Rector Search and Parish Profile
Click on graphic below to read the St. Anthony on the Desert Parish Profile.
Published August 11, 2021
Published August 11, 2021
Wondering what it's been like to be the Rector at St. Anthony during our rector search phase? Join our podcast host Will Strong as he uncovers the real story from Fr. Bruce Jackson on a recent episode of the St. Anthony podcast On the Way Moments here.
Search Team Members (from left):
Melody Taylor; Jeanne Paige, co-chair; Paul Basha;
Jill Kyler, Harry Boysen; Marianne Clarke, co-chair;
Harrison Woods and Kelle Hohl
If you have questions or comments regarding our search process, fill out the form below. You will be contacted by a member of our Rector Search Team.
Rector Search Committee Milestones
January 9 - The Rev. Canon Anita Braden reviews the search process with the Vestry.
February 2 - The Rev. Canon Colville Smythe is brought on as a Diocesan consultant to guide and support the Search Committee.
February 7 - Newly formed Search Committee meets for the first time.
February 19 - Search Committee meets with Fr. Smythe.
February 23 - First “Day of Discovery” occurs via Zoom at a Circles of Grace gathering, with participants responding to survey questions about who we are as a congregation, who we aspire to be, and who we seek to lead us.
March 21 - End of Days of Discovery – surveys conducted over the course of several weeks through in-person conversations, Zoom meetings, online questionnaires, snail mail surveys and phone calls, resulting in a 70% response from the congregation.
March 25 - Compilation of the Parish Profile begins – to include summarized information gathered from the Days of Discovery, our church history, information about our local community, highlights of our parish ministries and a financial summary.
April 14 - Vestry leadership and Search Committee Co-chairs meet with Canon Nicole Krug to review her report on our website with suggested changes and updates to make it more inviting to potential candidates.
April 19 - A graphic artist is employed to help with the style and layout of the parish profile.
June 4 - The completed Parish Profile is submitted to the Diocese for its review. Once it is approved by the Diocese, a copy will be published on our website.
August 10 - Parish Profile has been approved by the Diocese of AZ and published nationally.
February 2 - The Rev. Canon Colville Smythe is brought on as a Diocesan consultant to guide and support the Search Committee.
February 7 - Newly formed Search Committee meets for the first time.
February 19 - Search Committee meets with Fr. Smythe.
February 23 - First “Day of Discovery” occurs via Zoom at a Circles of Grace gathering, with participants responding to survey questions about who we are as a congregation, who we aspire to be, and who we seek to lead us.
March 21 - End of Days of Discovery – surveys conducted over the course of several weeks through in-person conversations, Zoom meetings, online questionnaires, snail mail surveys and phone calls, resulting in a 70% response from the congregation.
March 25 - Compilation of the Parish Profile begins – to include summarized information gathered from the Days of Discovery, our church history, information about our local community, highlights of our parish ministries and a financial summary.
April 14 - Vestry leadership and Search Committee Co-chairs meet with Canon Nicole Krug to review her report on our website with suggested changes and updates to make it more inviting to potential candidates.
April 19 - A graphic artist is employed to help with the style and layout of the parish profile.
June 4 - The completed Parish Profile is submitted to the Diocese for its review. Once it is approved by the Diocese, a copy will be published on our website.
August 10 - Parish Profile has been approved by the Diocese of AZ and published nationally.
June 4, 2021
Our parish profile has been completed and sent to the Diocese of AZ for its approval. When the approval is given, the profile will be uploaded on our website.
Our parish profile has been completed and sent to the Diocese of AZ for its approval. When the approval is given, the profile will be uploaded on our website.
May 15, 2021
The Search team is currently working with a graphic and web designer on our parish profile. As soon as the profile is completed and approved by the Diocese, a copy will be published on our website.
The Search team is currently working with a graphic and web designer on our parish profile. As soon as the profile is completed and approved by the Diocese, a copy will be published on our website.
April 20, 2021
The Search Team continues to meet on a weekly basis compiling all the information that was received from our rector search questionnaire. Our next step will be to submit our report to a graphic designer who will create the Parish Profile. The profile will then have to be approved by the Diocese before distribution. We're making progress!
The Search Team continues to meet on a weekly basis compiling all the information that was received from our rector search questionnaire. Our next step will be to submit our report to a graphic designer who will create the Parish Profile. The profile will then have to be approved by the Diocese before distribution. We're making progress!
March 26, 2021
The Search Team extends their gratitude for those of you who have responded to the rector search questionnaire - over 70% of our members. For the next several week, the information gathered from the survey will be tabulated and used to construct our parish profile. This profile will give candidates a picture of who we are, where we've been and how we want to improve.
