CHURCH OF THE REDEEMERA PARISH PROFILE

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We are called, as a loving community of faith, to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and action, and to welcome all people who seek a deeper knowledge of God. We will achieve our mission by striving to create a vibrant, focused, and growing Church that embodies Christian values and beliefs;

implementing programs that are meaningful in our daily lives (faith in action); building a safe environment that encourages us to reach out to our community, to people of other faiths and beliefs, and to people who differ from us in important ways.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME TO REDEEMER 4WHO WE ARE 5WHERE WE COME FROM 6SEVEN WHOLE DAYS, NOT ONE IN SEVEN, I WILL PRAISE THEE 7O WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS 9A LOVING COMMUNITY OF FAITH IN ACTION 11WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO 13GROWING EDGES FOR OUR COMMUNITY 15WHAT WE SEEK IN A NEW RECTOR 16APPENDIX 17OUR DIOCESE 18

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Greetings from the vibrant and caring par-ish family of The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Bethesda, Maryland. We are prayerfully, and with joyful anticipation,

searching for a new Rector. We are a growing parish community of “inquiring and discerning hearts”, where all – the doubter, the seeker, and the believer – are invited to join us in living and wrestling with the often difficult questions of faith. We welcome all people who seek a deeper relationship with God, regardless of religious per-spective. Here we value an Episcopal spirituality – one that is Christ centered and open to the mystery of the Holy and which celebrates the dignity of human nature and the beauty of all creation.

When asked to describe our parish, the words people use most often are inclusive, warm, friendly, open and loving, with a strong sense of community. Redeemer is known for beau-tiful, reverent worship, outstanding preaching, exceptional music, and active outreach min-istries. The parish is also known for its celebration of the sacred in the arts and the world around us. Our services honor tradition, reflect a thoughtful and reverent aesthetic, and genuinely engage the congregation. We expect sermons that are intelligent and relevant to our daily lives in a modern world. We are a singing parish, exuberantly joining in with our choirs. We enjoy an expansive, joyful sharing of the Peace. And we love our many opportu-nities for fellowship with one another. We place a high value on open, informed discussions about important issues, both spiritual and secular, about which we may not all agree. We are committed to service, within our parish, the broader Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and the world.

WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER

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WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER

We are a mid-size parish of about 350 people, including 77 children under 18, located near Washington, D.C. in the Bannockburn neighborhood of Bethesda, Maryland, close to the Potomac River. We are a growing parish, with a mix of all generations. In preparation for calling a new rector, the Search Committee

held three all-parish listening sessions and developed surveys for both adults and children. The surveys queried the respondents about demographics, what was important to them about various aspects of parish life, and what qualities were most essential for a new rector.

From the 179 adults who responded to our parish survey we learned the following important information about our congregation:

WHO WE ARE

71+

51-70

31-50

18-30

Other or none

Roman Catholic

Other Protestant

Episcopalian

attend weekly actively involved in church

ministries and activities

attend services and other church

functions

just attend services

church involvement

age distribution faith tradition

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The Church of the Redeemer was founded in 1893, when a small group of families from the Bannockburn area of Bethesda began meeting in each other’s homes for worship. In 1903, the congregation built a small chapel across the road from our current location. In 1940, a brick chapel was constructed on the present site. The present structure is a major renovation and expansion of the 1940 chapel. Completed in 1999, the building project doubled Redeemer’s worship and program space. Bethesda is one of the most highly educated and affluent communities in the United States.1 Most of our congregation lives within 20 minutes driving distance but for thirty percent Redeemer is a destination church. Redeemer’s membership is predominantly white; we wel-come opportunities to increase the parish’s ethnic diversity. The Church of the Redeemer is only a short drive from the center of Washington, D.C. and yet our setting is a verdant oasis, close to the Potomac River and within the progressive Bannockburn neighborhood.2

1 Bethesda placed first in Forbes list of America’s most educated small towns in 2012. In April 2009, Forbes ranked Bethesda second on its list of “America’s Most Livable Cities”.2 The Bannockburn Community has a history of involvement in political and social activism. Many in the community worked to desegregate the Glen Echo Amusement Park. Residents harbored peace marchers, helped enroll inner-city children in Bannockburn Elementary School and participated in other civil rights and labor activities.

