Parish Transition

PARISH TRANSITION UPDATES

Eight months ago, our process for the search for our new Rector began. Just before Advent, the Vestry selected the Search Committee from the nomination forms received. The members are: Raul Avila, Steve Bretthauer, Zack Coapland, Tyler Darnell, Jaime Espinoza, Nancy Goodearl, David Kelley, Cassandra Khatri, Wil McCorquodale, John Rovell, Laura Thewalt, and Bill Wooton. At the first organizing meeting the committee selected Laura Thewalt to act as chair.

As of the 2025 Annual Meeting, we just began the Active Search phase. The first steps In this phase are sharing the Parish Profile and refining interview questions. The Active Search phase is where members of the committee will be interviewing and narrowing candidates, visiting candidates. This phase of the search process is active for the committee, but quiet for the congregation. The congregation and staff can be helpful inmeaningful and indirect ways.

1. Share. Talk about this with your friends and circles of peers. Share the profile.

2. Pray. Pray for the Search Committee for discernment and wisdom. Use the collect written for us. Pray for the person God is calling to St. Stephen’s. Pray for one another.

3. Be patient and trust the process.

4. Encourage one another.

5. Maintain your active engagement at St. Stephen’s — a vibrant parish is attractive to prospective clergy.

When appropriate through the process, the committee will update the congregation that we are interviewing or going on visits, but for confidentiality for everyone involved, we will not share who or where.

Respectfully Submitted,

Laura Thewalt, Chair