St. Mark's Announces New Rector

May 20, 2008

 

 

Dear St. Mark’s Parishioner,

 

It is with great joy and excitement that we send this letter to inform you of the next rector of St. Mark’s Church.  The Vestry and Search Committee have issued a call and the call has been accepted.  Thanks be to God!

 

We said in our Parish Profile that we wanted a:

 

•         Spiritual leader who will kindle in us a spirit of evangelism

•         Servant-leader who has experience in a church of similar or greater size and complexity

•         Clergy Person who values “Christian education and spiritual formation ….”

•         Leader of leaders, to provide the vision …that will help us grow in Christian discipleship and communion with each other in Christ.

•         Person who can love each of us…someone whose pastoral style is open, inclusive, transparent and collaborative, who creates a culture of tolerance and forgiveness, and who will thrive on input.

 

The Search Committee’s stated objectives were to seek someone with demonstrated skills in:

 

v     Church Growth and Development

 

v     Preaching

 

v     Administration

 

v     Stewardship

 

We are honored to name The Reverend Peter F. Walsh as the 22nd Rector of St. Mark’s Church.  He was the stand out candidate in all these areas and the unanimous choice of the 25 members of the Search Committee and Vestry.  We believe he has the strength of character to grow our parish and lead us in our collective and personal spiritual journeys.  The Rev. Walsh is well known for his preaching, spirituality and consensus-building style.  

 

Peter is 49 years old and currently the Rector of All Saints’ Church and Day School in Phoenix, AZ.   He and his wife of 21 years, Jennifer White Walsh, have five children ranging in age from 19 to 6.  They are both originally from the East Coast and are looking forward to “coming home.”  We expect Rev. Walsh and his family to arrive during the summer.  He will officially begin his rectorship on August 11th, 2008 and be ready for the program year to start in September.  A letter from him to our parish family is enclosed with this letter.

 

Although it is Memorial Day Weekend and typically a low attendance Sunday, we will make brief formal announcements at both the 8:00 and 10:00 services this Sunday, May 25th.  We will have an informal presentation in Morrill Hall, next Sunday, June 1st after the 10:00 service, with more details about Rev. Walsh, the search process and the next steps.  Please join us to celebrate this milestone in our Church’s life.

 

The Holy Spirit has led us here.  It is now our responsibility to honor this call and support Rev. Walsh in every way we can.  We have much to celebrate and much work to do.  Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Yours in Christ,

 

   Search Committee                                                    Vestry

Brandon Sweitzer, Co-Chair                                Katie Roach, Sr. Warden

Cynnie Thunem, Co-Chair                                   Steve Wyckoff, Jr. Warden

Charlene Berardino                                             Tom Berardino, Treasurer

Jonathan Bitting                                                   Brian Hollstein, Secretary

Brian Hetherington                                               Patrick Donovan

Jan Maynes                                                         Jill Ernst

Pete Luke                                                           Jon Fleming

Ditte Reifsnyder                                                  Chris Gruseke

Jill Sautkulis                                                        Breeze Hobbs

McKelden Smith                                                John Layng

                                                                          Joy C. Luke

                                                                          David Shea

                                                                          Diana Smith

                                                                          Carlyn Tiefenthaler

                                                                          Stan Twardy     

 

Enclosure