WHERE WE COME FROM

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Interior of the 1940 Chapel prior to the mid-nineties renovation

“I walked into Redeemer and felt a spirit I had never felt before. Open. Light. Smart. Caring. Fun. Serious. All at the same time.”

SEVEN WHOLE DAYS, NOT ONE IN SEVEN, I WILL PRAISE THEE

Redeemer is committed to Jesus’ ministry of accepting everyone with no precondi-tions, and we strive to live into His example. All are welcome at our services through-out the week. All who seek a deeper relationship with God are welcome at our Table. 95% of the respondents to our recent survey strongly support this position.

Redeemer’s worship space is a welcoming holy sanctuary that invites us to be still in the presence of God. In our recent survey, sitting in the worship space is highly regarded as a soul nourishing experience. The icon window behind the altar is inspired by the words of the prophet Malachi: “the Son of Righteousness shall rise with healing in his wings”.

Sunday Services use Rite II. The 8:00 a.m. service is a quiet, contemplative Eucharist with a sermon and no music. One lay lector reads the Lesson and the Epistle. The con-gregation gathers around the altar for the Eucharist. The 10:30 a.m. Eucharist embraces the fullness of the Episco-pal tradition. Adult and Youth choirs lead the congregation in vibrant singing. Youth and adults volunteer as crucifer, torch bearers, acolytes, lectors, chalice bearers and ushers. The quiet spaces during the various liturgies and contempla-tive opportunities are highly valued. Prayers for healing with laying on of hands are offered at both services on the third Sunday of the month; some of the members would like to

have this offered weekly. When needed, Lay Eucharistic ministers take Communion to those who cannot attend services.

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Contemplative Mondays include a Benedictine Group and a Contemplative Christian Group. Also included is the Taizé Service and Healing Rite, offered on the first Monday evening of the month and weekly during Lent, which is a beautiful service with scripture, icons, incense, candlelight, silence and chant, accompanied by piano, guitar and other instruments. Many neigh-bors attend these services and some have been drawn to join Redeemer.

Wednesday Liturgies – As part of Morning Prayer, intercessions are offered for those who have request-ed them. At noon there is an informal Eucharist ser-vice. The homily is a conversation based on readings selected by the Celebrant.

Special Liturgical Services – Highlights include a Solemn Requiem Mass for the Feast of All Souls, a Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent, Choral Evensongs, and proper liturgies for High Holy Days.

Daily - Members of the Redeemer parish, as well as non-members, pray in the sanctuary, sit in the gardens, and walk the outdoor labyrinth in quiet meditation. It is an important part of our mission to open our space to all

who want to worship whether or not they join us Sunday mornings.

We are exceptionally blessed with priests who offer thoughtful, relevant, scriptur-ally-based sermons and a music program that puts us in touch with the Transcendent. These qualities, along with the genuine, au-thentic warmth and love of the community for all who enter our doors, are what set the Redeemer worship experience apart.

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“Redeemer is where I belong, leads me to daily prayer, awareness of God in my life.”

... Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instru-ments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord…

O WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

Redeemer truly embraces the message of Psalm 150 and is well suited as a venue for the arts; the facility is often used for musical performances. A celebration of the sacred in artistic expression is a particular hallmark of parish identity. It is revealed in the beauty of our church building, its worship space, grounds, and gardens. We also

have an annual exhibition of parishioners’ artwork and a highly regarded music series.

Music is central at Redeemer and the church’s custom-built pipe organ, installed in 2007, is a work of art in itself. The red oak organ cases, with their lovely architectural details, house several rare sets of pipes manufactured in 1937. The result is a variety of tonal colors and

exquisite organ music augmented by superb acoustics.

The adult and youth choirs perform traditional finely crafted music every Sunday (homecoming Sunday in September through Trinity Sunday) with occasional guest musicians playing a variety of instru-ments including violin, trumpet, and alto saxophone. There are al-ways sweet musical surprises in store for Redeemer’s congregation!

Inscape, Redeemer’s ensemble-in-residence, is one of the Wash-ington area’s most innovative chamber orchestras and performs in the Music at Redeemer Series. Many of the church’s parishioners, friends, and neighbors enjoy the music of these seasoned musicians and are often dazzled by world premier performances of local and international composers.

