Stewardship And The Search Process
What does stewardship have to do with the search process? Sure, there is the
additional cost of a search process (a good one can be a bit expensive) and,
in view of other demands on money, parishes almost never put away money to
fund a future search. The cost is encountered when the need arises.
Invariably, the parish’s stewardship of money steps up to meet that need.
But stewardship impacts the search process in a much more fundamental way
than this. One of the things that all rector candidates look at closely when
considering a new parish is the vitality of the parish’s stewardship. Is it
growing? Does it reflect giving from abundance? Is the parish generous with
outreach? How many in the parish participate in financial stewardship? Do
parishioners pay what they pledge? Rector candidates know that the answers
to these questions can indicate the difference between a parish which is
maintaining the status quo and one which is alive and flourishing.
The stewardship attributes of All Saints’ which our rector candidates will
study will be those for 2008. Our 2008 pledge campaign is winding down. Of
those who pledged in 2007 and have pledged again for 2008, 71% have
increased their pledges for next year. On average, those who pledged in 2007
and have pledged again for 2008 have increased their giving for next year by
nearly 22%. This is a very promising trend.
However, a significant number of households have either not yet renewed
their pledges for 2008 or have never pledged at all. In addition to this,
while All Saints’ pledgers have a history of paying very nearly one hundred
percent of the amounts pledged, that figure is down considerably thus far in
2007. Though the end of the year is fast approaching, there is still time to
reverse these trends.
The church’s mission is accomplished only through the generous commitments
of time, talent and money of its members. Rector candidates are very much
aware of this, and they are sure to be looking closely at the direction of
these commitments at All Saints’. Now is no time to rest.
Les Alvis, Sr. Warden
From the Search Committee
In the last newsletter, we reported the
initial work of the Search Committee and mentioned that a parish survey
would be available online and in printed form for All Saints' members to
fill out. It's a multiple-choice format that asks for your assessment on the
various ministries of All Saints' and the characteristics desired in a new
Rector. The committee received a standard form from the diocesan office and
has been working on the questions to tailor them more specifically to All
Saints' needs. We hope to have an announcement in the next newsletter about
where and how to fill it out. The survey will be important in developing our
parish profile, which will be given to prospective clergy.
The Search Committee will get names from three sources: The Bishop, members
and friends of All Saints' and the national church's clergy deployment
office. Our opening and key parish information will be available to any
Episcopal priest through the latter venue, and we are told we can expect
some contacts as a result. These will go through the Diocesan office first.
Our consultant, the Rev. Canon David Johnson, has told us that parishes
usually find their best prospects from the Bishop's list and nominations
from within the congregation. While we've already received a few names
informally from members of the congregation, we'll announce an official call
later for those nominations.
The members of the Search Committee are Deanna Alford, Cathy Fitzpatrick,
Stephen King, Bud Nelson, Fred Page, Cathy Sparks, Laura Quene', Ann
Springfield and Lloyd Gray, chair. Please continue to keep us in your
prayers.
Lloyd Gray, Search Committee chair
