek someone to be our priest and our pastor. Give them wisdom and patience in their work, and grant them success in bringing to us a new rector, who will be a shepherd to this flock, a challenger of our comfortable ways, and a faithful preacher and priest. We know that by our Baptisms we share in the ministry of Calvary Church, and we will remember that when someone comes to be with us. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. AMEN
Timetables
July
· Committee Appointed by Vestry
Fr. Mark Linder, Consultant
Jamie Hendon & Meg Scharre co-chairs
Nominations solicited from Parishioners
Parish Survey initiated to solicit priorities and viewpoints from congregation
August
Nominations submitted to Consultant and Bishop for initial screening
Committee assessed Calvarys Strengths & Opportunities
Annual Reports
Long Range Plan
Budget
Results from 2008 survey (conducted as capital campaign was under consideration)
Reviewed Survey results
Began to prepare Calvary Profile
September
Finalize Calvary Profile
Send letters of invitation with packets to candidates
Develop rector criteria, interview questions
October
Receive responses from interested candidates
Initial telephone interviews with candidates
Begin Oxford Documents search on candidates of interest
Complete background check, references, credit check, etc.
Takes 4-7 weeks
November/December
Search Committee conducts visits to candidates once they clear Oxford Search
Team of 3-4 committee members
Saturday-Sunday
Interview candidate
Visit church on Sunday to observe service, preaching
Dinner with candidate and spouse (if applicable
January
Search Committee invites final candidates (with spouse) to visit Calvary
Weekdays (2 days)
Candidate interview s with entire Search Committee
Candidate interview s with Bishop
Dinner /informal meeting with Vestry and Search Committee
Tour of Louisville
Search Committee makes recommendation to Vestry
Vestry issues call to candidate, negotiates compensation package & start date.
Calvary Parish Survey
Conducted by Holy Cow! Consulting, Inc.
Confidential, survey link straight to Holy Cow!
Measures our own perceptions of Calvary and priorities
Results compared to national database, 90% of which is from surveys at other Episcopal churches
Thank you! to the 93 Calvary members age 16+ who participated
Top Influencers of Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction
The leaders of our church show a genuine concern to know what people are thinking when decisions need to be made
Music is outstanding in quality and appropriate in style to our congregation
Persons who serve as leaders in our church representative of parish
Worship services at our church are exceptional in both quality and spiritual content
Our church does a good job supporting persons in ministry by reminding them they are making a difference
Top Influencers of Worship Attendance*
Although my faith is important to me, I feel there are other things more pressing in my life right now.
My spirituality is really the basis of my whole approach to life.
Financial giving is most influenced by the level of excitement and perceptions toward Christian education.
It seems to me that we are just going through the motions of church activity; there isnt much excitement about it among our members
Our church provides high quality education that is appropriate to every age and stage in life.
Calvarys Strengths
Worship and Music
Quality and style, spiritual content
Hospitality
Welcoming, friendly atmosphere
Morale
Members of congregation want to be involved
Engagement in Education
A good balance between motivation to learn and our educational programs
Conflict Management
Healthy tolerance of differing opinions & beliefs
Governance
Church leaders show genuine concern for what people are thinking
Readiness for Ministry
· Calvary Parishioners feel they have responsibility for ministry within the church and they want to stay engaged with various ministries; not totally dependent on the rector or staff.
Top
Priorities for Placing Additional Energy
Make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth to our church
Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church
Develop ministries that work toward healing those broken by life circumstances
Develop the spiritual generosity of the people to financially support the ministry of the church
Move decisively to provide high quality education for every age and stage of life
Work
to renew and revitalize the community around the church
Strengthen
the management and support of persons in various ministries
Enlarge
or improve the physical facilities of the church to expand or enhance our
ministries
Create
more opportunities for people to form meaningful relationships
Strengthen the process by which members are
called and equipped for ministry and leadership
Calvary:
Theologically Progressive; Settled
· In what ways can Calvary develop adaptability in order to attract and keep new members and meet the needs of our Parish?
Areas of Opportunity
Personal Spiritual Vitality
A measure of personal individual spiritual vitality
Calvary in lowest quartile
Correlates with financial giving
Low spiritual vitality may arise from difficulty in dealing with lifes pressures
Ψ In what ways can Calvary provide opportunities for parishioners to revitalize their spiritual lives?
Pastoral Care
·
Increased
care for people in the parish who are in personal need
Ψ In
what ways can we develop or expand ministries to those in our Calvary family?
Ministry within the Church/World
Increased opportunities for members to engage in active ministry within the church and to the world
Ψ In what ways can we expand ministries to the larger church and the world?
Challenges for the Future
How to continue to develop and encourage lay leadership and participation in ministries within the parish?
In what ways can we build on Calvarys strengths to attract and keep new members?
What changes should we make to meet the needs of our parish?
What is the best way to manage incremental change?
How can we develop more flexibility in order to fulfill our mission?
