Rector Search

Search Committee Members

Barclay Jameson: Co-Chair          Nancy Hunter: Co-Chair

Sherri Brown                                Allan Conrad

Krish DeGarmo                            Sue Emerson

Ed Groenert                                 Laurie Kadrich

Chip Newton                                Bob Robinson

Jim Sidwell                                  Merrilyn Simpkins

Members of the Search Committee and the Congregation have been busy looking to the future of St. Matthew’s during the past six weeks by filling out survey forms and conducting and/or attending small-group meetings.

The 11-page survey, which asked about a range of topics from preferred worship liturgy to environmental stewardship, was answered by 180 individual parish members. That was a higher rate of participation than was expected. Six years ago, when there was considerably more anxiety at St. Matthew’s, 181 surveys were completed.

Those surveys have been tabulated, but the comments that went with them are still in the process of being sorted and attached to the applicable questions. The anticipation is that the data will be posted on the church web site (www.stmatthewsgj.org) as soon as the comments have been attached. They also will be printed for parishioners who prefer a hard copy. Look for it mid- to late-April.

The 13 small-group meetings, which are intended to bring a finer focus on what we like about St. Matthew’s and hopes for the future, are taking place as this was being written the last week of March. Some 120 members of the parish signed up to discuss in small groups why they came to St. Matthew’s, why they have stayed and their thought on our future direction.

Greatly appreciated are those who opened up their homes for the meetings: Roger and Jeanette Benson, Allan and Sharon Conrad, Joel and Debra Robinson, Con and Rosemary Litz, Bob and Carol Robinson, Deb Feeley, Barclay and Linda Jameson, Ives and Sue Murray, Richard and Jeanne Berryman, Walt and Sue Orloff, Jim and Sue Sidwell, and Dave and Sue Emerson. The facilitators and recorders for the meetings were members of the Search Committee, several spouses, and Richard Berryman.

What’s next? The data from the surveys and the thoughts from the meetings will be combined into a parish profile. That profile will help tell both ourselves and prospective rector candidates who we think we are and where we want St. Matthew’s to head. Perhaps that document will be completed by the end of April. There are other things that need to go with it such as the parochial reports and financial statements for the past five years. (Imagine how much more enticing the financials look now with no debt on the books—hooray for those contributed and prayed so faithfully for the past seven years.)

The opening will be advertised, probably in May. The applicants will be screened by the Search Committee and Bishop’s office until a final list of approximately three to five priests is submitted to the Vestry, which will do its own screening and make the final selection.

Is there a deadline when a selection is to be made? No. Sometimes things move along quickly, as in the past six weeks. And sometimes they seem to move at a snail’s pace—often because of events outside the parish’s control.

The members of the Search Committee have been impressed with the sincerity and faithfulness in which the congregation has participated in the survey and meetings, and we thank you all for your interest in St. Matthew’s and its future.