Search Process Update (March 16, 2008)

      During the past month, your St. Luke's Search Committee has completed the information to be provided to the Church Development Office (CDO) in New York City, information packets to be provided to applicants, and text for advertisements for printed media.  These have been reviewed and approved by St. Luke's Vestry.  The Search Committee also met with Bishop Bainbridge and Rand Fagg on March 1^st to review the information we had prepared for the CDO and discuss the calling the process in general.

     The CDO is the main source of potential applicants.  It matches the skills we indicate are desired with those of ordained priests in their database.  (Remember that the information provided to the CDO was derived from your input using a range of sources including the St. Luke's stated vision, the recent parish survey, "Hopes and Dreams" discussions with parishioners, Vestry and Transition team inputs, and others - Thank You!)  With our information, the CDO will provide a list of 40 potential candidates to Bishop Bainbridge's Office.  Bishop Harry will review the candidate's information and provide a short list, likely about 6, to the Search Committee.  The CDO Search has been completed and we may receive the short list of candidates from Bishop Harry when he visits to celebrate Easter with us.  The Search Committee also prepared text for an advertisement that tentatively will be published in Episcopal Life and in The Living Church as another means of identifying candidates.  (The Episcopal Life advertisement will appear in the magazine's May issue, which hits the newsstands on April 18^th.)  We also accept "nominations" from parishioners.  Bishop Bainbridge will review candidates from these other sources before we are allowed to proceed.

     The Search Committee has also completed information for packets to be sent to candidates.  This information was approved by the St. Luke's Vestry and includes a Cover Letter, short History of St. Luke's, Community Profile, Parish Profile, Position Description, and a list of questions to the applications.  The questions include:

(1)    What is your current schedule and if scheduling were yours to choose, what would it look like?

(2)    What is the most memorable program you have instituted in your parish?  Why?

(3)    Tell us one of your favorite biblical passages or stories and why it is important to you?

(4)    How do you approach pastoral care in your current congregation?

(5)    How are children involved in your worship services?

(6)    What do you do for fun and what books are you currently reading?

     As always, your St. Luke's Search Committee (Cher Stone, head honcho, Ann Albin, Nancy Jones, Warren Jones, Bob Neilson, Gary Roberts, and Jason Wright) are available to discuss the search process, receive input, or answer any questions you may have.