Copyright © 2020 by Mary Brennan Thorpe
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Church Publishing
19 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
Cover icon by Mary Brennan Thorpe
Cover design by Marc Whitaker, MTWdesign
Typeset by Rose Design
A record of this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN-13: 978-1-64065-301-6 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1-64065-302-3 (ebook)
In gratitude for the bishops, colleagues, lay leaders, parishes,
and friends who informed and encouraged this work,
because your gifts and graces shine throughout this book.
No words are enough for Doug, my encourager and partner
in life, love, and writing. I am blessed.
CONTENTS
II. A General Outline of the Transition Process
a. Vestry Involvement in the Process: A Quick View from 10,000 Feet
c. Options for Calls: A Closer Look
e. Calling a Priest-in-Charge Rather Than Using an Interim Rector
f. Selecting a Discernment Committee and Committee Chair
g. What Is the Work of the Discernment Committee?
h. The Commissioning of a Discernment Committee
V. Other Vestry Considerations
a. Communications during the Time of Transition
b. Staff Issues
VI. Particular Considerations for Challenged Parishes and for Challenging Times
a. Challenged Parishes: Growing Smaller and Poorer
b. Challenged Parishes: Bad/Sad/Mad Endings
c. Challenging Times
VII. For the Discernment Committee: Phase One
a. An Overview of the Work Ahead
b. Communications and Vestry/Committee Interactions during the Time of Transition
c. The Self-Study Process
d. Tools for Self-Study
e. Mind the Gap: Bridging Information-Gathering between “Who Are We Now” and “Who Is God Calling Us to Be Next?”
f. Preparing the Community Ministry Portfolio
g. It’s Done!
h. Promoting Your Position
VIII. For the Vestry: Phase Two
IX. For the Discernment Committee: Phase Two and Final Steps
a. The Spiritual Nature of the Work You Do
b. First Stage Interviewing
c. Behavioral Interview Guide
d. Short-List Work
e. On the Road: Visiting Candidates in Their Own Parish
f. For the Discernment Committee: Final Phase
X. For the Vestry: Final Steps
a. One More Goodbye: To Your Interim Rector
b. Welcoming Your New Priest
c. When Something Goes Sideways
d. How the Diocese Welcomes Your New Priest
XI. Last Words
Appendix A: Sample Surveys
Appendix B: Some Guidelines for the Conduct of Focus Groups
Appendix C: Appreciative Inquiry-Style Congregational Meeting
Appendix D: Community Ministry Profile Worksheet
Eighty-four calls.
Since I began this work of transition ministry several years ago, we’ve midwifed more than one hundred calls for rectors, vicars, priests-in-charge, and deacons-in-charge in this diocese. Add in the facilitation of appointments of a number of interim rectors, and it’s safe to say that almost every possible mistake has been made, a great number of unusual situations have been faced, a range of all possible emotions felt.
So consider this book, based upon research as well as the lived experience of transition in Episcopal churches of incredible variety, your way to avoid repeating mistakes you don’t need to make, a way to navigate the usual pitfalls, a way to see the goal clearly and move toward it confidently.
What’s the goal?
Here’s what it is not: hiring a priest. You’re not contracting with a plumber (although many of us have plunged a few toilets in our parishes). You’re not figuring out who the best heart surgeon is to fix your ticker (although many of us have sat with and wept with and prayed with parishioners with broken hearts). You’re not hiring a lawyer to sort out who owes who what when someone has cheated you (although many of us have facilitated knotty and painful