Grace Church Special Vestry Meeting
May 30, 2013 6:30 p.m., Francie’s house
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Present: Rev. Francie Hills, Kathy Clausen, Geoff Perkins, John Cheek, Susan Gray, Ian Booton, Sally Brooke, Rick Gore, Dindy Anderson, Louise Robitaille.
Away: Sue Gore
Francie called a special vestry meeting after the earlier executive team meeting at her house to announce that she would be retiring as rector effective January 1, 20014. Her last Sunday to preside at service will be November 24, 2013. She had mailed a letter to the parish detailing her decision and plans this afternoon. Her letter to the parish follows:
May 30, 2013
Dear Grace Parishioners and Friends,
Depending on how you look at it (St. James, St. George, or Grace Church) I have been your rector for the past 5 ½ or 2 ½ or 1/2 years. What a challenging, amazing, and blessed time we have shared! We’ve come from being two separate parishes with two rectors and real estate property in two communities to being one grace-filled parish with one rector and no real estate at this time. Our journey in the wilderness has taught us much about what it is to trust in God alone. We’ve learned that God will give us what we need and show us the way forward. We have asked questions and learned much about being “church” that few congregations have the opportunity or courage to ask and learn. I am so proud of you! I am so grateful to God for blessing me with the remarkable ministry we have enjoyed.
On December 29, 2013, I will turn 65. I have decided to retire effective January 1, 2014. This is partly because of my upcoming marriage to the Rev. Marc Britt on October 12, 2013. We would like to live together, and he has a few more years before he can retire as rector of St. John’s Broad Creek in Ft. Washington, MD. Because I have the month of December as vacation this year, my last Sunday with you will be November 24, 2013, the Feast of Christ the King. This will exactly complete six (or three or one) years of ministry with you.
This seems like a logical time for me to make this transition, because I believe after your long sojourn in the wilderness, on which I have been so privileged to accompany you, Grace Church is on the verge of “entering the promised land”. You will need new and different vision and energy from your clergy as you go forth into whatever preferred and promised future God has in store.
God is with you, and that has been palpable over these past years. God will continue to be with you as you move forward. You are blessed to be a blessing to one another and to the community and world you serve. My prayer is you will never forget your special history that makes Grace so astonishing and so able to move into an amazing future as God’s nimble and faithful church!
From now until the end of November, we have lots to do together. I will be with you fully until that day, and I will carry you in my heart forever.
In Christ’s love, The Rev. Frances A. Hills, Rector
Francie mentioned that the long lead time given before her departure is unusual: rectors usually leave before a search committee is formed. She added she feels the congregation has “A pretty good sense of who we are”, and that a long interim period may not be necessary for Grace. Ed Farrell, the new transition minister for the diocese, will meet soon with the Wardens and herself to talk about the process we are entering. The next big meeting of the Province 1 transitional ministers is in late September, and if Grace can create its profile by then, Ed can take it to the meeting, which will then help us find appropriate candidates for rector. She warned us that she will have to be entirely hands-off during the whole process, neither giving nor soliciting advice on the search process and the subject of who to choose as our new rector.
She also said she welcomes the chance to do a good job of saying “goodbye” to Grace. Since she is retiring from full-time ministry, she realizes how much she will miss being a rector.
The meeting ended at 7:25 p.m. with a prayer by Kathy Clausen.
Respectfully submitted, Sally Brooke, Clerk to the Vestry