God is speaking. Our job is to listen.
As we all pitch in to combat the spread of COVID-19, we in the Diocese of Olympia are still listening for what God would have us do. For congregations seeking clergy leaders, this listening process has been deeply impacted by:
- Changes to the role of supply and interims while worship is conducted remotely,
- The organizational challenge of doing work on behalf of the whole congregation when we can’t gather,
- The shifting financial realities that will impact the compensation packages churches will offer,
- And the inability to travel to visit prospective clergy.
Congregations that are seeking a new clergy leader should be in contact with the Bishop’s Office to discern readiness to proceed with the Profile and Search Processes. This discernment includes congregations minimally demonstrating the following:
- The congregation has a full and active complement of leaders: Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Clerk or equivalents able to meet regularly (remotely or in person).
- The congregation has demonstrated an ability to gather remotely or in person for worship and/or fellowship during the building closures.
- The congregational leadership continues to review their financial status, seek COVID relief if needed, submit monthly Net Disposable Income Reports, work with the Bishop’s Office to ensure that transition communications accurately reflect the financial position of the congregation, and demonstrate the ability to support compensation at the desired level of clergy effort.
