The Diocese

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From Ministry to Ministry

• The Search Process for Clergy

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Vocation and Leadership

• The process of transition from ministry to
  ministry is an opportunity for vocational
  discernment of your missionary leadership and
  Gods call to you.

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Your Deployment

• As clergy you are responsible for your vocational
  future and deployment.

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What is the Bishop looking for in a priest?

• The Diocese of Texas must have clergy who are
  missionary leaders.
• Missionary-minded, visionary leaders who can help
  congregations set goals, employ strategies, and
  assess achievements.
• Clergy are expected to commit themselves to the
  health of their congregations and to be active,
  positive participants in this diocese.

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Bishop Wimberlys Expectations

• Healthy clergy with healthy relationships lead
  healthy congregations through mission/vision and
  strategic ministry.
• Healthy clergy participate in Diocese of Texas
  clergy leadership and wellness offerings adding
  skill sets and knowledge to their tool kit.
• Healthy clergy bring their congregations
  leadership to Diocese of Texas leadership
  offerings.
• Healthy clergy use continuing education and
  spirituality retreats intentionally based upon
  their ministry goals.
• Healthy clergy participate in 360 mutual
  ministry reviews.

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What we tell the searching congregation

• This is not about finding a new rector.
• The transition process lays the foundation upon
  which a congregation builds healthy mission and
  ministry.

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The Congregational Process An Overview
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The Role of the Vestry

• Provide for a healthy environment that
  facilitates the best possible transition between
  clergy leadership
• To be a resource to the congregation, leading
  through change
• Lead with vision, mission, and values
• To call the next rector

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The Role of the Search Committee

• To be faithful to Gods call to mission by
  seeking a candidate to lead the congregation into
  ministry

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The Role of the Diocese

• The Bishops role is to communicate to the vestry
  regarding names for consideration (III.9.2).
• The names of proposed nominees must be sent to
  the ecclesiastical authority
• The ecclesiastical authority must be satisfied
  that the person is duly qualified, duly elected,
  and that upon election has accepted. (III.9.3)

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The Role of the Canon to the Ordinary

• In the Diocese of Texas the Canon to the Ordinary
  is the Deployment Officer.
• To be a resource to the congregations leadership
  throughout the search process.
• To aid the bishop in deploying qualified clergy
• To be a resource to the clergy throughout their
  process.

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The Role of the Clergy

• To discern their vision and mission as clergy
  leaders in the Diocese of Texas.
• To follow the Godly council of the Bishop.
• To be open to the Holy Spirit as it directs and
  leads their ministry.
• Participate fully in the process, communicating
  with the Canon to the Ordinary (DDO).

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Pre-Search Stage One Discernment

• The issue is assessment of Gods call and current
  ministry vocation (cannot be done in a vacuum).
• The Emotional Content is charged with sadness,
  anger, joy, excitement and anxiety.
• The task of the leader is to take a realistic
  look at his/her present vocation and ministry.
• The danger is making a decision about your
  vocation that is based upon where I wish I were
  or what I deserve.

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Pre-Search Stage Two Disclosure and Discussion

• The issue is broadening the conversation.
• The Emotional Content is charged with resolve and
  anxiety.
• The task of the leader is to visit with the Canon
  to the Ordinary as soon as possible to bring
  resources into the discernment process.
• The danger is moving forward without clear
  direction about the possibilities and
  necessities. You must have a road map.

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Pre-Search Stage Three A Preparation for search

• The issue is preparing materials.
• The Emotional Content is charged with
  anticipation.
• The task is to prepare
• Vision and Mission statement with personal
  ministry Goals
• CDO profile (dont change to match congregation)
• Résumé
• The danger is beginning before you are ready. Can
  you respond to an inquiry?

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Pre-Search Stage Three B Preparation for
Retirement

• The issue is preparing materials.
• The Emotional Content is charged with
  anticipation.
• The task is to prepare
• Contact Darlene Hill, EDOT Insurance Coordinator,
  so she can coach you on the process of
  retirement.
• Go to the Church Pension Fund on line www.cpg.org
  and get retirement resources, planning materials,
  etc. to help understand and prepare for
  transition.
• The danger is beginning before you are ready. Is
  your house in order before you announce
  retirement to your congregation?

