Search for a Rector
St. John's Rector, Mother Tracy Wells Miller, resigned in Sept. 2023. Amma Eliza Linley is currently acting as or Interim Pastor. Our other three Assisting Clergy are part of the regular rotation of presiders/celebrants (the priest who leads the worship service) and preachers in worship.
The Rector Transition Team is being formed as the parish begins the search process for its next Rector. It will serve as a sub-committee of the Vestry, charged with working in partnership with the Canon to the Ordinary or their delegate, to complete the tasks and responsibilities of the clergy transition. The transition process is intended to discover more about the identity of the parish and the context in which the parish serves. The process is diocesan, and guidelines for this diocesan process are developed and established by the Canon to the Ordinary and approved by the Bishop. The tasks to be completed by the parish are important, take time, and call for participation by as many members as possible - a feat accomplished well with good Team members.
Members of St. John's are invited to apply to be on the Transition Team, which is tasked, along with the Vestry, with finding our next clergy leader. If you feel called to be on the committee a link to the application is below:
The Rector Transition Team is being formed as the parish begins the search process for its next Rector. It will serve as a sub-committee of the Vestry, charged with working in partnership with the Canon to the Ordinary or their delegate, to complete the tasks and responsibilities of the clergy transition. The transition process is intended to discover more about the identity of the parish and the context in which the parish serves. The process is diocesan, and guidelines for this diocesan process are developed and established by the Canon to the Ordinary and approved by the Bishop. The tasks to be completed by the parish are important, take time, and call for participation by as many members as possible - a feat accomplished well with good Team members.
Members of St. John's are invited to apply to be on the Transition Team, which is tasked, along with the Vestry, with finding our next clergy leader. If you feel called to be on the committee a link to the application is below:
This is an "editable" PDF file.
You can print the form (filled in or blank to be completed by hand) and either
- Download the Application to your computer and save it.
- Once on your computer open the file and fill in your information in the "blue" shaded areas.
- Save the file with your information in it.
- Per the instruction on the form, attach it to an email to Debra Spencer, Junior Warden
You can print the form (filled in or blank to be completed by hand) and either
- place it in the box provided in the church office or
- mail it to 125 Canterbury Dr, Aptos CA 95003 care of Debra Spencer.
More About the Rector Transition Team:
Gifts and Skills for Rector Transition Team
The transition process is an art form and needs to be done with care. Since it is a process of discernment, it is more fluid and personal than a business process of hiring. Team members need to be equipped to handle relational conversations and above all, need to be good listeners.
All Search Rector Transition Team Members: All members must be at the center of the parish community, regular in worship and giving to the mission and ministry of the parish. Team members need to be reliable, able to complete tasks, positive people, and good team players. They need to be trustworthy, able to maintain confidentiality, and desirous of a good outcome. Team members may at times be called upon to help lead parish conversations or events. The Search Committee/Transition Team is comprised of about ten percent of the average Sunday attendance of the parish, often with overlapping skills, among whose membership are the following:
Team Chair: The Chair is a person who is a good facilitator, a reliable communicator, and someone who can help keep the process on track. This person is not on the Vestry, and works closely with the Canon. Rick Becton will chair the committee
Vestry Liaison: One member of the Team is also a member of the Vestry, and serves to keep the Vestry informed of the work of the Team, without breaking confidentiality. They are a good communicator, a trusted member of both bodies, an informed leader and participant. There can be no more than two people in this role.
Chaplain: The Chaplain is a steadfast spiritual leader, a person who prays without ceasing for and with the Team. The Chaplain is grounded in his/her faith and exemplifies trust in the presence of God in the process—reminding the Team, Vestry and parish of this trust during the transition process.
Historian: The Historian(s) are people who know the parish well. They not only know facts about the parish and know where to find accurate information, they also know the long-time members and are usually themselves a long-time member. They value the story of the parish and its people over time.
Demographer: The Demographer enjoys current facts about the community and its surrounding areas. The Demographer also helps make sense of the parish data in light of the community demographic information.
