SAYING THANKS WITH ICE CREAM
SEARCH COMMITTEE TO CHEER PARISHIONERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT

The people of St. James really are incredible and are making the work of the Rector Search Committee so much more effective, the committee’s chair reported. “Now we are working on a special way to say thank you,” said Kari Butler. “This is because we are about to complete a major milestone and the enthusiastic participation of so many parishioners is making it possible.”
 
“One of the primary products necessary to complete an effective rector search is the production of a truly reflective parish profile,” she explained. “And to be an absolutely accurate picture of what likely will be a rector candidate’s first impression of St. James we needed to hear from everyone.”
 
“And we did,” she added. “So, get ready for ‘Sundaes on Sunday!’”
 
In both the parish survey and the follow-up focus groups there was a very healthy participation rate. The information parishioners provided will find its way into the parish profile, which is a comprehensive documentation of St. James. It describes who we are as a parish, the priorities of the congregation in terms of worship, pastoral care, its place in the community, and its educational and social priorities, as well as its hopes and dreams for the future. It often is the primary source of information about the parish for rector candidates.
 
“So you can see it’s vitally important to get it right,” Kari explained, “and the only way to ensure its accuracy is to hear from as many parishioners as possible.” The St. James community answered the call in fine fashion.
Therefore, you cordially are invited to “Sundaes on Sunday” after each of the services on May 24 for an ice cream-infused social hour hosted by your Rector Search Committee. “It’s our way of saying thank you,” said Kari.
 
Just how well did St. James do? Well, a survey response rate of 80 percent of Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) is considered a valid reflection of a parish. St. James had a response rate of 96 percent. “That’s incredible,” said Kari. So were the results. The overall theme can be characterized as St. James is “a really good place to be,” reported the survey facilitator from Holy Cow, a firm the parish engaged to create the survey and interpret the results. “There is a very high level of satisfaction,” she added. This is important, she explained, because it means we don’t have to find a rector “to fix anything.” The results also revealed St. James possesses an adaptable and progressive culture but one that could deepen its pastoral care efforts.
 
Generally speaking, the parish placed prime importance on three priestly characteristics for a new rector. These points of emphasis are preaching, pastoral care and strategic leadership. A good fit for someone to join the parishioners at St. James is someone who is “theologically progressive but open to other ideas (and) dynamic enough to connect through worship,” said the Holy Cow representative. The data also revealed St. James wants someone with networking talents and an ability to form community connections. “We can put these parish priorities front and center in our search,” Kari said, “because everyone in the parish participated in the survey.”
 
The survey provided many “what” answers relative to what the parish wants in a rector. The follow-up focus groups were designed to determine the “why” the responses were what they were. Once again, the parish stepped up and four focus group sessions were scheduled. Due to the privacy promised to promote the most heartfelt and unedited responses, it’s possible only to comment in a general sense relative to the information gathered in the groups.
 
However, the committee can report that the focus groups confirmed the survey results. Dynamic preaching, a greater emphasis on pastoral care and attracting more young families all prominently were mentioned. Equally important were the comments universally held by participants that St. James is a very welcoming place. This quality must be continued and expanded agreed all, particularly if we’re to attract and maintain more young families.
 
A tremendous amount of thanks and appreciation is due Toni Sutliff for bringing her professional excellence and expertise to her role of focus group facilitator. She raced to St. James on three different Sundays from her home parish - All Saints - to conduct the focus groups - and waived off any remuneration for her services. Her efforts were a real gift to the parish. Members of the committee were gratified to receive a great many comments from parishioners regarding how much they enjoyed the focus groups and how valuable they believed they were. “People felt heard,” said Kari, “and that is so important, not only in the search for a new rector but for the future of the parish generally.”
 
“It was an hour very well spent,” said parishioner Barry Wirth at a recent session of the Grumpies.