The Search Team extends their gratitude for those of you who have responded to the rector search questionnaire - over 70% of our members. For the next several week, the information gathered from the survey will be tabulated and used to construct our parish profile. This profile will give candidates a picture of who we are, where we've been and how we want to improve.
January 22, 2021
The Rector Search is off to a flying start, and the Search Committee is very excited about the prospect of engaging the congregation and taking the next steps together in choosing our new rector.
Last week, the Search Committee met for the first time with The Rev. Colville Smythe, the Diocesan Consultant. Fr. Smythe has promised to be available to the Search Committee and St. Anthony "whenever and however we need him." The next step in the search process is the compilation of a parish profile.
Over the next few weeks, the Search Committee will be gathering information from the congregation with a variety of ways of engaging people. These venues for gathering information called "Days of Discovery" will include small group gatherings at church, Zoom gatherings, an online survey, mailed questionnaires and phone surveys.
We need your involvement to help guide the Committee in its task. We need your participation in order to make sure that every voice is heard. Starting this week, two Circles of Grace, our small group ministry that began last fall, will be participating in the Days of Discovery. In addition, there will be two opportunities to participate at the St. Anthony campus starting this Sunday, February 28, following the 9 am Holy Eucharist and next Saturday, March 6, at 10 am. Both will be held either on the patio or in the courtyard.
The information gathered over the next weeks to be included in the parish profile will give potential candidates insight into who we are at St. Anthony on the Desert and who we want to become as a community.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us continue this journey together.
Blessings,
Rector Search Committee
The Rector Search is off to a flying start, and the Search Committee is very excited about the prospect of engaging the congregation and taking the next steps together in choosing our new rector.
Last week, the Search Committee met for the first time with The Rev. Colville Smythe, the Diocesan Consultant. Fr. Smythe has promised to be available to the Search Committee and St. Anthony "whenever and however we need him." The next step in the search process is the compilation of a parish profile.
Over the next few weeks, the Search Committee will be gathering information from the congregation with a variety of ways of engaging people. These venues for gathering information called "Days of Discovery" will include small group gatherings at church, Zoom gatherings, an online survey, mailed questionnaires and phone surveys.
We need your involvement to help guide the Committee in its task. We need your participation in order to make sure that every voice is heard. Starting this week, two Circles of Grace, our small group ministry that began last fall, will be participating in the Days of Discovery. In addition, there will be two opportunities to participate at the St. Anthony campus starting this Sunday, February 28, following the 9 am Holy Eucharist and next Saturday, March 6, at 10 am. Both will be held either on the patio or in the courtyard.
The information gathered over the next weeks to be included in the parish profile will give potential candidates insight into who we are at St. Anthony on the Desert and who we want to become as a community.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us continue this journey together.
Blessings,
Rector Search Committee
January 9, 2021
The Rev. Canon Anita Braden from the Diocese of AZ met with the Vestry in January to give an overview of the search process.
On February 7
The Search Committee met for the first time to begin their task of searching for a new rector. Over the next months, the committee will be gathering information from the congregation through several formats, with a variety of ways of engaging people, designed to have every voice heard. The information gathered will be used to create the parish profile which will give potential candidates insight as to who we are at St. Anthony on the Desert.
The Rev. Canon Anita Braden from the Diocese of AZ met with the Vestry in January to give an overview of the search process.
On February 7
The Search Committee met for the first time to begin their task of searching for a new rector. Over the next months, the committee will be gathering information from the congregation through several formats, with a variety of ways of engaging people, designed to have every voice heard. The information gathered will be used to create the parish profile which will give potential candidates insight as to who we are at St. Anthony on the Desert.
November 19, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am delighted to announce the formation of the St. Anthony Rector Search Committee, a team of eight fellow parishioners who will lead our search for a new Rector in 2021.
Jeanne Paige is both co-chair of the Committee and Vestry liaison to the group. Joining her as co-chair is Marianne Clarke. The other members of the search committee are Paul Basha, Harry Boysen, Kelle Hohl, Jill Kyler, Melody Taylor and Harrison Woods. In addition, the committee will draw on the considerable expertise of others in the congregation as those skills are needed. Junior Warden Claudia Johnson and I will serve in an ex-officio capacity.
The committee’s work will begin in earnest in the New Year. Your leadership is now in discussion with the Diocese about the appointment of an Interim priest to serve St. Anthony both during the search period and in the transition to a new clergy leader. We also are aiming to retain a Diocesan-approved consultant to aid the committee. The Rev. Canon Anita Braden, the Canon to the Ordinary (the Bishop’s right hand), is providing us with guidance and support as well. She will be meeting with the Vestry in January.