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Redeemer’s gardens are a respite space not only for the parishioners, but for the neighbor-hood. They are a space celebrating God’s creation with blooms and wildlife from late winter through late fall. The labyrinth and columbarium in the center of the garden are a place of pilgrimage and spiritual centering. On summer evenings, people can walk the labyrinth ac-companied by soft music and the scents of the garden.

Children are embraced and welcomed in Redeemer’s artistic endeavors. The excellent youth choir is a vital part of our worship and a central program for many of our youth and their families. The annual summer music camp attracts children from the neighborhood as well as from Washington, D.C., and culminates in a wonderful interactive performance for friends and family.

The evening Taizé service of prayer and meditation is a feast for the senses as well as the soul.

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A LOVING COMMUNITY OF FAITH IN ACTION

Send us now into the world in peace…to love and serve you

At the heart of The Church of the Redeemer stands a deeply caring, committed, and conscientious com-munity. This powerful sense of community emerged as one of the most valued aspects of parish life in our

self-evaluation. Like the labyrinth that graces our parish’s main entrances—inviting seekers into the journey of faith—the Re-deemer community lovingly welcomes, centers and sends forth anew all people who seek a deeper knowledge of God. Reflective of our worship space’s brilliant stained glass window that projects an illuminating and emanating spirit, member of the Redeem-er community strive to go forth into the world, walking in love, actively living their faith, serving Christ and the world.

To quote two parishioners, Redeemer offers a “radical loving welcome” and is “grounded in loving your neighbor”. One expression of this welcome is that the overwhelming majority of people who responded to the questionnaire believe that Redeemer should continue to conduct same sex marriages, a prac-tice that is approved by our diocese. Renewed together through inspiring worship, parish-ioners radiate in diverse ways their care for each other and the world beyond. The manifold openness and warmth of the Redeemer spirit is evident every Sunday through the communi-

ty’s energetic exchange of The Peace, vibrant Coffee Hour, and many intergenerational activities. But The Church of the Redeemer transcends its beautiful building and builds community beyond its bounds.

“Redeemer inspires me to be a better member of society and to live my faith.”

“When I am nour-ished through the worship, music and community at Re-deemer, I am better able to give to others out in the world.”

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“I keep my new-comer’s Redeemer coffee mug on my desk to remind me to weave the experi-ence and lessons of Sunday into the rest of my week!”

“Redeemer takes me beyond the world of myself.” This state-ment by a parishioner reflects the active spirit of love, inclu-sion and service that characterizes the Redeemer community. Redeemer parishioners strive to “walk in love, as Christ loved us”. Our community actively engages with the world around us-locally, regionally and internationally. The parish enthusiastically welcomes the wider community to Redeemer through our noted Music at Redeemer series, annual Strawberry Festival, host-ing of neighborhood programs, and other events. Parishioners devotedly build community beyond the church walls, particu-larly through service and outreach. A small sample of activities includes the popular Foyer Dinners; the newcomer welcomes; collective pastoral care at home and hospital; leading of interfaith programs; the many ministries that serve the city’s disadvan-taged residents; sponsoring Hope for Burundi; and the critical, action-oriented engagement with local, national and international matters of social justice. Reading the weekly announce-ment of parish activities is like viewing a kaleidoscopic array of people connected to Redeem-er who are rippling across the region and globe, reaching out to others in loving care.

Just two examples of the many Outreach/Mission ministries to which Redeemerites donate time, talent, and treasure: Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is an organization of more than 40 Episcopal churches which, together with a small staff, provide a wide array of services to the homeless and other needy people in our area. Hope for Burundi, a Millen-nium Development Goals project, was begun by a man from Burundi who had to flee the country because of political turmoil, and who for several years was a much loved member of Redeemer. After he was able to return to Burundi, he began this program which includes reforestation, training in nonviolent communication, and a women’s sewing cooperative. In addition to financial support, Redeemerites donate significant time to these projects. The appendix lists the many ways that our parish pursues fellowship and service.

