Diocesan Office

November 28, 2007- We had a good meeting last night. There's not much to report from it, though, because it was mostly spent working further into the matters of "vision" and "growth" and talking over what we have so far from the focus groups and the other conversations we're all part of.

We had a good meeting last night. There's not much to report from it,
though, because it was mostly spent working further into the matters
of "vision" and "growth" and talking over what we have so far from the
focus groups and the other conversations we're all part of. The survey
data are beginning to be compiled (if you still haven't turned yours
in, please feel free to still do so--we'll just add in your
responses), but aren't in a workable state yet. We have been working
in sub-committees on various parts of the profile, and those are
coming together well. This is all kind of like the old song about the
bones--the profile's connected to the Vision, the Vision's connected
to Growth, Growth is connected to the...well, you see what I mean.
The surveys are sort of the connective tissue for all of it.
Everything's connected to everything, and we need to be very, very
careful to define what we mean by all of it so that we can make a very
accurate and honest call.

Last night's other big matter was the election of a new chair for the
Search Committee. Frank Rawling, who has done such a splendid job of
getting things up and running, of keeping a steady and steadying hand
on the tiller, has stepped down as chair in order to take up the also-
critical job of Senior Warden (Bob Gilley has been forced to step down
by some exciting changes in his job that will send him out of the
country pretty frequently) . Frank will still be on the Search
Committee, so we won't be losing his wisdom and clarity, he just won't
be in charge of stuff like setting the meeting agendas and steering
meetings. The Search Committee has elected me to replace him. For the
record, I do have an agenda, and I suspect that I should come clean
about it here: I'm praying for someone who is very grounded, has a
sense of humor, and can respect and nurture all of us while teaching
us and leading us in taking care of each other and growing in Christ.
A good preacher would be nice. Excellent pastoral skills are crucial.
No extremes. What I'd personally love to have in a rector is not as
important as finding someone who can care for and lead all of us, and
who fulfills the profile the Search Committee as a whole thinks
through, compiles, and approves. I promise not to forget that.