November 14, 2025
Rector Search Update
On Monday evening, Rev. Suzanne Roberts, Transition and Deployment Officer for the Diocese of Maine, met with vestry members who will serve as the search committee.
There are two models currently available for us as we look for a new rector. Because Fr. Tom is willing to be available to train a newly ordained priest, we can pursue what is called the co-adjutor model. In consultation with the bishop and newly ordained priests, we would be presented with candidates. Fr. Tom will be completing his work in mid April, and he would overlap with the new priest during the new year once a selection has been made.
If the first model doesn’t work, the second model opens the search wider and will take a longer time. It will require more work in terms of creating a church profile, offering a benefit package and advertising through the national church. We will most likely need an interim priest during this process. The consensus is that we would do some of the work that this model requires, which would inform the co-adjutor search, but would prepare us if the candidates available do not work out for us.
Thora Easton will chair the committee. Other members include: Anita Chandler, Allison Schroth, Bob Simmons, Chris Hickey, Kathleen McCormick, Lenita Richard, Lorna Blackmer, Steve Koskinen, Tom Ainsworth, and Wayne Franklin.
Parish Survey
Here is where we need your help. We have a set of questions to begin answering and defining who we are as a parish andwhat we seek in a new rector. We would love to have your answers in this survey by Friday, November 21st. Please know that responses are completely anonymous – your email is not attached to your response. If you prefer, paper copies will also be available in church on Sunday and could be brought to church the following Sunday, the 23rd.
Parish Meeting
The following Sunday, November 23rd we will gather as a group at coffee hour and talk about the answers received and whether there is anything to add or take away. Answering these questions will help to inform the parish profile that we make available to those priests who may be interested in serving as our next rector.