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operating expenses

income

$-100000

$0

$100000

$200000

$300000

$400000

$500000

$600000

$700000

$800000

2013201120092007200520032001

WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO

Redeemer is a generous community with a strong focus on radical or desert hospi-tality. That is, Redeemer parishioners will give to support others, even at a cost to themselves. For the past 5 years, our membership of actively involved and com-mitted families has been steadily increasing (especially in the group that we have

needed most, young families) from 100 to 133. This substantial growth led the parish to hire for the first time an associate rector. Along with the growth in membership, our expenses have also increased, and when asked, those pledging have steadily increased their pledges, but our expenses have increased more rapidly than our total pledges. At times it is a struggle to meet our budget, which for this year is about $725,000.

Operating Income and Expenses

Sunday Attendance and Pledges

0

50

100

150

200

number of pledges

average sunday attendance

2013201120092007200520032001

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“I think Redeemer is an excellent example of what a Parish should be, open and available to all, not afraid to try new ways, but careful to preserve the essentials.”

As part of the desert hospitality mentality of Redeemer, again and again we have stepped out in faith, trusting that the money will come, and it has. When our old dying electric organ dropped a foot pedal during the Easter Sunday service, we hastened an ongoing discernment process about how to replace the organ. Through the generosity of many people, we now have a beautiful, very special pipe organ which is perfect for our space. In our recent parish survey, 56% of the respon-dents said they would be willing to increase their pledge to help meet current expenses, but we did not meet our pledge goal last fall. On the other hand, in the comments, several people noted that they had already increased their pledge each year for the past several years, and they were reaching their limit. Unlike some of the older, established parishes, we do not have an endowment as a cushion, and we do have an approximately $400,000 mortgage from the rebuilding of the church in the late 90’s, on which we pay about $47,000 per year. We have been graced again and again by unanticipated gifts, but we need to continue our conversations about our priorities and our finances to educate us all so that as a community, we can discern our way forward to financial stability. We look forward to en-gaging with our new rector in this deepening process.

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GROWING EDGES FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Redeemer is a healthily growing parish, with increases in our congregations on Sunday and in our Church School. Our visitors are welcomed with enthusiasm and hospitali-ty when they arrive according to our survey. Our recent listening sessions and parish survey identified a need to enfold new members more fully into the community. We

need to figure out how to do this organically without pressure on the newcomers.

In the parish survey, 34% thought increasing the number of parishioners was important; 40% did not think it important; and 26% were undecided. Many commented that growth, as it has been happening naturally, has been welcome, but they did not think we should grow for the sake of growing, and had fears about becoming too large and impersonal. Redeemer places a high value on the intimacy and connectedness of the community and does not want to lose that.

If we continue to grow, we will have to find solutions to our crowded classrooms for Church School and to the space needs for our expanding choir to practice and vest. Some people would like to have a commercial kitchen added. When asked if they would be willing to consider giving to a capital campaign in the future if it were necessary, 57% said they would consider a contribution; 10% said they would not; and 33% were undecided. Several people were concerned about mounting a capital cam-paign when we still have a large mortgage; others felt that a new rector needed to be in place for several years before considering this. This is an active area of conversation and community build-ing that needs to continue.

Another area of need that was identified in both the listening session and the survey was an active parishioner-based pasto-ral care committee. Our parish has grown such that we need to take a more active organized role in caring for each other.

Our aspirations for many different dimensions of ministry are akin to those undertaken in much larger parishes (even cor-porate size).We have multiple divergent areas of interest and investment, but our staff, as well as our personal and finan-cial resources, are at the cusp of a new program level parish. When asked about this on our survey, people were unwilling to cut anything because of constrained resources, and opted to try to raise more money. This is a major area of struggle for us.

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“This is a great op-portunity for the parish to take a careful inventory, to acknowledge gaps, and to find a leader, not a caretaker.”

WHAT WE SEEK IN A NEW RECTOR

Our most recent rector, The Rev’d Susan Thon, retired in 2013 after 19 years at Redeemer. She grew the parish and led us through two successful major capital campaigns with grace, trust, and love. Redeemer seeks a loving Rector who has a vital personal relationship with God in Christ. Survey respondents expressed

a desire for a Rector who possesses some of the attributes that have contributed to Re-deemer’s current identity, and some attributes that will be needed to help us deal with future challenges. In particular, we want a Rector who:

The following are other attributes that were also important to us in a Rector: gives effective pastoral care to all age groups; fosters spiritual growth at all age levels; welcomes visitors and newcomers; encourages and supports outreach, service, and social justice ministries; values and seeks to enhance diversity in our parish; and supports and encourages lay leadership, including a strong vestry.

