LEEDS EPISCOPAL CHURCH MARKHAM, VIRGINIA PROFILE PREPARED SPRING 2011 4332 Leeds Manor Road Markham, VA 22643-1906 Phone: 540-364-2849 Fax: 540-364-2879 www.leedschurch.org LeedsChurchSearch@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION WE ARE A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY which grows by welcoming new members and ideas, while respecting cherished values and traditions. This statement is from the Leeds Shared Vision, adopted by the Vestry in May of 2001. We are committed to providing a safe, caring, and supporting environment in which the unique value of every person is affirmed. We invite you to become better acquainted with Leeds Episcopal Church as you explore the many facets of our parish and community that are described in this profile. WHERE WE LIVE LEEDS PARISH IS LOCATED in the picturesque county of Fauquier (pronounced FAW-Keer) in the northern Piedmont of Virginia. We can be found just north of the small village of Hume and 4 miles south of the Markham exit on Interstate 66. Markham and neighboring Hume and Orlean are situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Fauquier County, amid thousands of acres of pastureland. To get to the church, parishioners and visitors travel over country roads, past mountain vistas and sprawling livestock farms, vineyards, and orchards. The parishioners frequent the near-by towns of Warrenton, Marshall, Front Royal and Winchester for employment, shopping, medical and cultural opportunities, and our children attend both public and private schools in these towns. Fauquier County is 650 square miles in area and has a population of 68,000. Within a 2- to 3-hour drive of Leeds Parish, residents can enjoy ski resorts, lakes and rivers, and national and state parks and historical sites. With Washington, D.C., and the Northern Virginia Metropolitan area just 25 50 miles to the east via I-66, many additional cultural, higher education, and career opportunities are within commuting distance. More information about Fauquier County is available at: www.fauquiercounty.gov www.visitfauquier.com 2
WHO WE ARE LEEDS EPISCOPAL CHURCH COMPRISES approximately 180 parishioners from more than 100 households in northern Fauquier County. Twenty households have children of school age or younger. The majority of our parishioners live within a 15-mile radius of the church. About half of our parishioners are under the age of 60. This region of Virginia has a strong Episcopal presence, with three other churches located within a 20-mile radius. While we are surrounded by a rich, rural environment, many parishioners commute in the direction of Washington, D.C. Parishioners work in such fields as education, technology, government, and the private sector. Most of our parishioners have college or graduate degrees. CHURCH HISTORY ON MAY 10, 1769, the Virginia House of Burgesses established Leeds Parish in the northern half of Fauquier County. The name of the new parish was taken from Leeds Castle in England, the birthplace of Lord Fairfax, whose colonial estates encompassed most of the new Anglican parish. Formal ratification of the parish occurred in December 1769, and worship services began immediately. Leeds Parish was fortunate that its first rector was the Rev. James Thompson, a Scotsman who served from 1769 to 1816. Many of the Anglican clergy in Virginia and elsewhere, loyal to the English crown, left their parishes at the beginning of the American Revolution. Rev. Thompson, a staunch patriot, remained at Leeds, and even used his sermons to recommend that Leeds parishioners contribute financially to the fight for independence. Leeds Church was represented at the first convention of the Diocese of Virginia in 1785. In its early years, the Leeds Parish worship services were held in private homes and a number of wooden churches. In 1842, the present church was built of brick and stucco in the early Gothic revival style, and was consecrated by Bishop William Meade. Leeds Church was an eyewitness to history during the Civil War. The church was more than once occupied by Northern and Southern soldiers. Lee and Longstreet s troops marched past the church on what is now Leeds Manor Road. Union troops camped just north of Leeds. And an engagement between Union and Confederate troops left an artillery shell embedded in the wall of the church. 3
In 1873, all of the church s woodwork was destroyed by a fire, but subsequently was restored to the building as it exists today. In 1894, the stone wall around the church was completed with significant support from the congregation. One of the great heroes of Leeds Church was Dr. James Markham Ambler, a physician in the U.S. Navy. A member of the ill-fated Jeanette Arctic Expedition (1879 1881), Dr. Ambler s willingness to sacrifice his own life to remain with his dying patients remains an example of faith to this day. Dr. Ambler s body is buried in Leeds churchyard; a tablet placed inside the church by the medical officers of the U.S. Navy commemorates his life. The Vestry has included descendants of the Supreme Court s Chief Justice, John Marshall, along with Civil War soldiers and community leaders including J. A. Marshall, Robert M. Stribling, Edward Ambler, James K. Marshall, Robert Douthat, Thomas Marshall, Gray Carroll, Henry C. Stribling, James M. (Polk) Marshall, and J. Leroy Baxley. Subsequent generations of these families attend Leeds Episcopal Church to this day. In the history of Leeds, many rectors have served long and dedicated careers. In the last 100 years alone, three rectors have served for a combined 75 years: The Reverend Linnea Summers Turner (1993 2010), 17 years The Reverend Howard Llewellyn Fairchild (1967 1991), 24 years The Reverend Fremont Newton Hinkel (1922 1956), 34 years This speaks well of their synergy with the people of Leeds Parish and our desire is to always seek a balance between the leadership and common goals. This spirit has brought the people of Leeds continuing success in their mission to serve our Lord and the needs of others. Today, Leeds Episcopal Church is an active and vibrant parish that cherishes its history of faith and community, while looking forward to the future in its fourth century of existence. 4
