Diocescan Deployment Officer, Fr. Rand Fagg, visits Ascension

Fr. Rand Fagg – Church Deployment Officer

August 24, 2008

Synopsis of Initial presentation: Ascension Café, 9:10 – 9:50 a.m.

34 people attending

A COMPLETE TAPE RECORDING OF THIS 45 MINUTE SESSION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.  CONTACT DAVE SWAIN, LINDA TROWER-SHUSS OR CINDY JARDINE. 

General Comments by Fr. Rand: Parish priest in Rupert

He is also the Church Deployment Officer for the Diocese –

-          assigned by Bishop

-          unpaid, volunteer position

-          to help parishes seeking a priest

Ascension has completed the “hardest step” – said good bye to Brian.

Now parish is still in grieving process, accepting change.

Vestry has the responsibility for all that goes on at Ascension to see that things run smoothly.  I have met with the Vestry and they are now beginning the process of the search

SEARCH PROCESS: (Overview)

Count on the process taking approximately one year:

1. Vestry appoints a committee
   1. Creates a Parish Profile –

                                                              i.       Factual statement of the way our church really is, what we’re looking for; where we want to go, maybe where you’ve been.

                                                            ii.      Lists 24 major areas of expertise desired of priest, weighted.

1.  
   1. Profile will be available on the National Episcopal website.
   2. Our Parish Profile is computer matched with priests’ profiles.

                                                              i.      Like match.com; but more than a “date”, it’s for “marriage”

1.      plan on it taking awhile

                                                            ii.      List of 40 names of priests who most closely meet our criteria.

1.      List is sent to Diocese;

2.      Bishop screens first; removes any he doesn’t like (and doesn’t have to say why);

3.      Remaining list is sent to Search Committee at Ascension to review.

                                                          iii.      None of the priests listed have applied for the position. On Priest’s Profile, there is a box “willing to receive a call”. If checked, their name can be sent to Search Committees

                                                           iv.      Some may not feel called to this church; some may feel called, but you won’t like them.

1.  
   1. Other priests’ resumes can also be considered:

                                                              i.      Any priest can submit a resume to our Search Committee (“apply for the job”).  This person could still be “perfect” for Ascension, but didn’t come up on the computer list of 40; their criteria just didn’t match as closely to our criteria.

                                                            ii.      Any priest recommended by a parishioner, who is willing to

   send a resume, can be considered.

                                                          iii.      Bishop cannot stop us from receiving these profiles for consideration; he can say that he doesn’t recommend them, however.

1.  
   1. Ascension Search Committee:

                                                              i.      Reviews priests’ profiles;

                                                            ii.      Identifies ones who are top candidates;

                                                          iii.      Contacts priests:

1.      Sends information about Ascension;

2.      Sends questionnaire to priest for further information.

                                                           iv.      After receiving follow-up information, Committee chooses finalists whom we are most interested in (2 or 3, usually).

                                                             v.      Visit finalists in their home parish (2 Search Comm. members travel).

                                                           vi.      If we are still interested, Vestry may invite priest to come to Ascension for visit.

                                                         vii.      If everyone is happy with them, let Diocesan office know who we want to call to be our priest.

1.      A complete background check – financial history, criminal check, check with his present Bishop – is done through Diocesan office.

2.      Bishop of Idaho gives final approval.

                                                       viii.      Send a “call” to the chosen priest

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:

Paula Dodd: “If 40 names are submitted and the Bishop pulls some, how do you know the full 40 names?”

            Fr. Rand:  You will get only the names approved by the Bishop.    Remember that this list of priests comes from National Church office – the priests don’t know their names have been sent to Ascension.

Jo Leuze: “My understanding is we can get an interim priest, for a year.  Can we suggest people to be an interim?”

            Fr. Rand:   Interim priests are appointed by the Bishop.  You can suggest names to the Bishop for interims.  Interim is generally in place about a year.  Having an interim can decrease anxiety for the Search Committee.    If you choose not to have an interim priest, Supply Priests (from other churches in the area) will provide services   But this does not provide continuity.

            Dave Swain: Having interim or supply priests will give us an opportunity to see what we appreciate, what we want to see in a new priest, what we do and don’t want. However, an Interim priest is not less expensive, financially.  We are responsible for salary and moving expenses in and out.  

Sue Carver: She encouraged taking time to make up the Parish Profile.  It means a lot to determine what we are looking for.  Needs everyone’s input.

            Dave Swain: we would like to have parish wide meetings, to meet together and discuss who we are.

Bill Lehman: “What is the protocol for a priest accepting our call, leaving his congregation?”

            Fr. Rand: Almost every priest will need 3 months at least – say good-bye, wrap up parish business; might need 6 months, especially if they have children in school.  It depends on who you extend the call to.  Plan on at least 3 months.

Bill Lehman: “Are all the search costs borne by our congregation?  Does the Diocese help in finding a priest?” 

Dave Swain: It is all our cost.

Dave Duhaime: “For a parish this size, what is a typical size of Search Committee?”

