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Letter from Fr. Philip C. Linder
Dear People of St. John’s,
What a great joy and honor it is for me to write to you as your newly-elected Rector. Ellen, our children, and I are so thankful to God, the Nominating Committee, and the Vestry for this new and exciting chapter in our lives and ministry with all of you!
During this past year of sabbatical time and transition, a constant verse from scripture that both sustained and encouraged me was from Isaiah 40:31: But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint. When I received the Nominating Committee’s beautifully done profile and packet of information and saw the name of your monthly newsletter, “ Eagle Wings,” it was but one of many affirmations of this call to serve at St. John’s.
I am very grateful to Ned Meekins and Debby Edelen, Co-Convenyors, and each member of the Nominating Committee for their thorough, dedicated, and caring work during this process. I am as well thankful to Bishop Sauls for putting forth my name as a candidate. I have to admit that from our first meeting and interview using the amazing technology of Skype, I felt both an energy and warmth that profoundly drew me to St. John’s. This experience was further strengthened when Ellen and I met with Karen Koontz, Sr. Warden, Tim Downey, Junior Warden, and all of the members of the Vestry. On our drive home from Versailles we hoped and prayed that this may be where God indeed was calling us!
This is a new day in the life, mission, and ministry of St. John’s. God has carefully prepared us for wonderful and great things that together we will accomplish in this part of Christ’s kingdom and beyond. I intend on spending a great deal of time getting to know each one of you by name, and hearing about your hopes and aspirations for our ministry together. The goals and values that you have named, including: preserve liturgical and musical diversity, Christian education and spiritual growth, strengthen our outreach to the community, history and tradition, a spirit of family, and, enhance our welcoming and inclusive spirit, will be honored and further developed. I also want you to know that the pastoral care of the membership of St. John’s will be amongst my highest priorities.
I do believe, as our Nominating Committee and Vestry have stated that, A Sacred Story is Being Written. This is a story that with God’s grace we shall write together in mutual ministry in the days and years before us. Please know of my prayers and love for all of you as we begin!
With anticipation and faith in Jesus Christ,
Philip C. Linder+
7/3/2011 We have a new Rector!
On Sunday, July 3, St. John’s Episcopal Church announced that we have called Fr. Philip Linder to be our next Rector!! See pdf for an introduction.
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Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish that we may receive a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Nomination Committee: back row: Ann Miller; Ned Meekins, Chair; Vickie Duff; Julie Ross; Gayle, Box; Ron Mobley; front row: Debby Edelen; Ann Richmond (alternate); Linda Reeves and Sarah Sandknop.
Roles
The Bishop |
Nominating Committee |
Parish Membership |
Overall ecclesiastical responsibilities for welfare of parish Check references with other Bishops Final interview to insure the candidate’s faithfulness; intent to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church; and intent to exercise ministry within the Episcopal Church |
Maintain Absolute Confidentiality Provide Parish Profile for Database Inform Parish Members of Progress Discern the Best Candidate Match Name the Nominee to Vestry |
Elect The Vestry Representatives Continue Parish Ministries Provide input for Parish Profile Support the process with intentional prayer and patience |
Rector In The Interim |
The Vestry |
Consultant |
Pastoral Care Spiritual Guidance |
Name Nominating Committee Continue Business of the Church Issue the Call to the Nominee |
Provide Process Guidance Access Deployment Database Provide Candidate List(s) based on Parish Profile |
The Stages of Pastoral Change - Summarized from Kay Collier McLaughlin's A Change of Rectors
The Departure stage, the ending of a pastoral relationship.
Regardless of the reason for the ending of the pastoral relationship, the stronger the personality of the leader, and the longer that leader has been the rector, the more critical it is for a congregation to make a "good goodbye" bring closure to what has been and move into a period of emotional detachment and intentional transition, which will allow them to re-discover who they are as a congregation at this point in time.
The Transition stage, the interim period and search process.
The interim period is one in which a congregation begins the change process and moves toward the new life that awaits them. The work of this period is essential in preparing for the new relationship, and the dialogue that will take place between the priest who is called and the laity of the congregation about choices for the future.
3. The Call stage, the beginning of a new pastoral relationship.
In the Episcopal Church, a congregation opens itself to God’s will for their parish, and to the process of discerning the ordained person who will be called to lead the parish into the next stages of its mission and ministry. At the same time, there will be ordained men and women who are open to the possibility of a “call” to a new stage of ministry.
Complete details are given in the document A CHANGE OF RECTORS: CONGREGATIONAL CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY By Kay Collier McLaughlin
Departure Stage - completed
Regardless of the reason for the ending of the pastoral relationship, the stronger the personality of the leader, and the longer that leader has been the rector, the more critical it is for a congregation to make a good goodbye, bring closure to what has been and move into a period of emotional detachment and intentional transition, which will allow them to re-discover who they are as a congregation at this point in time.
| Completed | To Do |
| Priest Resigns |  |
Bishop Notified | |
Priest Leaves |
Transition Stage
The interim period is one in which a congregation begins the change process and moves toward the new life that awaits them. The work of this period is essential in preparing for the new relationship, and the dialogue that will take place between the priest who is called and the laity of the congregation about choices for the future.
Below is a summary of the processes that will occur and re-occur during the transition and search period.
- Coming to terms with the congregation’s history. Every congregation has a story that does not begin or end with any particular clergy. It is not a blank slate waiting for any clergy person to write his or her version of the story on it – rather, a congregation is an ongoing story written by people and clergy over time.
- Discovering a new identity, a new sense of mission. The community in which the parish exists has grown and changed over time, so reflection must include this aspect of parish life.
- Helping the congregation’s internal leadership to grow and change. A faithful core of leaders develops around every leader or rector.
- Rediscovering linkages to the denomination. The transition and interim periods are exciting times for lay leadership to discover their own denomination and its resources, and to forge new relationships with the Diocese.
- Establishing a new commitment between people and the new priest to engage in their mission together. From the time of awareness of the ending of one pastoral relationship until the beginning of a new pastoral relationship, the parish is engaged in a process of discernment and call — attempting to determine what God’s will is for their parish, at this time in its life, and who may find in their own discernment of God’s will for himself or herself, a call to ministry with a particular congregation.
| Completed | To Do |
| Deputy for Deployment Meets withVestry | |
Search Begins for Interim Priest | |
Interim Priest Selected | |
Celebrate Arrival of Interim Priest | |
Interim Priest attends to transition tasks | |
Interim, Wardens and Bishop determine time to begin process |
|
Vestry chooses search Option and sets budget |
| Vestry Seeks Candidates for Nominating Committee | |
Vestry Appoints Candidates for Nominating Committee | |
Nominating Committee formation and training |
|
Self Study Holy Conversations | |
Create Parish Profile | |
Deploy Church Office Profile | |
Recruit Canidates |
| Receive Names | |
Select Canidates | |
Bishop approves, adds or removes names | |
Interviews Reference Checks and Visits | |
Committee Recommends to vestry | |
Background Checks Bishop to Bishop calls | |
Vestry Elects Top Candidate |
Call Stage
In the Episcopal Church, a congregation opens itself to God’s will for their parish, and to the process of discerning the ordained person who will be called to lead the parish into the next stages of its mission and ministry. At the same time, there will be ordained men and women who are open to the possibility of a “call” to a new stage of ministry.
| Completed | To Do |
| Issue Call | |
Negotiate Letter of Agreement | |
Celebrate & Close Interim Rector's Ministry |
|
Celebration of New Ministry | |
Church Leadership Team Retreat | |
Process Complete Praise the Lord! |