Dear Heavenly Father, Please guide us with your wisdom and be with us as we begin to look for a new rector. Grant us patience and grace as a congregation, so that we may be unified in this time of transition. As our parish changes, grant us the courage and openness that we need to stay true to ourselves, while keeping you present in all that we do. All this we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Amen.
With the guidance of the Diocese of Western Mass and Bishop Douglas Fisher, our parish will search together for our next leader. St. John’s is blessed with a loving and committed congregation, one full of community spirit and a love for God, a congregation who will embrace this transition period as a time of reflection. The search process outlined below is a linear one, with each step requiring time and consideration. We invite every member of the St. John’s family to join us on this journey.
September 2019: Parish completed the Congregational Assessment Tool, a resource designed to bring forth each parishioner’s thoughts about St. John’s and its future, and in particular its future rector.
October 12, 2019: Committees and Vestry met with Rich Simpson, Canon to the Ordinary, for interpretation of the Congregational Assessment Tool.
October 2019 – February 2020: Active period of the Parish Profile Committee. (see below)
March 2020: Parish Profile completed, approved by Bishop; Rich Simpson presents profile at bi-annual conference. [hard deadline]
April – June 2020: Active period of the Search Committee. (see below)
June 2020 (in an ideal world): new Rector appointed, to begin work in late summer 2020.
Questions? Please be in touch.
Nancy Harvin, Senior Warden srwarden@stjohnsnorthampton.org
Lynne Imre, Junior Warden Lynne.Imre@gmail.com
Barbara Kellum, Chair of the Search Committee bkellum@smith.edu
We are excited to announce that the nomination period is over, Parish Profile and Search Committees have been assembled! We are pleased to announce the following people who were approved by the Vestry to serve as members of the Parish Profile and Search committees as we look for the next permanent rector of St. John's. Our gratitude to everyone who nominated so many qualified people for consideration.
Parish Profile Committee
Catherine Linberg, chair
Judson Brown
Ruth Henderson Hewitt
Priscilla Lane
Maddy Leone
Jennifer Carpenter Reid, vestry liaison
Search Committee
Barbara Kellum, Chair
Tamsin Jones Farmer
Jonathan Gosnell, vestry liaison
Gwendolyn Green
MaryAnna Ham
Tommy Hart
Greg Macdonald
Allyson Spencer-Bunch
Lee Tonet
Composition of the Search Committee
The search committee is made up of a diverse group who are equipped for the responsibility of assessing the knowledge, ability and skills of the candidates. Nominations and volunteers for the committee were given careful consideration, because balance of the committee is so crucial to the search process, not all nominees or volunteers may may have been appointed, we are so grateful to all who came forth in this process. Outcome: Selection of the right candidate to be Rector of St. John’s. This outcome may not be achieved in the ideal timeline. It is essential to get it right and to take as long as required to identify the right person.
We heartily invite all members of the parish to complete the nomination form. (closed)
Search Committee
Barbara Kellum, Chair
Tamsin Jones Farmer
Jonathan Gosnell, vestry liaison
Gwendolyn Green
MaryAnna Ham
Tommy Hart
Greg Macdonald
Allyson Spencer-Bunch
Lee Tonet
Composition of the Profile Committee
Now that the committee is in place we will start the task of working with the Canon for Transition to interpret the Congregational Assessment Tool and offer a variety of parish listening events toward the goal of telling the parish’s story. This group will be able to facilitate a process—not huddle together to unite in a closed room. This is the opportunity for all to be heard. Outcome: written parish profile. Related outcomes (not the responsibility of the committee): revised website and communications materials.
We heartily invite all members of the parish to complete the nomination form. (closed)
Parish Profile Committee
Catherine Linberg, chair
Judson Brown
Ruth Henderson Hewitt
Priscilla Lane
Maddy Leone
Jennifer Carpenter Reid, vestry liaison