New Rector

[Margaret L Johnson]

St. Mark's has been without a rector for the past 11 months and should be getting a Priest in Charge Under Special Circumstances by fall.  As I recall, assisting priests (by whatever title they are called), staff, music director and vergers are to resign and (if so inclined) offer their services to the new priest.  Is this correct?  How is this done?  Does anyone have the form of letter a verger might use?  Thanks.  Margaret Johnson, St. Mark's/Van Nuys, CA

[Bill Rhines]

 

Margaret...

 

My understanding is that, while those resignations are the protocol when a new rector comes in, it is not the case with the arrival of a priest in charge.  One of the reasons for that is that, canonically, the rector is directly responsible for all staff positions, and, therefore, needs to have the ability to put his/her own people in place.  My experience is that, with few exceptions, most interim or temporary clergy are happy to have the support of established staff people who know the ins and out of the congregation.

 

Bill Rhines

St. David's Episcopal

Kennebunk, ME

 

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[Katherine Pendzuk]

Hi All,   Having been thru this at trinity Church in Ossining, NY.  During our supply/interim priest period all of the staff remained the same.  When our new rector came  nothing changes at that point also.  I was on the vestry and certainly didn't have any resignations.  We will also be going thru this again with supply or interim starting in November.   Kate Pendzuk. FVGEC --- On Fri, 5/27/11, Bill Rhines <wrhi...@ne.twcbc.com> wrote:

[Sister Mary Winifred]

Well, it is customary for the staff to resign when a new rector comes (same in diocesan offices when a new bishop comes in), but probably letters are given directly to the rector rather than to the vestry -- it is the rector's prerogative to retain the staff or hire replacements. It's a courtesy for the rector, to give him/her the freedom to make changes -- and also gives staff members an easy way out if they do not want to work for the new person! I agree with Bill that resignations are not in order for an interim or temporary priest-in-charge.

 

Sister Mary Winifred, CA

[Joe Sturdevant]

Dear Margaret,

 

I hope you will not do any such thing.  I know personally of situations where the new or interim rector took this “gesture” as a personal affront.  In one case when a newly assigned and very dynamic Priest arrived, the verger, having been poorly advised, went to him and resigned.  He said that was fine, he didn’t want anyone on the team that didn’t want to be there, thank you, good-bye, and don’t let the door hit you in the back!  She of course was crushed, and it became a serious distraction for the parish for a considerable period.

 

These are ministries, not Cabinet Officer jobs.  Think of it this way.  If you believe in your heart that St. Mark’s Parish derives no benefit from the verger ministry, then by all means you should find some other contribution to make.  But if you believe St. Mark’s does benefit, then you have to look around and see how many other members are motivated, trained, and qualified to perform that ministry.  I’ll wager the list is very short – like maybe – you.  The same holds for the staff, the music director, and others.  Resigning, then, simply in anticipation of being re-invited is at best an empty, even self-serving gesture.

 

And there is no protocol.  This notion appeared on this list about 10 years ago, and whenever someone actually tried it - and then reported about it, which was extremely rare – it had caused all manner of misunderstanding and unnecessary pain.  I can’t imagine anything worse for a Priest than to arrive at a new parish, wanting so much to listen, learn, lead, and be a good shepherd, and have everybody resign!  Where is the Christian charity in that?!?! 

 

Rectors, in general, are not shy people.  If, in time, they want to change the staff or the processes or both they will let you know.

 

Rejoice in the gift of your new Priest-in-Charge, offer all the support of which you are capable, then put on your cassock and go back to work.

 

Good luck and God speed.

 

 

Joe Sturdevant

Verger, Master-of-Acolytes

Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

Tomball, TX

(713) 256-3684

joe.stu...@swbell.net

[Greg Schumacher]

Well said!

[Richard Lammlin]

My thoughts exactly Joe!

Richard F. Lammlin
30 Woodmont Circle
East Haddam, CT  06423
860 759 4436 - Cell

[tomhurwitz]

I hope that we do away with this protocol for vergers, if it exists.
Of course, no interim should be greeted with a storm of resignations.
His/her job is maintaining continuity, not sweeping with a new broom.
There may be problems of fit, but resignation should be the last
resort not the first.

Staff resignations for a new rector... here at St. John the Divine,
the Chapter and staff have not attempted mass resignations for the
last few changes of Dean. There were replacements, but they happened
as a matter of course, when it became clear that the Dean needed
someone with whom he felt he could work better. For lay ministries,
like acolytes and vergers, we have found that the institution of broad
changes on the ranks of these guilds by new administrations, radical
changes of leadership, "reorganizations" or the like, have had effects
on their membership from bad to disastrous. For the liturgy and its
ministers, although it is the Rector/Dean's choice, we have found that
unless there are big problems, continuity is usually the best policy.
Vergers and acolytes should remain in place. If it ain't broke, don't
fix it.
Tom Hurwitz

Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

[Vergergc]

I believe the tradition of proforma resignations originally stems from
the ranks of the ordained - when a new dean or rector arrived, the
assistants were to submit this to the new person in charge. It makes
sense that this happen - for ordained staff. Later on the expectation
was extended to include lay staff. When the NNLP (National Network of
Lay Professionals) existed in the 90s, the group worked to eliminate
the automatic submission by lay staff or ministry leaders.

Kent Wingerson
Grace Cathedral, Topeka