February 11, 2026

Dear Fellow Parishioners:

You recently received a Save-the-Date email outlining opportunities to honor and give thanks for the ministry of our beloved rector, Oran Warder, during his final year among us. Our focus will be two-fold throughout this year - to joyfully celebrate Oran’s ministry and to prepare thoughtfully and prayerfully for the next season of leadership at St. Paul’s.

At the Vestry meeting on January 19, the Rev. Will Dickinson, Diocesan Minister for Transition, joined us to share an overview of the clergy transition process. His presentation framed the upcoming transition as a time for reflection, prayerful discernment, and shared leadership in our parish.

We are pleased to report that the Rev. Dickinson will be with us on Sunday, May 17, to continue this conversation with the parish. He will discuss the transition process, answer questions, offer insight into what lies ahead at the 10 am Adult Forum, and also preach at the 11:00 service. We encourage everyone to attend and take advantage of this opportunity for shared understanding and dialogue.

The Vestry met again on February 2 and voted, with the full support of the Diocese, to take the following steps:

• Engage a one-year interim priest beginning in January 2027, with the goal of calling a new rector by January 2028. An interim period affords time for a congregation to adjust to change, reflect on its identity, and clarify its hopes for future leadership. Experience shows that parishes that retain an interim priest attract a stronger applicant pool, signaling thoughtful preparation and readiness for new leadership. The Vestry will work with the Diocese over the next several months to identify and interview promising candidates with the intention of having the interim priest in place by January 2027 at the latest.

• Form a Discernment Committee in the fall of 2026. This committee will serve as a bridge between the congregation, the Diocese, and potential candidates. We will follow a Diocesan-recommended, open and transparent process for selecting the Discernment Committee. We will share more details about the selection process in the next parish update planned for early March.



• Invite broad parish participation from late fall through the spring of 2027. During this time, the Discernment Committee, the Vestry, and the interim priest will gather input from parishioners through surveys, listening sessions, and conversations to understand the hopes, needs, and values of the St. Paul’s community. This input will inform the creation of a parish profile and guide the careful review and interview of candidates.



It is also important to remember that we are served by an extraordinarily talented and faithful parish staff who will provide continuity and care throughout the transition. Lastly, we will continue to provide regular updates as this important work unfolds and ask for your prayers and engagement as we move forward together.

Faithfully,