Fr. Rand: 6 to 8 people is typical.  Ascension is larger, so could have more.

            The Vestry appoints the Search Committee.  

            Sr. Warden cannot be on the Search Committee.

             Need people who work well together. The larger the committee, the slower the process. But you don’t want a committee of three.

Judi Baxter:  Search Committee for Fr. Brian was 9 people; good number; worked well.  Odd number to avoid tie votes. 

Fr. Rand: Sometimes there are odd numbers for tie votes, but you shouldn’t call a priest if almost half of the Search Committee doesn’t want him.

Char Basila-Lehman: “What is the makeup of the Search Committee?”

Dave Swain: A cross section of our congregation (youth, families with children, long-standing members, participating newcomers, etc.)

Char: “What is the real size of our parish?” (Comment that people listed in our directory don’t necessarily come to church.)

Dave Swain: We keep track of attendance at worship services.

Char: “The financial considerations are serious; will that limit us in the search process?  How much does the congregation need to know about the finances (of the search process)? For example do we select a priest who is in the West because it is less expensive than moving someone from the East Coast?”

Dave Swain:  It’s up to us to keep up with our obligations and support the parish.

A lot has to do with whether we do pulpit supply or an interim.  But when we find the right person, we will find the way to get them here.  

Nancy Koonce: A few years ago, Vestry began a Transition Fund to help fund the Transition process; has about $3000-$4000 in it now.  Any “excess” money saved during the Transition Time, by not paying salary, insurance, etc. of a priest, will be put into the Transition Fund.  If everyone keeps up with their giving, we should have excess funds.   And whoever the priest is who is right for us, we will find a way to pay for the move here. 

Jeff Gooding: “I’m confused about the makeup of the committee.  Fr. Fagg said there would be a committee. Sue (Carver) said input from everyone to make up the parish profile.”

Dave Swain: We will have meetings to discuss who we are, where we want to go.  Then form a Search Committee that works well together, but  doesn’t necessarily agree on everything - has creative tension.

Judi Baxter: Parish doesn’t have input about who is on the Search Committee.  The Search Committee is appointed by the Vestry.   Parish has input on what we put on the Parish Profile.   I’m not sure we’ve answered Jeff’s question.

Jeff Gooding: “How does the parish have input on the profile?  We don’t know what kind of input it is.  If a committee decides ‘that’s the guy’ and 100 people say ‘No” we’ll vote with our feet.”

Fr. Rand: Generally, entire parish is surveyed with a questionnaire to determine what is important to the parish.  (He has seen one questionnaire with 80 questions, too many, in his estimation; and some questions not helpful in finding a priest.)  When all surveys are completed by everyone who will complete it, then, results of survey are presented to the congregation.  Then there are meetings to discuss the results of the survey – opportunity for discussion and expressing opinions.   Then the profile can be made.  

Linda Trower-Shuss: “What is the greatest mistake we can make in this Search process?”

Fr. Rand:   The greatest mistake is to rush through the process, to try to get a priest here as soon as possible.   God doesn’t work on our timetable.  When you call someone you want to have the best priest that can be found.

Fr. Rand: Other information:

1. Bishop Harry quoted a “standard rule” – “Generally a church will wait one month for every year the priest was there.”     Fr. Rand believes this is too long in Ascension’s case.

            Doesn’t think Ascension will have a problem in finding a priest. 

One parish completed the process in 5 months – if the priest they have called accepts.

            One parish has been in the process two years (priests keep declining).

            Twin Falls is an attractive community.  Idaho is 3^rd fastest growing state.

            Ascension is attractive church, paid for, outstanding congregation.

            Likeable people – don’t have members who make priests wary.

1. You are not limited to 40 names.  If you go through 40 names and don’t like them, we begin again.  We can adjust the parish profile, if necessary.  For example, you might change the weight of importance of criteria.  The only 100% requirement is that the person is an ordained priest.

Dr. Lyle Wonderlich: “40 years ago we called a priest and the bishop didn’t approve him. Is that still true?” 

            Fr. Rand: The Bishop has final approval of selection.   This Diocese is too small to have any “squirrels”; for example, if you have someone who doesn’t believe what the Episcopal Church teaches. He needs to be theologically suited to be a priest in the Diocese of Idaho.  The Bishop has the right to reject someone.  

Dave Swain: Asked congregation if they would like more information meetings of this type.  Show of hands (easy majority) that they would like more.

Linda Trower-Shuss: A question box is placed in Narthex, with cards available.

If you have a question, please submit it.  If you sign the card, the Management Committee will get back to you with an answer; if you do not sign the card, the question will be answered in general information. 

A COMPLETE TAPE RECORDING OF THIS 45 MINUTE SESSION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

CONTACT DAVE SWAIN (swain@cableone.net           736-2418 H  404-3877 C) , LINDA TROWER-SHUSS (jshuss@cableone.net       733-9225 H   731-3184 C) OR CINDY JARDINE  (jardine5@cableone.net   734-8594 H 420-5147 C)