Our children’s responses to their questionnaire indicated that among the most important things for them in a new Rector are that he or she like kids, not be strict, and give kind, help-ful, funny sermons!

We know that you are out there, and we have been praying for you already. With God’s help, we will find each other and joyfully welcome you to our Redeemer.

•

•••••

Offers sermons grounded in scripture that are intellectually and spiritually challenging, and relevant to our daily lives; Has genuine warmth and works collegially with staff and parishioners; Supports our strong music program;Plans and leads worship services with grace and skill;Is a good administrator who understands and can communicate fiscal realities; Is a skilled and energizing leader who, with our vestry and other lay leaders, can envision strategic objectives that will guide us in the future.

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Redeemer Ministries (Time & Talent)

Adult/Youth ChoirsAdult Education CommitteeAdult Formation (Christian

Education)Altar GuildBenedictine GroupBook ClubBuildings & Grounds CommitteeChildren & Youth CommitteeChristian Contemplative GroupEducation for Ministry (EfM)Finance Committee & Fiscal

AffairsLiturgical AssistantsMembership/Newcomers

CommitteeMusic at Redeemer SeriesParish Life CommitteePastoral Care CommitteePrayer TreeRetreats (Parish, Family, Men’s)Stewardship CommitteeSunday School TeachersTwenties & Thirties GroupVestryWorship Committee

Outreach/Mission & Community Engagement

9/11 Unity WalkBethesda CaresCapitol Area Interfaith Friends

(CAIF)Center for Family Life ServicesHispanic Music Ministry at St

Stephen & the IncarnationHonduras Agroforestry ProjectHope for BurundiManna Food CenterPalestinian Olive Oil MinistrySamaritan Ministry of Greater

WashingtonSchool Supplies DriveStreet Church at the Church of

the EpiphanySummer Music CampTheological Education: Virginia

Theological Seminary Torture Abolition & Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC)Toy SundayTransitional Housing Corporation

Partner Arms

Special Community EventsAdvent Wreath MakingAnnual Parish Meeting/Lunch Blessing of the AnimalsCelebrate Redeemer DinnerChristmas PageantCoffee HourEaster Egg HuntFamily Potluck Dinners Foyer DinnersHomecoming SundayLabyrinth WalksNewcomer ReceptionsMusic at Redeemer SeriesShrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

& Talent ShowStrawberry Festival & Silent

AuctionSummer Music Camp

Regular Community Uses of Parish SpaceAA Meetings Balkan DancersEducation for MinistryGirl Scout Troop Monthly

MeetingsMultiple Sclerosis Support GroupMusic & Movement Classes for

ChildrenViolin, Voice and Piano lessonsYoga Classes

APPENDIXRedeemer offers many opportunities for parish fellowship/leadership as well as a wide variety of ways to engage and serve our neighborhood, region, and global community. For complete information, please consult our website, www.redeemerbethesda.org.

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OUR DIOCESE

Redeemer is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, which includes the District of Columbia and Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties in Maryland. Under the leadership of The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, the diocese has claimed that its first priority is the renewal and revitalization of our con-

gregations and core ministries, in service to Christ’s mission. The diocese is blessed with rich racial and cultural diversity, including seven Spanish-speaking congregations, numerous rural congregations, and a variety of urban parishes. The diocese includes in its mission the support of several international partnerships as well as seventeen Episcopal schools.

Redeemer is a member of Region III, one of six geographic regions into which the diocese is divided. Region III represents a portion of Montgomery County, one of the wealthiest coun-ties in the nation but also one whose culture is stressful and whose residents are increasingly unchurched. It includes both large and small parishes in suburban and rural areas. This region’s Episcopal communities are ripe for growth and innovation. Its clergy are encouraged to engage with one another not only for fellowship, but also for joint outreach projects and shared learning.

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