A Time of Transition -
​Finding Our New Rector

---

St. Augustine's has had five excellent rectors since 1954, and has grown and flourished under their godly leadership. Most recently, we were blessed to have The Rev. AJ Heine in this role, who shared his tremendous love and many gifts with us over the last 14 years. Fr. AJ has received a call to serve our brothers and sisters in another parish, so in December 2020 we bid him a grateful farewell. We are now prayerfully working to find our sixth rector. 

Lord God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you: send forth your Holy Spirit to guide the Search Committee, Vestry, and parish family of St. Augustine's to be of one heart and mind in our search for a rector who will worship in our midst, become part of our parish family, and guide us in spiritual growth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Latest Updates

---

5/13/21 - What are we looking for in a priest, and what does St. Augustine's look like to a potential rector?

This Sunday, May 16, in between services, Canon Shannon will be in Byrd Hall at 9:15 a.m. to review the results received to date from the parish survey. This is a great opportunity to hear about the search process from an expert. But it's also an opportunity to be heard, and to guide the Search Committee in formulating our "Parish Profile." That profile is, in some ways, a job announcement for a new rector, but it's so much more, because being a rector is so much more than a job. The Parish Profile describes who we are as a church community, as we seek a match for someone to worship among us and guide us in spiritual growth. The Search Committee will formulate that profile, and we will be on hand this Sunday. Will the survey results allow the Search Committee to paint an accurate Parish Profile? The Committee will be there to listen, and with additional surveys available for those who have not had the opportunity to complete one.

Of course, if you would like the chance to complete the survey from the comfort of your own home, it is still available online. See your parish email for the link.

And, there is one last in-person small group discussion tonight, Thursday May 13, at 6:00 p.m. in Byrd Hall. You still have time to sign up here: https://bit.ly/staug-discussions

If you haven’t been able to participate in any of our scheduled small group discussions, we will also be hosting a virtual meeting on Monday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. The Zoom information has been sent out via email. If you'd like to participate and haven't gotten it, please contact us and we'll get it to you.

The search for a rector is a process of discernment--and everyone in the church has a part to play, and a part to pray. Be sure to attend this meeting this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. with Canon Shannon no matter where you are in evaluating your own thoughts; this is a time for collective reflection.  

The Process

---

What's happened so far?

February 2021: We welcomed our interim rector, Fr. Brad St. Romain, on February 7, 2021, and began work on forming a search committee. 

March 2021: The Rector Search Committee was called, consisting of the following members: Raul Esquivel (Chair), Susan Hackett Walpole (Vice Chair), Stephen Braud, Patrick Goodman, Tony Gregorio, Myra Noustens, Donovan Ohrt-Champage, and Kate Smith. The committee met with the Canon to the Ordinary for initial training, information, and planning.

April 2021: The Search Committee, with help from the Diocese, published an anonymous survey to gather data from the parish, and began working on small group discussions. The responses will be analyzed by both the committee and the Diocese to help us better understand the wants and needs of our congregation, and will assist in building an accurate parish profile. 

THIS MONTH: Presently, the Search Committee is hosting small group discussions to talk to as many of our members as possible about our strengths and weaknesses as a church, and what they believe we need in a new rector. 

The committee has met with the Canon to the Ordinary to discuss our preliminary findings, and the Canon will address the parish on May 16.​