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Finding Trinity's Next Clergyperson

This page documents the process we followed in finding our new Vicar. 

The Diocese was closely involved in this process, provided us with a search consultant to guide us, and provided us with parameters within to search.

The Vestry has interviewed candidates, and was very pleased -- delighted, even -- to find that the quality of the candidates for our small, rural parish was high indeed.  We seem to have made something of a name for ourselves, and we are happy that clergy recognize the opportunity we represent for them, as well as how much they can bring to us.

We have called the Rev. Dr. Robert P. Clements to be our new Vicar.  He began his duties at Trinity on December 1, 2006, and his first Sunday in the pulpit was December 3, the First Sunday of Advent.  Interestingly, Fr. Clements was already quite familiar with Trinity, having served as Interim Rector here only seven years ago.  He was eager to return to us, and we were fortunate to have him.

The remainder of this page provides a bit more information about the process we followed.

Milestone #1 -- The Journey Begins:

Our 13th Rector, the Rev. Beth Long, left Trinity on April 23, 2006, to accept a call to be Rector of the parish of St. Gregory the Great in Athens, GA.  The Bishop was notified, and the Wardens met with the Diocesan Canon for Deployment. 

Milestone #2 -- Our Companions Along the Way:

The Rev. Erik Larsen was designated as our Search Consultant.  We at Trinity remember Fr. Larsen well (and favorably!) for being the facilitator who was able to get us moving a few years ago on our stalled capital campaign and building plans -- which resulted in our beautiful new building.

The Rev. Canon JoAnn R. Munro, Diocesan Canon for Deployment (now retired), visited Trinity on Sunday, May 7, celebrating the Holy Eucharist at 10:30, preaching, and meeting with the Vestry  regarding the steps in finding the next priest for Trinity. We learned that a traditional search process, should Trinity undergo one, could be expected to take between 12 and 24 months, and during that period it would be usual to have an interim rector assigned.

The Rt. Rev. Cyril Wismar remained with us until new clergy arrived at Trinity.

Bishop Wismar, who retired some years ago from his duties with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, not only is our friend and neighbor (he and his wife Sylvia live in Falls Village), but during his active career, he was instrumental in creating the agreement between the Lutheran Church and the Episcopal Church permitting clergy of both denominations to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in each other's churches.  He was also an emissary to His Holiness the Pope.  We at Trinity are very fortunate to have him ministering to us.

On Sunday, June 25, our own Bishop Smith, and two search consultants (Fr. Larsen, assisted by The Rev. Dr. Joseph Krasinski, substituting for Canon Munro, who was on vacation) visited Trinity to take us to the next part of our search. 

(In this picture, Fr. Larsen, Fr. Krasinski, and Bishop Smith before the meeting.  Click on the picture to see a larger version)

In a well-attended meeting, the parish actively participated in tracing our history as a parish from the early days as a "company church" for the Barnum Richardson Company, through the nearly forty years when Trinity's survival was tenuous at best, a time when we were fortunate to have even a part-time priest, the years when Lime Rock and all of America experienced the "roaring twenties", the great depression, and World War II.   

Parishioners participating in "Telling Our Story"	Our Search Consultant, the Rev. Erik Larsen	Fr. Krasinski, transcribing "Our Story" to flip charts
(Click on any of these pictures to see larger sized versions)

"Telling our Story" was a process that the Trinity community seemed to find fulfilling -- and the "typically Trinity" potluck supper that followed the history tracing phase was a great success as our community meals always are (and traditionally have always been). 

Parishioners participating in one of our favorite Trinity activities	Bishop Smith views the repast	Bishop Smith, at table with parishioners
(Click on any of these pictures to see larger sized versions)

The session that followed supper -- concerned with discerning trends, futures, the desires of the parish -- raised provocative questions.  When all the rest of us had finished cleaning up and had gone home, our Wardens were still in conference with the Bishop and the search consultants.

See the output of the evening:  a document about Trinity and by Trinity, called "Telling Our Story".

You'll find important information in the Trinity Times. For the articles that covered this period of our history, be sure to check the Trinity Times back issues.