Ministry with the Priest in Charge Option

Diocese of Colorado

2015

Ministry Soaked in Prayer

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mission Shaped Vision

• Living missionally on a grass roots level• Making radical generosity a core pattern of life• Engaging the suffering of the world• Evangelization of youth & adults

Mission is not only touching other cultures ….

…. it is living our life where we are & touching people in our communities

Mission Shaped Congregations

• Christ Centered and Healthy• Forming Numerous Leaders• Becoming a “sending community”• Participating in God’s Mission

– Proclamation– Discipleship– Servanthood

Mission Shaped Leadership

• Grounded in God: prayerful, gospel oriented, kingdom values embodied

• Creative, flexible, innovative, courageous, adaptive, emergent

• Contextual and engaging, moving out into the community

• Equipping and nurturing leaders for a mission shaped church

Office of the Bishop Provides

• Identification of supply clergy until an appointment is made

• Consultation and support from the Bishop, the Canon Missioner, and the Canon to the Ordinary

• Materials, resources, training, and consultants• Appropriate priest in charge candidate • Prayer and support during the process

Vestry Responsibilities

• Wardens and Vestry are formal canonical leadership during the vacancy

• Complete the Community Portfolio Worksheet

• Clear and ongoing communication with the Parish and the Office of the Bishop

The Priest in Charge Option

Choice not to do a Search:• Following a long tenured rector• Following a period of conflict or instability• Parish redevelopment or rebirth• Period of financial stress• Keep up momentum of parish

development

Parameters of the Priest in Charge Ministry

• Priest is appointed by the Bishop with the approval of the vestry (one name offered)

• Tenure is three years• Priest and congregational team participate in

CDI• Annual goals established and reviewed• Priest in Charge may be selected as the rector• If the priest does not wish to serve or the vestry

chooses not to call the priest, a search ensues.

Appointing the Priest in Charge

Visiting with the Candidate

• The Senior Warden should telephone the candidate, inform him/her that the Vestry would like to invite the candidate (and family) to visit the parish in discernment for priest in charge. 

• The parish pays expenses for those invited to visit.

• In the same visit, an out of state candidate needs to meet with the Bishop

The Visit

• This visit is not a public event. It should take place during the week and should include a meeting with the Vestry. – Other meetings should be at the request of the

candidate. It is usual for the candidate to meet with staff members, including the Head of School if there is a school, and any of the key ministry leaders desired.

– There should be no public introductions or occasions.– Information packets for the candidates sent

beforehand should include: newsletter, financials, bulletins, vestry minutes, annual report, etc.

The Visit

• There is usually a social event attended by Vestry.   – Groups of two or three can share some meals during

this time, but there should also be some breathing room in the schedule for the candidate and spouse to have time for private discussion and reflection.

• Before departure, the Senior Warden and the candidate should agree on when a decision might be made

Agreeing with the Appointment

• The vestry discerns and comes to consensus on the appointment of the candidate

• The Sr. Warden notifies the Bishop and the Canon Missioner

• The Bishop extends the appointment• Once the appointment is accepted, agree

upon announcement and start up time frames

The Letter of Agreement

• The Canon to the Ordinary with input from the wardens meets with the priest in charge to work out the terms of the Letter of Agreement (template available), which is reviewed and acknowledged by the Bishop.

• Mutual Ministry Reviews, CDI, Priest in Charge support group, and goals are agreed upon with the Letter of agreement.

• Do NOT announce the call until the Letter of Agreement has been signed.

Mutual Ministry Reviews

• Goals are established appropriate to the “season” of ministry

• Mutual Ministry goals will be reviewed annually

• Mutual Ministry Goal Setting and Reviews may be held with outside consultants, regional missioners, or members of the Office of the Bishop

The Priest in Charge Ministry

Seasons of the Priest in Charge Ministry

• Season of Holy Archeology (1 – 1 ½ yrs)

• Season of Building the Congregation (1 – 3 yrs.)

• Season of Discernment (4 – 6 weeks)

Season of Holy Archeology

Participation in CDI will help you:• Identify changes• Work through grief• Mine congregational history• Discover new identity• Recognize shifts in leadership• Congregational assessment work• Identify contextual opportunities

Season of Building the Congregation

• Develop vision and strategic ministry plan• Build resources and support for the vision

and strategic ministry plan• Build leadership and stewardship• New ministry development

Season of Discernment

• Discernment training for the congregation• Develop congregational profile• Determine long term clergy leadership needs• Discernment process for Priest in Charge• Decision to call or not call the Priest in Charge• Transition to search or to the priest becoming

rector

Season of Renewal and Re-commitment

If Priest in Charge is called:

– Renew the vision– Recommit to goals– Negotiate Rector Letter of Agreement– Celebration of New Ministry

When Priest in Charge is Not Called to be Rector -

• Contact the Bishop and the Canon Missioner

• Meet with Canon Missioner to launch the Abbreviated Search Process

• Continue to pray for God’s guidance

Benediction

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever, and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20)