Rector Search Updates
New Rector Search
Updates to Rector Search
October 2, 2024
The Vestry is fully engaged in the search for our next Rector. The Vestry is being careful, deliberate and prayerful as it seeks to discern who is being called to lead St. C’s in the years to come. The rector job description and job posting have been public since early August. Applications are being received and reviewed. Candidates are being interviewed. Importantly, the Vestry is also actively reaching out to potential candidates and exploring with them whether they might be called to lead St. Columba’s. Many thanks to parishioners who have referred people to us. If you know someone who could be our next rector, please let us have their name now. The current deadline for receipt of applications is October 15. We are grateful for the support of our wonderful community. If you have comments or questions, email us at [email protected].
Previous Updates
August 18, 2024
In early August, our search for a new rector entered a new phase. We are now actively seeking and receiving applications. Our rector job description is now published on a number of websites - Episcopal News Services, Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and Episcopal Office of Transition Ministry. The Vestry is taking steps to proactively identify potential candidates. If you know someone who might be a potential candidate, please send us an email at [email protected] or contact a member of the Vestry directly. The application review process will begin in September. We anticipate that our new rector will be onboard in late spring or early summer 2025. Plans to celebrate Ledlie’s many years of devoted service before he retires in early March 2025 will be forthcoming!
For information about the rector search, including the rector job description, go to our St. Columba’s Rector Candidates webpage.
August 1, 2024:
A lot of work has been going on in the last few months to prepare for our rector search. The job description and the job posting form required by the Diocese will soon be finalized and made public, launching the search process. In drafting these documents, the Vestry drew on our Strategic Plan and on input and guidance from parishioners, clergy and staff. The Parish Vitality Survey, completed last spring by about 330 parishioners, provided thoughtful observations that are invaluable. With this input, the Vestry worked together, prayed together, and discerned together. The result will be job description documents that accurately describe who we are, what we are being called to do, and the qualities and experience that our next rector should have. The process has been challenging and deeply gratifying. The Vestry is thankful for the support and trust received from you. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks. If you have questions or comments, please contact the Wardens (Sara Glenn, Gina Lagomarsino) or send an email to [email protected].
June 9, 2024:
Parish Vitality Assessment
About the Rector Search
In September 2023, Ledlie shared his plans to retire in the winter of 2025, after 10 years of faithful and dedicated service as rector at St. Columba’s. In 2024, St. Columba’s will not only prepare to call our new rector, we will also celebrate and reflect on the first 150 years of our history and move into our next chapter as a community of faith.
Information about the Search Process
The wardens and vestry are working closely with Bishop Budde and her team, and have embraced the search process that the Diocese has developed and strongly recommended. In the Forum on Sunday February 4th, Canon Robert Phillips joined us to explain this process.
A video of the Forum can be found here:
Two aspects of this transition will be different from previous transitions, as recommended by the Bishop. First, we will conduct the search during the final year of Ledlie’s tenure, with no intention of hiring an outside interim rector. This approach - where a new rector starts within several months after the previous rector retires - is now considered best practice for large, healthy parishes. Second, the Diocese now strongly encourages the Vestry to conduct the search, with no separate search committee. Thus, the wardens (Sara Glenn and Gina Lagomarsino) will chair this process working closely with the rest of the Vestry.
To support the Vestry, we have convened a Search Advisory Group with relevant skill sets that will support aspects of the parish engagement process such as survey design/analysis and parish communication. This group includes Joy Bates Boyle, Katharine Huffman, Chris Luckett, and Boyce Whitesides.
Opportunities for Input
In February 2024, parishioners of all ages were invited to complete an anonymous online survey to share their thoughts on how well we are living St. Columba’s values and meeting our mission. All parishioners were also invited to join one of six listening sessions to ask questions and share additional feedback and ideas.
The Search Advisory Group is now compiling the results of the survey, which was completed by 330 parishioners and staff, and we are synthesizing the listening sessions. These results will help us identify the specific skills and experience we will need in our next rector. And the information will be used to complete the parish profile template provided by the Diocese. This parish profile will offer information to candidates about who we are, what we are being called to do in the coming years, and areas of church life that need attention or are falling short of our ambitions.
Do you know any rector candidates?
Our St. Columba’s parish profile will be posted on Episcopal Church job opening sites this summer. The Vestry will ensure that the job opening is widely known nationally, and we will actively identify and work to attract a strong, diverse pool of candidates.
Some parishioners may know or know of priests who should consider applying. The Vestry welcomes such referrals. Please reach out to us with your ideas at [email protected].
Anticipated Timeline for the Search
Questions or ideas? Please send them to [email protected].
