Rector Search Update

Over the past year, our Search Committee and Vestry have engaged, listened, prayed, and discerned together in order to open our hearts and minds to the future of St. Christopher’s:

• December 2021: The Interim Rector and the congregation commissioned the seven members of the Search Committee.
• Spring 2022: In a thoughtful and prayerful process, the Committee asked the congregation to complete the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT)
• Small Group Summer 2022: When the Committee and Vestry received the results of the survey, we decided to work together on the next step and launched Small Group Summer. Vestry and Search Committee members co-led small group discussions to better glean the pulse of congregants and the vision of the future.
• September 2022: The Search Committee provided the Vestry with a written summary of the lessons learned from the CAT and small group sessions to prepare for both groups moving forward with our separate roles and responsibilities.
• October-December 2022: The Search Committee then drafted the Parish Profile and Office of Transition Ministry (OTM) materials, which together serve as a job description for the next rector. Those documents provide a snapshot of:
  • who we are
  • who/what we believe God is calling us to do
  • what skills and qualities are needed to help get us there.

The profile and OTM, once posted, remain active for 60 days.

The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago does the initial screening of any applicants based on information that only they know. All materials from all eligible candidates are then forwarded to the Search Committee.

We anticipate the application period ending by mid to late March.

Once the Search Committee has all applications, we will review the applications, research candidates, schedule and conduct interviews, and make site visits as appropriate. More on that process is below. At the end of our discernment, the Search Committee will recommend a single candidate for the Vestry’s discernment and (hopeful) call.

All of the work of the Search Committee from this point onward is confidential until a rector candidate accepts a call from the Vestry. If you ask a Search Committee member how things are going or await an announcement in church, all you will likely hear is “we are interviewing.” We will not say things like “we’ve narrowed it down to two people,” or “we haven’t found anyone we like” (highly unlikely!), or “we’ll be making an offer next week.” Likewise, the Vestry will not know anything else until it is time to involve them in the process.

Through the interview process, both candidates and our Search Committee are considering this decision very prayerfully. When we narrow down to a top candidate or candidates, Committee members may travel to see/hear them in their current role. Candidates are also invited to St. Christopher’s, Oak Park, and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, a particularly helpful visit if this would be a major move for the candidate (and family as applies). Finalists meet with both the Vestry and Search Committee for worship and fellowship and have final interviews with the Search Committee and Bishop Paula Clark.

The name of the final candidate is put forth to the Vestry for consideration, and, if approved, the Search Committee’s work begins to close. It is the Vestry who makes an offer and takes it from there, including negotiating a final agreement and getting this Bishop’s approval. At this point, the congregation will learn when and how its next chapter will begin and the identity of the incoming Rector. Part of that will include saying goodbye to Kevin, and part of it will involve creating a warm welcome to the new rector and their family.

Finally, the Search Committee then goes into wrap-up mode, ensuring that all documentation is up to date and any lessons that we learned are recorded for future searches.