A LETTER TO OUR NEXT RECTOR

What is the best way to help you recognize that we are the church to which God is calling you? We could make a list of the characteristics we most value in a rector, but it would probably sound like a hundred other church’s lists. Perhaps it’s better to try to tell you who we are.

First of all, we are a community. Despite (and perhaps because of) a range of political and theological perspectives, we have a strong sense of community, of belonging, of caring for one another. When we disagree, we are committed to listening to one another. We try to make sure that there are avenues for everyone to express their concerns and ideas. Paul tells the community of the Galatians, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” We are a community that seeks to live together in harmony and to care for each other.

As a congregation we have considerable skills to offer and welcome opportunities to offer them in all areas of leadership and parish life. We want our new rector to value and take advantage of the contributions we have to offer. In our worship and spiritual growth we value creativity (even humor) as well as reverence. We welcome experimentation when presented in a spirit of humility and desire for feedback. We want to grow spiritually by being exposed to a wide range of perspectives and encouraged to think on our own, to question and to doubt.

God is calling us into new and exciting places. We are a small parish in a small, semi-rural, largely homogeneous and economically privileged town. We eagerly seek, but sometimes struggle to find, ways to serve God’s mission in the world. We hope to find a rector that will partner with us as we respond to God’s call to us.

We cherish our children and want them to value the role of the church in their lives. We are searching for new ways to reach our youth and to provide a vibrant program of Christian education for them.

We are eager to have you, our new rector, to be both a leader and a member of our community. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” We look forward to meeting you! We pray that God will inspire both you and us to work together doing God’s work.

In faith and hope,

Christ Church Community