The vestry, mindful of Fr Terry’s mandatory retirement in July, has chosen a search committee for a new rector. The search committee will be responsible for gathering input from parishioners and other St Anna’s stakeholders on who we are and who we want to become as a Christ-centered community; drafting a parish profile based on that input; soliciting candidates though an open, online portal; interviewing candidates on a confidential basis; and recommending one or more finalists to the vestry. The vestry makes the decision on calling the next rector, subject to approval by the bishop.
All this will take time. Consistent with usual practice in the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Louisiana, there will be an interim period between Father Terry’s retirement and the hiring of a new rector. The vestry is responsible for hiring an interim rector (or, alternatively, arranging for a clergy team) to lead the parish during the interim (or transition) period.
We will be able to share more about the timing and details of the search process and interim period after the vestry has the opportunity to meet with our new Bishop, Rt. Rev. Shannon Duckworth, who was just consecrated November 19. In the meantime, the vestry asks for your prayers for all who are or will be involved in the search process. Please keep in your hearts the spirit of love and joy in Christ that we were blessed to receive from Bishop Curry when he preached and celebrated at St. Anna’s.