Clergy Transition
A resource to help understand the difference between change and transition – one is an event and the other is a process.
By Susan Elliott
For some congregations, transition means giving up the familiar structure of full-time clergy as well as their understanding of the way authority and tasks are distributed. Susan Elliott’s “From Challenge to Opportunity” sha…
By Victor Conrado and Louisa McKellaston
While transitions are disruptive, they can also be times of increased energy, activity and even evangelism. In No Time to Hibernate, Victor Conrado and Louisa McKellaston share ideas for developing your church while making th…
By Van Sheets
Saying goodbye to a beloved rector and starting the process of seeking a new one can be an unsettling journey. In Invite the Holy Spirit, Van Sheets shares some practical methods to work together, and spiritual ways to includ…
By Meghan Froehlich
The Office for Transition Ministry provides support to clergy, laity, bishops and Diocesan Transition Ministers throughout the Episcopal Church, guiding people through times of discernment and calling. In Breathe and Carry On…
By Charis Bhagianathan
Any kind of change brings an opportunity to re-focus and re-energize ourselves. Whether your congregation is in the midst of seeking a new rector, or an outgoing rector needs help with his or her retirement, this issue highli…
By Donald Romanik
One of the most difficult things to do in any work setting is letting someone go. In Firing an Employee the Right Way, Donald Romanik tackles termination in a church context, suggesting ways to avoid unnecessary conflict and …
By Hope Eakins
What are best practices for periods of transition? In Good Transitions, Hope Eakins shares lessons from her experience as an Interim rector, offering suggestions for both congregations and priests on how to be open to change,…
By Nathan Kirkpatrick
Can inexperience be a desirable quality in a candidate? In Would You Hire a Job Candidate with an Unconventional Background?, Nathan Kirkpatrick examines how we typically fill leadership roles in the Church, and asks us to co…
By Charis Bhagianathan
ECFVP Editor Charis Bhagianathan introduces the May 2018 issue of Vestry Papers featuring resources on clergy and lay transitions.
By Kimberlee Auletta and Sarah Kooperkamp
Kimberlee Auletta and Sarah Kooperkamp are co-Priests-in-charge at their parish and share how it allows for more time to truly live into their ministry and personal lives.
By Cathie Caimano
Across our church congregations wrestle with decisions related to clergy staffing. Recognizing many congregations may associate moving to part time clergy a ‘failure. ‘ Cathie Caimano suggests reframing the conversation by as…
By Dorothy "d'Rue" Massey Hazel
The feelings of grief and loss that may accompany a clergy transition may also heighten levels of anxiety and stress. In “Expectations Matter: Choose Faith,” Dorothy “d’Rue” Hazel advocates for working through these feelings,…
This assessment can be used in a variety of transition situations to support lay and clergy leaders during a time of transition
An interview tool to help congregations in a clergy search process identify individuals with strong team leadership skills.
This one hour webinar is designed to provide practical tips and concepts to consider during a search for new clergy leadership.
By Greg Syler
With his own job about to change, Greg Syler explores what the role of a rector is from perceived expectations to the church-wide Canons.
By Susan Tamborini Czolgosz
When should a congregation begin to think about planning for a clergy transition? Susan Tamborini Czolgosz’s “Transition Planning” provides a framework for shifting thinking about a clergy transition, recasting it as a natura…
By Anne Rudacille Schmidt
Days before being installed as senior warden, Anne Rudacille Schmidt learned her rector had accepted a call elsewhere. “Clergy Transition: Tips for Senior Wardens” shares strategies Anne and the vestry used to navigate this u…
By Jan Henderson
During the time of clergy transition, the senior warden is responsible for leading the congregation in their search for a new rector. In “Leading through Transition,” senior warden Jan Henderson shares the process she and her…