PARISH NEWS
TRINITY CHOOSES NEW PRIEST
September 10, 2020
My Dear Family in Faith,
It has been seven months since Fr Bailey Norman officiated over his final Sunday Service at Trinity. The pandemic makes it seem so long ago but it really isn’t. The Wardens, Mike Cadden and myself, asked Anne Gill to serve as the Chair of the Search Committee for our new Rector, and together we three recruited and selected a committee, The Search Committee. Over the intervening months they have diligently pursued their task as described in Anne’s report:
About seven months ago, the search committee, comprised of Laurent Cadden, Julie Castle, Bradley English, Steve Flukinger, Anne Gill, Nathan Poole, Pat Rodgers, and Rita Treutel, began the work of finding a new rector for our parish. Upon reviewing survey results, we published the Parish Profile. After receiving a list of several priests, we narrowed our candidates to five, and then Zoom interviewed four. We invited one candidate to visit our church grounds, celebrate a eucharist with us, and spend time in fellowship. After our wrap up, the search committee unanimously voted to recommend this one candidate as our next rector to the Vestry. The meeting was our shortest of all. We, like Christ’s first followers, were absolutely “of one accord” that this person was our choice.
From the beginning of our interactions, it was clear that the Candidate was full of energy and passionate about her life in ministry. She had studied Trinity’s profile, website, and even studied our parish history. The Candidate asked us many thoughtful questions and answered ours. The committee had asked each candidate ‘why they wanted to be the rector of Trinity?’ The top Candidate commented that she was attracted to Trinity’s resiliency and saw many opportunities for growth. It was our time of fellowship together that confirmed what we were hearing. More than having all the right answers to the interview questions, the Candidate left us with a feeling of energy…a feeling of togetherness and leadership…and mostly a feeling of friendship and care.
Many thanks to the members of the search committee and their families who put up with many hours of their absence. We hope that you will all extend a huge welcome to our new Rector.
This past Friday, Anne Gill called to inform me that the Committee had reached a unanimous recommendation for the position of Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church. We set up a meeting for Tuesday evening so the Vestry could meet the candidate. We asked questions about why she wanted to serve in this position, how she perceived her ministry, and when would she be available. The questions and the answers were insightful, spiritual, and sometimes deep. The basis for the high regard for the candidate held by the Search Committee was quickly evident and understood. The Vestry quickly came to share that regard.
After the meeting, the Vestry discussed the results of the interview. A motion was made to extend a call to this Candidate to fill the position of Rector of Trinity Church, and there were several seconds to the motion. The vote in favor was unanimous.
I called Bishop Kendrick, who was very well aware of our meeting, and left a message detailing the response of the Vestry. I spoke with the Bishop on Wednesday morning – he was very pleased with the decision. Early Wednesday evening, the representatives of the Vestry signed a Letter of Agreement with the Reverend Doctor Mary Jayne Ledgerwood to serve as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church beginning October 1, 2020. Her first Sunday in the Chancel will be October 4th.
More information about Reverend Ledgerwood will be shared over the coming days, but the short version is:
She is spiritual,
She is smart,
She is committed to Trinity, and
She is eager to get here.
She does not have to come far since she lives in Fairhope and serves as an Associate Priest at St James, Fairhope.
Please join me in welcoming Mother Mary Jayne into our community of faithful at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Bob Howard
Senior Warden
My Dear Family in Faith,
It has been seven months since Fr Bailey Norman officiated over his final Sunday Service at Trinity. The pandemic makes it seem so long ago but it really isn’t. The Wardens, Mike Cadden and myself, asked Anne Gill to serve as the Chair of the Search Committee for our new Rector, and together we three recruited and selected a committee, The Search Committee. Over the intervening months they have diligently pursued their task as described in Anne’s report:
About seven months ago, the search committee, comprised of Laurent Cadden, Julie Castle, Bradley English, Steve Flukinger, Anne Gill, Nathan Poole, Pat Rodgers, and Rita Treutel, began the work of finding a new rector for our parish. Upon reviewing survey results, we published the Parish Profile. After receiving a list of several priests, we narrowed our candidates to five, and then Zoom interviewed four. We invited one candidate to visit our church grounds, celebrate a eucharist with us, and spend time in fellowship. After our wrap up, the search committee unanimously voted to recommend this one candidate as our next rector to the Vestry. The meeting was our shortest of all. We, like Christ’s first followers, were absolutely “of one accord” that this person was our choice.
From the beginning of our interactions, it was clear that the Candidate was full of energy and passionate about her life in ministry. She had studied Trinity’s profile, website, and even studied our parish history. The Candidate asked us many thoughtful questions and answered ours. The committee had asked each candidate ‘why they wanted to be the rector of Trinity?’ The top Candidate commented that she was attracted to Trinity’s resiliency and saw many opportunities for growth. It was our time of fellowship together that confirmed what we were hearing. More than having all the right answers to the interview questions, the Candidate left us with a feeling of energy…a feeling of togetherness and leadership…and mostly a feeling of friendship and care.
Many thanks to the members of the search committee and their families who put up with many hours of their absence. We hope that you will all extend a huge welcome to our new Rector.
This past Friday, Anne Gill called to inform me that the Committee had reached a unanimous recommendation for the position of Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church. We set up a meeting for Tuesday evening so the Vestry could meet the candidate. We asked questions about why she wanted to serve in this position, how she perceived her ministry, and when would she be available. The questions and the answers were insightful, spiritual, and sometimes deep. The basis for the high regard for the candidate held by the Search Committee was quickly evident and understood. The Vestry quickly came to share that regard.
After the meeting, the Vestry discussed the results of the interview. A motion was made to extend a call to this Candidate to fill the position of Rector of Trinity Church, and there were several seconds to the motion. The vote in favor was unanimous.
I called Bishop Kendrick, who was very well aware of our meeting, and left a message detailing the response of the Vestry. I spoke with the Bishop on Wednesday morning – he was very pleased with the decision. Early Wednesday evening, the representatives of the Vestry signed a Letter of Agreement with the Reverend Doctor Mary Jayne Ledgerwood to serve as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church beginning October 1, 2020. Her first Sunday in the Chancel will be October 4th.
More information about Reverend Ledgerwood will be shared over the coming days, but the short version is:
She is spiritual,
She is smart,
She is committed to Trinity, and
She is eager to get here.
She does not have to come far since she lives in Fairhope and serves as an Associate Priest at St James, Fairhope.
Please join me in welcoming Mother Mary Jayne into our community of faithful at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Bob Howard
Senior Warden
Love Your Neighbor...No Exceptions
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Parishioners, Kate and John Flukinger, added a new sign to the Trinity grounds. The message is clear: Love your Neighbor...No Exceptions!
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THE TRINITY PARISH VISITOR
(Newsletter)
Our organist, Jeremy Adcock, has a "renewed passion for life." An article written for Med School Watercolor Blog for USA Hospital gives us the skinny. The article can be found here: https://medschoolwatercooler.blogspot.com/2019/07/surgery-gives-usa-employee-renewed.html
Photo by: Bill Starling
The beautiful Zinnia's in the parish garden recently had some special visitors. :-)
Here's the News:
Trinity has a new Fellowship group - Handicrafters meets the 3rd Friday of each month at 10:30am in the Parlor
Trinity has a new Fellowship group - Handicrafters meets the 3rd Friday of each month at 10:30am in the Parlor