June 8, 2026

Dear Fellow Parishioners:

We are writing with an update about the rector transition process. As you know, the Diocesan Transition Minister, the Rev. Will Dickinson, and the Rev. Jenni Ovenstone, commissioned the eight members of the St. Paul’s Discernment Committee on May 17, 2026: Tim Belevetz, Valerie Burke, Larry Campbell, Amy Curtis, Meredith Forbes, Catherine Linskey, Jim Morrell, and Heidi Schneble. The committee has selected Valerie Burke and Larry Campbell as its co-chairs. 

Members of your Vestry and the Discernment Committee participated in workshops this past weekend to recognize the significance of calling a new rector, be refreshed as Christians for this journey, and be confident and clear about our roles and responsibilities going forward. We spent time learning how to conduct thorough research and to listen to the congregation's input on goals for our parish and our next Rector. The research will serve as a basis for the St. Paul’s Parish Profile that will be published by the Diocese and read by applicants as they consider whether they may be a good fit as Rector to lead St. Paul’s into our next chapter.

Today and in the coming weeks, you will hear more from the Discernment Committee about details regarding that research and opportunities to provide your input.

We are absolutely confident that our Discernment Committee members have the hearts and minds to listen to God’s will and the voices of the congregation in the task ahead of them. We ask you to join us in praying for each member of the committee as they complete parish research, write our parish profile, interview candidates, and recommend one finalist to the Vestry for the next Rector of St. Paul’s.

As we hand over the transition process to the Discernment Committee, the Vestry will now return to regular parish business and joyful participation in the celebration of the Rev. Oran Warder’s final year of ministry among us.

Thank you, as always, for your support and engagement through this period of Rector transition.

Faithfully,

Eleanor Long, Senior Warden

Lisa Eskew, Junior Warden

Dear Parish Family,

We are humbled and delighted to serve as co-chairs of the Discernment Committee during this important season in the life of our parish.

As we begin this work, we do so knowing that our committee plays only a small role. The calling of a new rector is ultimately the work of the whole parish, guided by the Holy Spirit. Our role is to help create opportunities for listening, reflection, and discernment as we seek God's direction for our future together.

As we celebrate and give thanks for Oran's ministry among us, we will also begin the work of our rector transition. The first step will be a parish-wide survey, conducted with the support of fellow parishioner Scott Broetzmann who has offered his expertise. The survey will be distributed in July and remain open for approximately five weeks.

We hope every person connected to our parish will participate. Whether you worship with us every Sunday, serve in outreach ministries, attend occasionally, or engage with parish life in other ways, your voice matters.

In late September, we will host parish listening sessions to explore more deeply the hopes, strengths, and opportunities that emerge from the survey. Together, this feedback will help us create our Parish Profile—the document that tells our story and introduces our parish to prospective rector candidates.

We hope to share the results of the survey and listening sessions with the parish in January or February, along with an update on our development of the Parish Profile. Once the profile is submitted to the Diocese, interested priests will begin contacting the Diocese and the Discernment Committee to inform us of their interest in St. Paul’s, and the next phase of discernment and interviews will begin.

We ask for your prayers throughout this process—for our parish, our committee, and for the person God is preparing to serve as our next rector.

Thank you for your participation, your prayers, and your partnership in this important work.

Faithfully and with gratitude,

Valerie Burke and Larry Campbell