Search Committee Progress

The work of the Rector Search Committee continues, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to discern who is best prepared to lead us on our journey as our next Rector. The Parish input meetings were completed in late May/early June. Thank you to all who helped facilitate these gatherings and especially to all who participated – attendance far exceeded expectations. Feedback we received on the process used was very positive. The Committee reviewed all of the input gathered looking for common themes and unique observations. The results provide both guidance and substance for our current task – developing our Parish Profile.

There are two profile documents. One is prepared for the Office of Transitional Ministry (OTM) of The Episcopal Church (TEC) and requires the use of their standard format. This information is posted on the TEC web site though it is available only to Episcopal Clergy who are themselves discerning a call to a new position. The document has been completed and has been approved by the Committee, the Vestry and forwarded to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh for their approval.

The second document being prepared is the narrative profile. It is created to provide a description of St. Paul’s, and our hopes for the future, that is both comprehensive and efficiently presented. In the past these were “hard copy” printed documents that were circulated by “snail mail”. Now the norm for parishes like ours is to publish this information on the internet. This avails us of powerful presentation tools and provides a vast audience with immediate access. The narrative profile is under development and, once complete, will undergo the same approval process. With all approvals completed both profiles will “go public” concurrently. The address (URL) for the narrative profile will be distributed to the parish at that time.

We will then be ready to receive applications both directly and by referral. The narrative profile will include an application email address. Principals may apply directly. To submit a prospective applicant, please send that person’s name and their personal email address to the application email address. That person will be invited by the Rector Search Committee to consider if they feel a call to this position. For fairness all applicants will begin the process using this procedure.

Thanks once more to all for your assistance and support. We ask for your continuing prayers.

Any questions? – Please contact either Committee Co-Chair Eileen Sharbaugh (412) 983-2462 or Geoff Hurd (412) 760-7280