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Discernment Process Update

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