Discernment Committee Update

Discernment Committee Update

May 8, 2023

“Discernment is a process by which God helps an individual reach the best decision.”
(from Pray.com)

Below is a brief update on the progress of the Discernment Committee. We have had two productive meetings, including a joint meeting with the Profile Committee and the outside consultant, Ron Clingenpeel. Ron brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our process as he has worked with over 100 parishes on rector searches.

At our most recent meeting, we set up five subcommittees who will report back to the full committee on a regular basis. These subcommittees are:

  • Communications — develop regular communication for the congregation via the website and staff-generated parish-wide communications.
  • Education — working with Christian Formation to educate the congregation about training for the priesthood, responsibilities of a priest, and related topics.
  • Interview — developing the questions to be used when interviewing the candidates.
  • Travel — organizing the travel and accommodations for the committee and candidates.
  • Presentation — develop the presentation to the vestry of the final candidate.

Our work will begin in earnest after the results of the parish survey and the profile have been completed. The Discernment Committee will then begin to solicit candidates. Due to the sensitive nature of our work, to protect the candidates and to keep the process moving forward properly, we will need to maintain confidentiality throughout the process. We will keep you updated as much as possible on our progress. In closing, because prayer is at the heart of discernment, we invite you to pray for St. David’s Church and the work of the Profile and Discernment Committees.

The Rector Transition Prayer

Dear God,
We ask for open hearts and minds as our search for a new rector unfolds. We ask for the eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to sense your guidance and inspiration. We ask you to help us imagine as much as think, to listen more than we speak, and to trust the movements of your Holy Spirit throughout this process. We pray for comfort with uncertainty in the coming year; for our friends who are called to serve on our search committees; for the priests we meet through this search; and for Frank and Amy as they navigate toward a new stage of life. Help us, O God, to remember that it is in darkness that new life begins and help us to trust in what we cannot yet see. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

St. David’s Discernment Committee
Jamie Arnold, Robin Ford, Jonesy Lerch, Teresa Marlino, Mike Mayer, John Oehler, Susan Scauzzo (chair), Sarah Schoettle, and Hal Yoh