Rector Search Update – August 2022
21 August 2022
Dear friends,
The vestry is excited to announce that the Rev. Rhonda Lee has agreed to serve as Rector-Time-Certain! This is a process where the congregation and Rhonda will take intentional time to discern whether Rhonda would be our next permanent rector. In the fall of 2023 we will decide, with Rhonda, if we are a good fit and should continue with her as our rector or if we enter into a search process with Rhonda then serving in an interim rector role.
This decision was not made lightly and has the blessing of Bishop Sam Rodman in our diocese. The vestry, Rhonda, and the diocese have all been listening and noticed a different dynamic at St. Luke’s now than in the fall. Trust is building. We believe it is the right fit for all of us. It is extremely rare to move an interim rector to a rector-time-certain role but it truly feels like the Holy Spirit has been moving us toward this path.
The vestry feels so blessed for St. Luke’s to be in this rare situation. We believe many at St. Luke’s have evolved beyond much of the hurt of the fall departure of our previous rector and are excited to discern further with Rhonda. We have seen Rhonda lead our congregation for 8 months. We have seen her strength as a preacher and her collaborative leadership style with lay leadership, staff, and other parishioners. We believe she is an excellent match for us.
Here is a letter from Bishop Sam and Rhonda on this change, as well as a more detailed account with FAQ’s. We will also have copies of the FAQ’s in the Sprague room at church. Please reach out to me or any of the vestry with questions.
Yours in Faith,
Lisa D’Amico
Sr. Warden
St. Luke’s vestry
Rector Search Update – July 2022
The vestry has asked Joan Hodges and Steve Dedrick to serve as Co-Chairs of our 2022/2023 Search Committee to find our next rector and they have both agreed. Joan and Steve will assist in building out the full Search Committee to include 3 vestry members. We will announce the full committee in late July and then the entire Search Committee will begin meeting with Canon Catherine Massey from the Office of Transition Ministry of the Diocese.
As has been mentioned before, they will begin their work of gathering thoughts, hopes and dreams of who St. Luke’s is and who St. Luke’s wants to become. This data gathering, from all of you, will produce what is called the Parish Profile. This is what potential candidates will see when our position is posted.
Look for opportunities for your voice to be heard in the coming months!
Please join me and the vestry in praying for God to continue to guide us throughout this process.
Faithfully,
Lisa D’Amico
Sr. Warden, St. Luke’s vestry
Rector Search Update- May/June 2022
Information forms have gone out to those who have indicated a willingness to be considered for the Search Committee for St. Luke’s future rector. The vestry will review these forms with the goal of naming Co-chairs some time in July. The vestry agreed on a committee size of 9 which will include 3 vestry members as full participating members.
It is not too late to be considered for this important task in helping to select St. Luke’s next rector. Please let anyone on the vestry know of your interest and we will add you to the candidate pool for consideration.
Once the co-chairs are named, they and the vestry will select the full committee. The Search Committee work will then continue in concert with the Office of Transition Ministry of the Diocese.
Please join me and the vestry in praying for God to continue to guide us throughout this process.
Faithfully,
Lisa D’Amico
Sr. Warden, St. Luke’s vestry
Rector Search Update- May 2022
Search Committee Development
The vestry has been developing some thoughtful questions to pose to Search Committee candidates (easy ones about prior committee experience, etc. – don’t let it scare you away if you want to be considered!). We are still in the pre-search phase and are hoping to review all Search Committee candidates over the summer and present the Search Committee chair(s) and full committee to the congregation by the end of the summer or early Fall.
To that end, if you have given us your name, be assured we still have it and will be sending you the information form to fill out and send back soon. If you haven’t volunteered to be considered, you may receive a call from a vestry member asking you to consider being on the committee. We would like to build a committee that will represent the congregation broadly.
In this interim time, please plan on attending the congregational meetings with our interim rector and vestry in May and June and then again in the fall (dates TBD). At the spring meetings, you will have the opportunity to share feelings, needs, and questions about transition at St. Luke’s.
The congregational meetings Canon Catherine Massey will lead with the Search Committee in early 2023 will focus more directly on what kind of priest St. Luke’s seeks.
Please join me and the vestry in praying for God to guide us throughout this process.
