Our Diocesan Deployment Officer, The Rev. Canon Joanna Satorius, has informed us that she has completed her work with two other parishes and is now at work on the list of candidates for St. Peter’s. It will take several weeks of work with the national database, followed by several weeks of contact with all the other deployment officers involved. It will then take an additional two weeks to hear from the candidates after Rev. Joanna contacts them for their “yes” or “no” as to whether they want to be included on our list. THEN, our committee receives the list and begins our work with the candidates. We are almost ready for our part in discerning three candidates from the list. So far, we are only three or four weeks behind the published schedule which is on the Discernment Bulletin Board in the office hallway. Questions and comments can be made to the committee members or placed in the box on the table in the narthex.

Carolyn Scott – Chair

Discernment Process Updates

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

June 2009

1. Why does St. Peters’ need a new Rector?

 After years of service, our current Rector, Rev. Sarah Belknap has announced her desire to retire, thus the need for a new Rector.

2. When will St. Peters’ have a new Rector?

 The Vestry is hoping to have called the new Rector in early 2010. The discernment process often takes 18 months from beginning to end.

3. Who will lead St. Peters’ in the absence of a Rector?

Normally, the Vestry and the Wardens are responsible for the business of St. Peters’. The Vestry is preparing to maintain our current programs and encourage new opportunities as well. The spiritual leader will be an Interim Priest.

4. What is an Interim Priest?

 An Interim Priest is a clergy member who feels called to the service of assisting congregations through the transition period between Rectors. Their authority is the same as a Rector’s in spiritual matters and it is not customary that this individual be a candidate for the Rector position.

5. Who decides who the next Rector will be?

 Many minds and hearts go into calling the individual who will be St. Peters’ next Rector. The Vestry will make the final call, with the approval of the Diocese, to the individual discerned to be our next Rector. What the Vestry is tasked to do is to discern who best represents the desires of all of us for the good of the whole.

6. How do I stay informed?

St. Peters website has the information as it becomes available. The Epistle, the announcements which accompany the worship materials on Sundays, and the bulletin board in the hall from the church to the parish hall all have information for you. Watch for the ship logo.

7. What are the steps in discerning St. Peters’ next Rector?

Reverend Sarah has announced her retirement. Los Angeles Diocese Deployment Office has met with the Vestry and provided resources and guidelines for our process. The Vestry has studied the procedures for calling a Rector and committed to the spiritual process of discernment. The Vestry called a group of parishioners to discern our Parish profile. This group is the Self Study Committee. We began to participate when we completed the survey they provided. The Self Study Committee has elicited your further input at the March 29th all parish workshop. The Vestry has discerned that we will conduct a Limited Search process. The Los Angeles Deployment Office reviews all interested candidates and presents St. Peters with candidates who best match our profile. The Vestry has considered the characteristics and skill sets required for the Discernment Committee and has called ten members to carry out the Limited Search process. The Discernment Committee presents three (3) final candidates to the Vestry. The Vestry, with approval from Diocese, calls the next Rector.

8. What is a “Limited Search”?

The Vestry limits the geographic area by designating the specific Dioceses which the National Church Deployment Office will post to our Profile.

Discernment Process Progress

By now you’ve completed surveys, attended forums and contributed to focus groups. The Self Study committee and the Vestry have been continually working to keep the process going. The Vestry has decided to conduct a Limited Search and established the Discernment Committee who will be responsible for the next phase. We’re establishing the Dioceses we will recruit from and finishing the Profile. The compensation will be recommended to the Vestry by the finance committee within the LA Diocese guidelines. The Vestry will be meeting with the newly formed Discernment Committee to assist with formation and learn about Discernment in general. The Self Study Committee will join us to provide key insights from their experience in hearing from us all. Next, the Discernment Committee will begin their work to process candidates for our new Rector.

The ten members of the Discernment Committee are organizing and planning, so that when we get the list of applicants for our Rectorship, we can get right to work. Our first meeting on April 16 was to discuss meeting days acceptable to all and to discuss the book, “Calling Clergy”. The second meeting on April 26 was to share Email addresses, etc. and discuss our thoughts on the discernment process. We decided on a chair- Carolyn Scott, an assistant- Mary Sanchez, a chaplain – Chad Keller and a scribe – Mary Ringenbach. A retreat with the Vestry, the Profile Committee, the Discernment Committee and Diocesan Deployment Officer, Rev. Joanna Satorius attending was held on May 16. Joanna took us through a description of the discernment process. The third meeting was held May 31 to discuss more organizational plans and begin writing interview questions.

Plans for a flow of communication between parishioners and the committee include reports from the committee in the Sunday bulletins and on the Web site and the presence of a Discernment Communication Box in the church entryway. Parishioners can place questions and comments in the box. Above all the committee asks you to participate in this process by joining us in prayer. Your support and prayers will lift us up in this intense effort for our parish!  

Discernment Committee

Your Discernment Committee members are:

Linda Aratani Chad Keller

Deborah Briggs Mary Rigenbach

Deborah Clancy Mary Sanchez

Mercedes Cruz Carolyn Scott

Jide Durojaiye Bill Streitenberger

Once this group has discerned the final three candidates, the Vestry will continue the process to discern who is called to be the next Rector of St. Peters’ Church. We’re aiming to be able to name that individual in early 2010.

Discernment Process Update – 6/09 as a PDF

St. Peter’s Parish Profile can be found here.