Overview of Discernment process for Church of the Good Shepherd, Acton, MA

1. PRIEST-IN-CHARGE DISCERNMENT
PROCESS
Presentation to Congregation
January 27, 2013
John V. Woodard
Diocesan Consultant

2.  The objective of the priest-in-charge
discernment process is to assess :
 Whether or not the congregation believes the
priest-in-charge is the right person to lead the
congregation as rector.
 Whether or not he wishes to continue to lead the
parish.
 Whether or not the congregation and priest-in-
charge have a shared vision for the future.

3.  No established process. "No one size fits all"
so to speak.
 Can be tailored to parish’s particular needs.
 Most likely, the parish has been involved
informally in a discernment process from the
start of the priest-in-charge’s ministry.
 However, it’s important to confirm and
affirm this in an intentional way through a
formal discernment process.

4.  Typically the discernment process is led
by a discernment committee (five to six
members) drawn from among the
congregation, who are appointed by the
vestry.
 The role of the discernment committee is
to make a recommendation to the vestry
whether or not to call the priest-in-charge
as rector.

5.  Composition of the discernment
committee should be representative of
the congregation.
 Include some members of the current
parish leadership, but not exclusively.
 The chair will be an especially critical
appointment.

6.  An effective process is one that is focused and
disciplined.
 Committee should meet on a regular schedule
(every several weeks) over a predetermined time
period (e.g., four to five months).
 The priest-in-charge should be involved because
he is an important resource and has a stake in
the outcome.
 The priest-in-charge would step out at the final
session when the discernment committee meets
to discuss its recommendation.

7.  First task of the discernment committee
is to review and summarize the work of
the priest-in-charge since the start of his
ministry in order to assess:
 What has been achieved relative to
initial goals or objectives.
 Develop a profile that is descriptive of
the parish, its history, mission,
programs, finances, etc.

8.  It is critical that the profile articulate the
core values of the congregation, which can
be done through individual interviews, a
written survey or small group discussions (or
a combination of these).
 The interview guide can be converted into a
written survey or used as guide in small
group discussions.

9.  The profile will provide an overall picture of
the parish that will enable the discernment
committee to assess:
 the parish’s strengths and challenges, which
coupled with its core values.
 Serve to inform the congregation’s vision or long
term goals for the parish.

10.  Ultimately this leads to the question:
 What are the congregation’s expectations and
are these mutual expectations?

11.  Helpful tool in answering this question is the
Areas of Parish Mutual Ministry document.
 Identifies activities or functions typically
considered important to parish’s life.
 Help congregation decide:
 Activities that are responsibility of the clergy and the
lay leadership.
 Opportunities for shared responsibility in which the
laity at large may contribute their time and talents in
support of the clergy.

12.  Sharing of responsibilities is especially
critical.
 While some congregations may not perform
all of the activities or functions, most
congregations – whether large or small –
perform many of them.
 This list may be especially useful to a
congregation in the discernment process
leading to the call of a priest-in-charge as
rector.

13.  In addition, the priest-in-charge will prepare
a narrative of his personal “mission” (e.g.,
source of theology, role in parish, how
particular ministry is informed, etc.), core
values, strengths, challenges, objectives and
needs.

14.  At the conclusion of the process (profile,
survey of congregation, delineating roles and
responsibilities of clergy, laity and shared
responsibilities coupled with the discernment
narrative of the priest-in-charged) the
discernment committee will prepare a report
to the vestry with its recommendation.