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Pre-Search Stage Four Preparation of Congregation

• The issue is evaluation.
• The Emotional Content is charged with resolve.
• The task is to begin to tie up loose ends and
  prepare the congregation for your leave taking.
  This does not mean publicly.
• The danger is assuming you have prepared for
  succession and in reality set up a leadership
  gulf. Make reasonable preparations.

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Pre-Search Stage Five Materials to the DDO

• This is a task step.
• It helps the Search process if you will email
  electronic copies of your materials (CDO and
  Résumé) to the Canon to the Ordinary
  Adoyle_at_epicenter.org.

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Search Lists

• In the Diocese of Texas you may place your name
  in consideration for a congregation by contacting
  the Canon to the Ordinary (DDO).
• The Bishop will either recommend or not recommend
  you for the list.

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The Bishop Recommends Candidates for a Search

• The Bishop considers the following information
• I. Tenure
• Leadership in the Congregation
• Illustrated gifts for ministry
• History of ministry
• Evaluation
• Statistics
• Congregations Served

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Consideration cont.

• Personal Ministry Development
• Continuing Education
• Participation in Leadership programs
• Diocesan Leadership
• Participation in committees/commissions and
  elections

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Search Introductory Letter

• There are a number of ways first contact may be
  made between a search committee and priest.
• Either by introductory letter followed up by
  phone call.
• Or, by phone call followed by introductory
  letter.
• You should expect to receive a parish profile
  look for vision, mission, and goals. This will
  tell you they have done their homework.

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Search Provision of Résumé

• When the Bishop recommends your name to a
  committee they are sent your CDO.
• You will want to send them your résumé.

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Search The Visits

• There are a number of ways visits happen.
• Phone interviews
• Onsite visit by a team (may be followed up by
  second/third team)
• May invite you to visit
• No Sunday visits to the congregation

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Search Discernment

• This is a mutual process of discernment.
• Remember they are looking for a leader to help
  them strategically bring health to their
  congregation while achieving their vision and
  mission.
• Remember you are looking for the vocational call
  that will bring your gifts of leadership to bear
  upon the health and vision/mission of a
  congregation.

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Search The Final 3

• The goal of the search committee is to bring one
  name to the vestry to call.
• They will be trying to get down to the final
  three candidates.
• The search committee is instructed to let you
  know once your name is dropped from
  consideration.
• If you are one of the final three they will not
  let you know until the call is accepted Call.

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Call A Call

• After a meeting of vestry and search committee
  the Sr. Warden will telephone and ask you to
  visit.

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Call The Visit

• You will visit the congregation and meet with
  leaders/search committee, vestry, head of school
  if any, etc.
• During the visit the details of the package will
  be worked out and finalized.

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Call After The Visit

• Once everything is in order and official Letter
  of Call will be issued with all the financial
  arrangements outlined in the body of the letter.
• You will have no longer than a week to accept or
  decline.

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Call Documentation

• You and the vestry are responsible for seeing
  that the appropriate following documentation is
  received by the Diocesan office.
• Letter to the bishop certifying the election and
  acceptance.
• Letter of call
• Letter of Agreement
• Ministry Covenant

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Call Informing Your Congregation

• Once the Call is finalized you will begin to tell
  your congregation and make arrangements for your
  leave taking.
• Usual Sequence of Events
• Inform the Rector/Wardens Instruct Wardens to
  call Canon to the Ordinary ASAP.
• Inform the Vestry.
• Mail letter to the congregation the day you tell
  the vestry and the week before you announce to
  the congregation.
• Tell the congregation the Sunday following the
  announcement announce the last Sunday.
• It is normative to have the last Sunday one month
  after the announcement. In the case of
  retirements two months may be appropriate. In
  long tenures 10 years 3 months is best.

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The Clergy ProcessAn Overview