Frequently Asked Questions about the Rector Transition Process

Frequently Asked Questions about the Transition Process – from the Rector

For those of you who were unable to attend the recent Annual Meeting, I would like to repeat some of what I said on that occasion. Since sending out my letter to the congregation about succession planning and the transition process, I have had questions from several parishioners. If you have further questions after reading this, please feel free to be in touch with me.

Q. When will the new Rector be appointed?

A. In the Episcopal Church, unlike some traditions/denominations as the Roman Catholic and United Methodist Churches, Rectors are not appointed, they are elected. There will be a formal, nationwide search process overseen by the Vestry and carried out by a Rector Search Committee appointed by the Vestry. This is somewhat analogous to a private sector search process, but different in that this search is about prayer, discernment, and being guided by the Holy Spirit.

Q. Will you be involved in the search process?

A. No. I will have no participation in the search process. The Vestry will appoint the Search Committee. The Vestry will elect the new Rector with no involvement on my part. The Vestry and Search Committee will be assisted by a highly competent consultant, Ms. Dana Phillips. Dana is a parishioner at St. Thomas, Oakmont, and served as Chair of the Bishop Search Committee and as consultant to Calvary Episcopal Church in their recent successful search for a new Rector. Many of you will remember Dana for the excellent work she did with us several years ago as a consultant to our visioning process.

Q. Why won’t there be an Interim Rector?

A. The Vestry and I, in consultation with the Bishop, have discerned that the use of an Interim Rector is unnecessary. There is concern that using an Interim would slow down our momentum and cause disruption by having first to adjust to a new person as Interim Rector, then say goodbye to that person, and then adjust to a new person as Rector. In addition, there are no trained and available persons locally to serve as Interim Rector, so it would be necessary to conduct an outside search and the have someone move to Pittsburgh. If I had served for a very long time or if there were significant conflicts in the parish, then likely the Vestry would have chosen to find an Interim Rector.

Q. When will you actually be leaving us?

A. Probably the earliest that I would leave would be at the end of this year, after Christmas. The latest I could leave would be at the end of June of 2017, the time by which I must step down according to the policy of the Episcopal Church. The current plan is that I would leave two or three months before the new Rector would begin. It usually takes two to three months between the time a new Rector is called and the time the person is available to start serving. The new Rector must close out the position he or she has been serving in, take some time off, and move what could be a family and what could be across the country.

Q. What about Michelle and Garrett?

A. We are so fortunate to have Michelle and Garrett during this time of transition. During the in-between period that I mention above, Michelle will provide spiritual and worship leadership, assisted by Garrett. The Senior Warden and Vestry will exercise temporal authority and oversight.

Q. Why can’t Michelle be named our next Rector?

A. Normally in the Episcopal Church an Associate Rector cannot be considered as a candidate for Rector in his or her own parish. The reason for this is that search committees are to consider the best possible candidates wherever they may be, and having an “insider” candidate may prevent the search committee from being fully open to where the Holy Spirit is leading.