Faithfully,
Lisa D’Amico
Sr. Warden, St. Luke’s Vestry
Rector Search Update- April 2022: Discernment and Choosing a Search Committee
Timing and Expectations
As mentioned previously, there are many steps to the search process. We are in the very early stages and the vestry looks to form a Search Committee to walk through all the steps with us by late summer or early fall. St. Luke’s, as with any church in transition, needs time to understand what being in transition means and looks like and to evaluate and discern our path forward. Our interim rector will be holding church wide and small group meetings for folks to begin that understanding and discernment.
Please plan on attending. We need all of your voices.
If you have any suggestions about who might best serve on the Search Committee, please send Lisa D’Amico (Senior Warden) or June Santa (Junior Warden) an email. We are hoping for candidates from a broad spectrum of ages, interests and experience. Please note that the search committee will be composed of about 6-9 people, including some vestry members, so, although suggestions for members are welcome, not everyone who is mentioned will be asked to serve.
We will continue to update you as we go through this process in the newsletters and on this Rector Search web page. Please feel free to speak with anyone on vestry about the search process at any time.
Please join with me in praying for God to guide us throughout this process.
Faithfully,
Lisa D’Amico
Senior Warden, St. Luke’s Vestry
Rector Search Update- March 2022: The Process
Introduction
In the Episcopal Church, unlike some traditions or denominations such as the Roman Catholic and United Methodist Churches, rectors are not appointed, they are elected. There will be a formal, nationwide search process overseen by the St. Luke’s vestry and carried out by a Rector Search Committee appointed by the vestry. This is somewhat analogous to a private sector search process, but different in that this search is about prayer, discernment, and being guided by the Holy Spirit.
The vestry and Interim Rector, Rhonda, met with Canon Catherine Massey on March 16th to begin discussion of the search process for a new rector for St. Luke’s.
Timing and Expectations
Coming out of Covid and reconnecting with our friends at St. Luke’s is the priority and focus now. In the coming months our Interim Rector, Rhonda, will be helping us discern our identity, reviewing our ministries, and discovering what we find most important coming out of this pandemic. This will position us to be able to answer the important questions asked during the search process.
There are many steps to the search process. We are in the very early stages and the vestry looks to form a Search Committee to walk through all the steps with us by late summer or early fall. If you have any suggestions as to who might best serve on the Search Committee, please send Lisa D’Amico (Senior Warden) or June Santa (Junior Warden) an email. We are hoping for candidates from a broad spectrum of ages, interests, and experience. Please note that the search committee will be composed of about 6-9 people, including some vestry members, so, although suggestions for members are welcome, not everyone who is mentioned will be asked to serve. But everyone in the congregation will have ample opportunity for input at many points in the process of finding a new rector. We will need your voices.
Phase 1: Pre-Search ** WE ARE HERE
Over the next few months, St. Luke’s will take the time needed to get used to gathering together again, while still engaging with those who can’t join us in person. The vestry will be collecting names of Search Committee candidates. Toward the end of the summer, the vestry will choose a Search Committee Chair (or co-chairs) and begin reviewing and considering how to get the best balance of voices from all parts of our St. Luke’s community.
Once the Search Committee is chosen, they will begin their work with Canon Massey, gathering thoughts, hopes and dreams of who St. Luke’s is and who St. Luke’s wants to become. This data gathering, from all of you, will produce what is called the Parish Profile. This is what potential candidates will see when our position is posted.
Phase 2: Active Search
In the beginning of next year (2023), the position will be posted nationally and the Search Committee will begin receiving applications. They will begin the process of reviewing applications and interviewing. Visits to candidates’ churches will be made as the list narrows. While the committee will keep the congregation informed about the general progress of the search, the specifics of the search (the candidates’ names and current parishes, the number of candidates, or their demographics) will remain strictly confidential.
After careful reflection and prayer by the Search Committee, the Active Search will conclude with the selection of a single candidate for the vestry’s consideration.
Phase 3: The Call
Upon approval by the vestry, the Sr. Warden will inform the Canon and the Bishop of the vestry’s desire to issue a call to the candidate. If the call is accepted, the new rector will be announced!
We will continue to update you as we go through this process in the newsletters and on our website’s “Rector Search” page. Please feel free to speak with anyone on vestry about the search process at any time.
Please join with me in praying for God to guide us throughout this process.
Faithfully,
Lisa D’Amico
Sr. Warden, St. Luke’s Vestry
stlukesdurham.org 