Rector Search Status Update

As communicated previously, we are now in the process of looking for rector to shepherd our further spiritual growth as we journey to be one with the divine. While it is desired to speed up the process, the selection of a new rector is too important to rush through. Among other things, we have to consider the role of the diocese in getting the best candidate who can answer our need as a parish but also as a member of the worshipping diocese. We have completed the study of our church to find out what we are and what we will be in the foreseeable future. We used the result of that study to draw a sketch of who we need as rector to lead us and to grow our church. We have designed questionnaires to narrow down the number of candidates we need to interview to the most likely persons of interest who can be our rector. We have also followed the guidelines of contact inquiry prescribed for this process necessary to protect the applicant’s identity and avoid jeopardizing the candidate’s present position. All these actions and studies were done with prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We ask for your prayers so that our decisions will be what God calls us to do. With God’s help, we expect to have a candidate list from which to make a selection by the first quarter of 2010. It takes that long because all potential candidates must be coordinated with to verify their continued interest and availability. Also, they must be confirmed to be in good standing per diocesan requirements. Until the final list is compiled and screened by the diocese the applications for rector of HTSB will be left open. "In keeping with the Advent season, let us keep our" hopes high and pray that God will send us a Pastor, who will" "be our friend, confessor, brother and spiritual leader in both" our sad and happy times. May God continue to bless us.

Submitted by Max Batong

Search Committee Update

After the search committee completed the Parish Profile, we prepared a summary called the short profile. From that summary of what we are and what we want to be as a congregation, we prepared the parish rector profile which is a brief description of the skills and persona of the rector we are looking for as a parish.
Believe it or not, it is not like preparing a position description and a function summary as it fits into the whole business program and strategy with measureable results. This is a position with visible requirements for performance and spiritual implications which perhaps only the diocesan bishop can attempt to evaluate.
This is one of the reasons why the search process can often take a year or two to complete. One of our local partner Episcopal churchs started theirs after their rector indicated his plan to retire in 2007. They just installed their rector in April 2009. Another one of our dioscesan partner churches started their search process about the same time and they are still in the process. We have communicated with the committee search chairmen of these other churches to get some ideas on how they planned their searches. Some of the information they provided have been very helpful in developing meaningful interview questions.
We got four applications from the Phillippines. These applications were forwarded to the diocesan deployment officer for their approval before we can hold any meaningful dialogue with any of them. The deployment officer, Joanna Satorius, said she will be submitting to the Bishop the names of available clergy whom she considers fit for our congregation and when these are OK'd by the Bishop she will meet with the our committee to give us the list and to listen to any questions we may have.
We have yet to hear from the diocese on the available clergy in the Episcopal Church who are interested. A lot of the members of our congregation have asked where we are in this process and we understand the anxiety of waiting so we will do our best to keep you posted.
We have just finalized the search questionaire which we will ask all candidates to answer. We hope to learn more about these applicants and this should start some interesting conversation with them on their plans and how they see us as a congregation.
Meanwhile, keep praying for a rector who will help us learn more about Jesus, ourselves, and our neighbors as we journey to our final destination.

submitted by Max Batong
Rector Search committee chair