Monthly Updates

We are archiving the monthly updates of the Search Committee on this page so that you can go back and follow the progress of the Search.

Search Committee Monthly Update - October 2018

After eight months and twenty-three meetings, the Search Committee — following the Episcopal Diocese of Washington's Standard Process for Transition of Parish Clergy — has completed its task.

The names of our top three candidates have been forwarded in ranked order to the Vestry. The search process, although arduous at times, has culminated in our selection of these extremely viable and well-qualified candidates — any one of which will lift our spirits and move our church in the right direction.

Thanks to you, the congregation, for your support, prayers and patience during this process, and for your tremendous response during our self-assessment phase where you provided critical input at our focus groups.

Now, the Vestry will take the reins, conducting the final interviews and on-site visits here at our church, and will thoughtfully and prayerfully discern which of the three candidates will be the new rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

Search Committee Monthly Update - August 2018

The Search Committee is working well as a cohesive and collaborative team during this new phase of discernment. This is a difficult process, but we are very pleased with the progress being made.

We are exuberant and excited about the 11 candidates who have applied. Though still in the interviewing process, mostly via Skype or FaceTime, four candidates have been granted a second interview and planned visitations are being arranged.

The candidates see our church and school community as having a strong foundation and — coupled with our extraordinary music program, outreach activities and ministries — are excited about Christ Church as their possible future home where they can stay and lay down their roots.


Search Committee Monthly Update - July 2018

The search committee has continued to meet every Monday evening throughout June with the exception of the evening of June 25th. The meetings are very busy with many tasks.

Since completing the focus group data the committee has reviewed various response letters to be sent to candidates regarding our receipt of their application, our level of interest for a preliminary interview, or responding to applicants who were not selected for further consideration. Those have been reworked and crafted so that the letters reflect the style and tenor of our parish.

Committee members reviewed the summary of interview questions each member submitted. Questions were grouped into meaningful categories and a thorough discussion of the wording of the questions followed. We also assigned ourselves to areas of interest/participation with regard to the ministries, programs and domains of our church so that we may answer questions from candidates, when needed.

The first wave of candidates has been received and the review process for those candidates has begun. A total of 9 individuals applied during our first request period which officially ended June 29. We will be extending our timeline to give candidates who were involved with the convention or on vacation may also have a chance to apply. The process to determine which of the first group will be contacted for further consideration will continue during the month of July.


Search Committee Monthly Update - June 2018

Thank You!

Thanks to all of the approximately 170 people who either participated in one of the nine focus groups or submitted written responses to the four questions that were posed to parishioners. Those questions asked everyone to identify what they seek in a rector, what they see as Christ Church’s strengths and challenges, and what dreams they have for the church. Broad input was received, which generated voluminous notes.

What to Expect Next

The comment process is now closed. The Search Committee will present a report that summarizes and synthesizes all the feedback by mid-June.

Historical Perspective

If you have been through a rector search at another church, or the one held here 19+ years ago that resulted in Fr. John’s call as rector, you may note some differences between that experience and the current process being followed under the supervision of the Diocese. Canon Paula Clark articulated this contrast during her adult forum presentation at the beginning of our search process, explaining that our Diocese uses a narrative format instead of a traditional parish profile compilation.

Clarifying Roles

Some of the issues raised during the focus group/comment period fall outside the scope of the Search Committee (e.g., issues regarding the school, stewardship, and the capital campaign). Those kinds of issues are in the Vestry’s domain and have been forwarded to them. Also, the Diocese does not permit direct contact with or input from staff members regarding the search and screening process.

What Prospective Applicants Receive

In addition to the Q&A narrative from the Diocese which the Search Committee already submitted, prospective rector candidates will receive a copy of Christ Church’s latest annual report and have full access to the Christ Church website. Candidates also have access through the Diocese to financial information about Christ Church. The committee will hold interviewees accountable for being familiar with the specifics of these materials.


Search Committee Monthly Update - May 2018

Please keep the Committee's prayer in your heart as we search for a new rector. The Search Committee would like to heartily thank all who participated in the focus groups conducted to elicit responses from the CEC parish. We have collected an enormous amount of information and it will take a few weeks to collate, analyze and synthesize all of the responses. You may have noticed that the procedures we are following are different from years past, as Canon Paula Clark articulated in her Adult Forum presentation at the beginning of our search process.

Some really exciting news---Our search is now LIVE on the Office of Transitional Ministry website which means that candidates from all over the United States (and the world) will be looking at Christ Church! 

Be assured we will continue to keep the Parish informed of the committee's progress with more updates as information becomes available.


Search Committee Monthly Update - April 2018

Overview

  • The Search Committee, chaired by Janice Musselman, has begun the process that will identify rector candidates and narrow prospects down to a select few, from which the Vestry will make the final selection.
  • Separately, the Vestry will soon select an interim rector who will serve until a permanent replacement is chosen.
  • The Search Committee has met four times so far. Cannon Paula Clark from the Diocese opened the Search Committee’s first meeting by laying down core principles to which the committee must adhere (such as the need for strict confidentiality), as well as important inspirations its members should keep in mind (such as walking a prayerful path through this typically long and arduous process).

Ongoing Communication

  • While the committee’s deliberations and candidate outreach remain confidential, the overall search process must be transparent.
  • A page has been added to Christ Church’s website, thanks to Webmaster Jeremy Snider, containing details about the Search Committee (see “Rector Search” page under “About CEC”).
  • Also, the committee has established and organized internal working groups and developed its communication process, responsibilities and conduits to provide for a flow of information to keep the congregation abreast of progress. Toward that end, monthly updates will be disseminated, typically during the first week of every month moving forward. Parishioners are encouraged to check the bulletin, Angelus, and website for these updates at that time.

Narrative Statement for Diocesan Search Platform

  • The Diocese maintains an online platform visited by clergy nationwide seeking positions in this region. To aid prospective candidates in learning about churches searching for a new rector, the Diocese posts on that platform an in-depth “narrative” summary from each such church. That narrative summary is prepared by each church’s search committee, based on a lengthy list of questions from the Diocese.
  • The Christ Church Search Committee has completed that narrative summary for submission to the Diocese. The document will be disseminated to the parish for informational purposes via the weekly email from the church office this Friday; a copy will also be posted in the near future on Christ Church’s website (in the “Important Documents” section on the “Rector Search” page under “About CEC”).

Focus Groups Planned

  • In order to attract a qualified and well-suited rector, the congregation is called to look in the mirror, so to speak, and make an honest self-assessment of who we are as a parish, led by faith and informed by the Holy Spirit.
  • Accordingly, the Search Committee will conduct a series of eight focus group discussions to gather broad input. Focus groups will begin later this month and run into May. The schedule will be distributed shortly.

Barbara Fennelly
Stephen Renfroe
Mark Wright
Search Committee Members

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