Photographer: The Photographer may be a picture-taker, but is not necessarily one. The Photographer gathers photos, old and current, to tell the story of the parish. If photos are needed, the Photographer makes sure they are taken. The Photographer has a good sense that “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Writers: The Writers work very closely with the Chair and the Canon to write the profile document itself. The Writers should be people with a strong background in writing, able to compose an inviting narrative and also able to consolidate the information presented--both factual and truthful--with sensitivity and authenticity. Writers should not become “married” to the document, but able to produce multiple drafts.
Lay-Out: The Lay-Out person works with the Writers and Photographer on various drafts of the profile, to help create and format a document that is visually attractive and makes sense to the outside viewer.
Communicator: The Communicator is sure to prepare one or two messages to announce to the parish every month to ensure that the momentum continues and that the parish feels informed. The messages would be in the form of verbal announcements, newsletter and e-
news. The Communicator is sensitive to both the mood of the parish and the need for “just the right amount” of information. The Communicator is especially mindful of the need for confidentiality.
Again, these positions often overlap, and can be combined.
Once Team members have accepted the call to serve in this capacity and have signed the Covenant Agreement, they are ready to be commissioned during a Sunday worship service.
Gifts and Skills for Rector Transition Team
The transition process is an art form and needs to be done with care. Since it is a process of discernment, it is more fluid and personal than a business process of hiring. Team members need to be equipped to handle relational conversations and above all, need to be good listeners.
All Search Rector Transition Team Members: All members must be at the center of the parish community, regular in worship and giving to the mission and ministry of the parish. Team members need to be reliable, able to complete tasks, positive people, and good team players. They need to be trustworthy, able to maintain confidentiality, and desirous of a good outcome. Team members may at times be called upon to help lead parish conversations or events. The Search Committee/Transition Team is comprised of about ten percent of the average Sunday attendance of the parish, often with overlapping skills, among whose membership are the following:
Team Chair: The Chair is a person who is a good facilitator, a reliable communicator, and someone who can help keep the process on track. This person is not on the Vestry, and works closely with the Canon. Rick Becton will chair the committee
Vestry Liaison: One member of the Team is also a member of the Vestry, and serves to keep the Vestry informed of the work of the Team, without breaking confidentiality. They are a good communicator, a trusted member of both bodies, an informed leader and participant. There can be no more than two people in this role.
Chaplain: The Chaplain is a steadfast spiritual leader, a person who prays without ceasing for and with the Team. The Chaplain is grounded in his/her faith and exemplifies trust in the presence of God in the process—reminding the Team, Vestry and parish of this trust during the transition process.
Historian: The Historian(s) are people who know the parish well. They not only know facts about the parish and know where to find accurate information, they also know the long-time members and are usually themselves a long-time member. They value the story of the parish and its people over time.
Demographer: The Demographer enjoys current facts about the community and its surrounding areas. The Demographer also helps make sense of the parish data in light of the community demographic information.
Photographer: The Photographer may be a picture-taker, but is not necessarily one. The Photographer gathers photos, old and current, to tell the story of the parish. If photos are needed, the Photographer makes sure they are taken. The Photographer has a good sense that “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Writers: The Writers work very closely with the Chair and the Canon to write the profile document itself. The Writers should be people with a strong background in writing, able to compose an inviting narrative and also able to consolidate the information presented--both factual and truthful--with sensitivity and authenticity. Writers should not become “married” to the document, but able to produce multiple drafts.
Lay-Out: The Lay-Out person works with the Writers and Photographer on various drafts of the profile, to help create and format a document that is visually attractive and makes sense to the outside viewer.
Communicator: The Communicator is sure to prepare one or two messages to announce to the parish every month to ensure that the momentum continues and that the parish feels informed. The messages would be in the form of verbal announcements, newsletter and e-
news. The Communicator is sensitive to both the mood of the parish and the need for “just the right amount” of information. The Communicator is especially mindful of the need for confidentiality.
Again, these positions often overlap, and can be combined.
Once Team members have accepted the call to serve in this capacity and have signed the Covenant Agreement, they are ready to be commissioned during a Sunday worship service.