RECTORTRANSITION UPDATE

St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh March/April 2019

Celebrate Departing Rector

Interim Rector Welcomed

Committees Appointed

Survey & Listening Sessions

Parish Profile Published

Applications Reviewed

Site Visits & Interviews

Vestry Calls New Rector

Celebration of New Ministry

SEARCH PROCESS TAKING SHAPEVESTRY TAPS EXPERIENCED SEARCH CONSULTANT AND LAY LEADERS

TRANSITION ROADMAPWhen a parish is without a rector, a search

committee is appointed by its vestry to discern God’s will about its next rector. It is a big job, often split among two committees. Our vestry has set about to form two committees to do this important work. A Prayer Team will also be established.Our Profile Committee will design a process

for us to reflect on where we have been, where we are now and where the Holy Spirit may be leading us next. The process will include several listening sessions and an online survey, leading to the publication of a Parish Profile. The Parish Profile will support the work of our Search Committee, who will advertise our search nationwide, interview candidates, and recommend a final candidate to the Vestry. Each committee will be led by experienced

and committed lay leaders. The Vestry has appointed Ginger Goodrich as chair of the Profile Committee and has appointed Sarah Elliott and Alan Smith as co-chairs of the Search Committee. Ginger, Alan, Sarah and

their fellow committee members will be supported in their work by an experienced search consultant, The Rev. Joanne Izzo. Joanne will assist St. Thomas’ transition committees in preparation of the profile, search and discernment tools.The Vestry is in the process of inviting

additional parishioners to contribute their talents to the work of these committees that will greatly shape the future of our parish. The Vestry expects to announce the names of the committee members by early March. In the meantime, every member of the parish can support these committees and their work in keeping them in our daily prayers.Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things

in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

2020

“My biggest hope for you here at St. Thomas’ is to flourish: to know yourselves to be loved and know that God will use you to change the world.” - Paul Briggs+

Pictured (L-R): The Rev. Paul Briggs, Interim Rector, The Rev. Elizabeth Costello, Associate Rector, The Rev. Tim Steeves, Priest Associate

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2019

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LITURGY FEEDBACK WELCOMED

SEE THE FOLLOWING PAGE FOR SEARCH CONSULTANT AND COMMITTEE CHAIR BIOGRAPHIES

As we get in touch with who we are as a parish, we are rediscovering our liturgical center. During the transition, you may notice slight changes to the liturgy. The Worship & Arts Commission welcomes your feedback via email to Nicole Riter, Chair (gngwk@aol.com).

A WORD FROM OUR INTER IM RECTOR

PARISH PROFILE

The work of the Profile Committee is to identify who we are now as a congregation, who we hope to become, and what kind of leadership we need. The entire congregation is asked to participate in building an accurate and vivid description of our church. This will become the foundation of the Parish Profile that will guide the Search Committee and prospective clergy candidates as they discern God’s will for St. Thomas’ Church.

COMMITTEE

Ginger Goodrich, Chair

SPOUSE AND CHILDREN: Herb Goodrich active parishioner until his death in 2007; Cindy, Matthew and Steven; 3 in-laws; 4 grandchildren.MINISTRY PARTICIPATION AT ST. THOMAS’: Church School Chair; Prison ministry volunteer; Stewardship Chair; Volunteer Ministry Coordinator; Vestry member; Executive Committee; Gospel study facilitator.WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING OUR TRANSITION?The Search Process begins with a parish self-study. Each of us has a unique set of relationships; as well as memories of the past and hopes for the future. I hope to provide as many ways as possible for every parishioner to contribute to the work of understanding who we are now as a faith community and then building a shared vision of what our future can be.EDUCATION: Smith College.EMPLOYMENT: Have worked in parish, Diocesan, and national areas of the Episcopal Church for over 30 years, including 11 years as a staff member for Congregational Development in the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

The work of our Search Committee will lead us to call our next Rector. This work centers on discerning God’s will for St. Thomas’ on behalf of the entire congregation.

Sarah Elliott, Co-Chair Alan Smith, Co-Chair

SPOUSE AND CHILDREN: Steve Elliott, Will (22) and Jeffrey (20)MINISTRY PARTICIPATION AT ST. THOMAS’: Ministry Fair, Sunday School teacher, Vestry class 2006, Executive Committee, Shared Ministry Commission, Labyrinth Ministry since 2006 (chaired installation), Membership Commission, participant and leader of several Gospel study groups since 2002, Women’s Retreat Planning Team, RenewalWorks. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING OUR TRANSITION? The work of the Search & Discernment Committee will lead us to call our next Rector. Although we will be reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates, our search process is not the same as a corporate executive search. We will be trying to discern God’s will for St. Thomas’ on behalf of the entire congregation. It is a spiritual process rather than a hiring decision. I am honored to co-chair our Search Committee and look forward to our work together. EDUCATION: Emory University. EMPLOYMENT: Non-practicing attorney with experience in commercial real estate transactions.

SPOUSE AND CHILDREN: Stacy Smith, Rachel (21) and Gemma (15)MINISTRY PARTICIPATION AT ST. THOMAS’: Bible Challenge, RenewalWorks, Worship & Arts Commission (and Chair) 2009-2015, Interfaith Housing since 2010, Communications Commission, EFM Graduate, Outreach Commission, Co-leader of 2016 Confirmation class, Vestry class of 2016, Executive Committee, Sunday school teacher, Co-Chair of PACM. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING OUR TRANSITION? The Search & Discernment Committee is tasked with the conduct of a thoughtful and prayerful search for the position of Rector for St Thomas’. The call of a Rector is one of the most important decisions our parish can make and will help shape the next steps on our spiritual journeys together. We will approach the search process by keeping in mind the interests of the whole parish and all of our many ministries. I am humbled to be trusted to co-chair our Search & Discernment Committee and ask that you keep each of us in your prayers as we embark on our work. EDUCATION: Randolph-Macon College; Emmanuel College, Cambridge University; University of Richmond, TC Williams School of Law. EMPLOYMENT: Alan is Deputy General Counsel within the Litigation and Regulatory Affairs unit at Janney Montgomery Scott.

Meet our search consultant

The Vestry has engaged The Rev. Joanne Izzo to journey with our Profile Committee and our Search & Discernment Committee. A native Brooklynite, Joanne was ordained as priest in the Diocese of New York in 2014. She is certified as an Interim Minister and a coach for clergy. She designs and facilitates vestry, ministry, and leadership retreats, and appreciative inquiry processes for congregations seeking to identify goals, aspirations, and strengths. She also oversees the training of other clergy to lead these retreats. In addition to her work with the church, Joanne is a social worker at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Vestry will appoint several

parishioners to each committee during

the next two months

stthomaswhitemarsh.org/rector-search

SEARCHCOMMITTEE

“My prayer for you as a faith community is that you will find this time of transition not as a process to be gotten but as an opportunity to deepen relationships and savor the Love of Christ among you.” - Joanne Izzo+