For those of you who have not experienced a Rector search in the Episcopal Church, please know that this process has a two-fold purpose. First, it is an opportunity to take stock of where we have been, of who we are now as a parish, and of where we want to be as a people of God in the years ahead. Second, it prompts us to consider carefully the skills and personal attributes we seek in a clergy leader, and it gives any prospective candidate a chance to join us in mutual discernment of a possible call to be our next Rector. We will incorporate these points in a Parish Profile, built on feedback from the parish that will be distributed to interested parties.
At the end of this process, which will involve extensive interviews, reference and background checks, a review of candidates’ worship, sermon and pastoral practices, and lots of prayer, the Search Committee will recommend two or three names to the Vestry, who then will interview the finalists and select one. The Bishop then will review the selection and, if in agreement, will issue the call to the selected person. The wardens and Vestry will follow up with negotiations over terms of service, compensation and related benefits.
Done correctly, a search of this importance for a parish of our size and stature typically takes about 10 to 12 months before a new Rector is in place.
I will do my best to keep you informed of our progress. As I’m sure you understand, much of the search effort must be kept confidential while it is active. Both the search committee and the Vestry have been asked to maintain that confidentiality. To ensure a fair process, we also will be considering only names that come through responses to a posting on a national church clergy database. We simply can’t take any names directly.
Please join me in welcoming, and thanking, our Search Committee. And please accept my gratitude for your steadfast support of St. Anthony and this corner of God’s Kingdom in our time of transition.
May God bless us all,
Dan Austin, Senior Warden
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am delighted to announce the formation of the St. Anthony Rector Search Committee, a team of eight fellow parishioners who will lead our search for a new Rector in 2021.
Jeanne Paige is both co-chair of the Committee and Vestry liaison to the group. Joining her as co-chair is Marianne Clarke. The other members of the search committee are Paul Basha, Harry Boysen, Kelle Hohl, Jill Kyler, Melody Taylor and Harrison Woods. In addition, the committee will draw on the considerable expertise of others in the congregation as those skills are needed. Junior Warden Claudia Johnson and I will serve in an ex-officio capacity.
The committee’s work will begin in earnest in the New Year. Your leadership is now in discussion with the Diocese about the appointment of an Interim priest to serve St. Anthony both during the search period and in the transition to a new clergy leader. We also are aiming to retain a Diocesan-approved consultant to aid the committee. The Rev. Canon Anita Braden, the Canon to the Ordinary (the Bishop’s right hand), is providing us with guidance and support as well. She will be meeting with the Vestry in January.
For those of you who have not experienced a Rector search in the Episcopal Church, please know that this process has a two-fold purpose. First, it is an opportunity to take stock of where we have been, of who we are now as a parish, and of where we want to be as a people of God in the years ahead. Second, it prompts us to consider carefully the skills and personal attributes we seek in a clergy leader, and it gives any prospective candidate a chance to join us in mutual discernment of a possible call to be our next Rector. We will incorporate these points in a Parish Profile, built on feedback from the parish that will be distributed to interested parties.
At the end of this process, which will involve extensive interviews, reference and background checks, a review of candidates’ worship, sermon and pastoral practices, and lots of prayer, the Search Committee will recommend two or three names to the Vestry, who then will interview the finalists and select one. The Bishop then will review the selection and, if in agreement, will issue the call to the selected person. The wardens and Vestry will follow up with negotiations over terms of service, compensation and related benefits.
Done correctly, a search of this importance for a parish of our size and stature typically takes about 10 to 12 months before a new Rector is in place.
I will do my best to keep you informed of our progress. As I’m sure you understand, much of the search effort must be kept confidential while it is active. Both the search committee and the Vestry have been asked to maintain that confidentiality. To ensure a fair process, we also will be considering only names that come through responses to a posting on a national church clergy database. We simply can’t take any names directly.
Please join me in welcoming, and thanking, our Search Committee. And please accept my gratitude for your steadfast support of St. Anthony and this corner of God’s Kingdom in our time of transition.
May God bless us all,
Dan Austin, Senior Warden
The Rev. Dorian Mulvey, Rector of St. Anthony on the Desert for the past twelve years, has announced her retirement effective December 14, 2020. We greatly appreciate her leadership and guidance to our faith community encouraging us to continue to grow spiritually, to priorize stewardship and to continually look for ways to help our community, country and world. Godspeed, Dorian and George. Well done.