WORSHIP LEEDS PARISHIONERS COME TO SERVICES for many reasons. We come to worship God and to pray, to receive the sacraments, to hear the sermon, to achieve spiritual growth, and to share in our sense of community. We like our sermons to be educational, intellectually stimulating, illustrated by personal stories and experiences, and leavened with humor. We are most interested in interpretation of the readings and how they relate to everyday life, personal and spiritual growth, and God s love and care. We prefer worship that is both joyful and reverent. Though we tend to be traditional in our worship, we have used liturgies from other Anglican traditions, including the Celtic, Burmese, and Scottish services. Our current program of worship has evolved as new ideas are adopted and the needs and desires of the congregation shift. Most active parishioners attend one of the two regular Sunday services and many participate as members of the Altar Guild, Acolytes, Lectors, and Sunday Greeters. We gather at 8:00 a.m. for Rite I without music and at 10:30 a.m. for Rite II with music. Our 8:00 a.m. service has grown from three or four regular attendees to occasionally more than twenty over the 20-plus years it has been in existence. In terms of percentage growth, the 8:00 a.m. service is clearly the most impressive. During the summer months, we have one service at 9:30 a.m. We offer a small, quiet Eucharist service on Wednesday mornings and a monthly healing service. We have explored other service times, including a 5:00 p.m. Saturday evening service. 5
Combined Sunday attendance has averaged 90 over the past four years. The attendance declined in 2009 and 2010 but it has since remained steady, averaging 85 people during the first half of 2011. 100 Attendance 90 80 70 Attendance 60 50 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Special services are offered throughout the year. An Advent Service of Lessons and Carols begins the church year. The church is usually filled to capacity for both of the Christmas Eve services: the first at 5:00 p.m., when the children place the figures in the Christmas crèche; and the second at 11:00 p.m., which begins with carols at 10:30 p.m. Christmas Lessons and Carols is celebrated during the twelve days of Christmas and the Epiphany is welcomed with a visit from the three kings. The Lent and Easter season begins with Ash Wednesday services at noon and in the evening. We observe Tenebrae on Maundy Thursday and the Great Easter Vigil on Easter eve. Easter is the only Sunday during the year with three services, all with music, beginning at 8:00 a.m. At the 9:30 a.m. family service, the children decorate the cross with flowers. Our last Easter Sunday service is at 11:00 a.m. We have a homecoming service each August and it is during this time that we honor those who have made significant contributions to Leeds Episcopal Church by adding their names to the Founders Memorial. The Blessing of the Animals in October is held at nearby Ruritan Park. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving we host a community Thanksgiving service, inviting neighboring churches to join us in what is always a joyful celebration of praise and thanks. 6
MUSIC MUSIC IS INTEGRAL to the 10:30 Sunday service. Our organist and choir director leads a dedicated group of twelve choir members. Leeds prefers familiar, easy-tosing congregational hymns. Most are accompanied by the church organ, but the inclusion of other instruments is not uncommon. It is not unusual to hear the sound of a harp, flute, violin, finger cymbals, clarinet, or tambourine during the service. We draw most regularly from the 1982 hymnal and supplement with Wonder, Love, and Praise and Lift Every Voice and Sing. Although we most frequently have accompanied music, we enjoy occasional a cappella music offerings, as suit the moods of the seasons. A few years ago, the church purchased a three-octave set of hand chimes. A small group of chimers play several times during the year for the service prelude or during the anthem. Although we currently do not have a children s choir, we incorporate music into Sunday School. Our children present a musical Christmas pageant each year. Our young people even surprised us with a hip-hop service one year. The efforts of the choir go beyond weekly rehearsals and church services. Each year the choir hosts the Renaissance Dinner. This is an all-church effort, which culminates in an evening of period costumes, delicious food, fellowship, and entertainment. The proceeds from the most recent Renaissance Dinner benefited the American Cancer Society in honor of several cherished members of the Leeds Parish community lost to cancer. Leeds has hosted two workshops for small church choirs in recent years, inviting neighboring churches to participate. Led by Ellen Johnston, a nationally known music clinician and worship consultant, these sessions have been invaluable in providing us with resources, ideas, and encouragement. One of our challenges in music is adjusting to the aging demographics of the choir. We extend an open invitation to anyone wishing to join. A d e d i c a t e d g r o u p 7 o f
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR children from preschool and elementary school attend Sunday School each Sunday during the 10:30 a.m. service and then join their families for the Eucharist. Because we have such a small number of children in these age groups, we now offer a one-room Sunday School. Children can attend Vacation Bible School in July and participate in the Christmas Pageant in December. Mission is taught early at Leeds Episcopal Church. Our children gather Change for Chickens, part of an international effort to provide livestock to developing countries. Confirmation classes are provided for sixth- and seventh-grade students as they prepare to receive confirmation and become full members of the Episcopal Church and transition from Sunday School to our Youth Group programs. Our youth in middle and high school meet throughout the year for learning, fellowship, and Christian service. Each year a new theme is chosen to guide their learning topics. Recently, they have discussed the Ten Commandments and the different Protestant denominations. They participate in such events as World Vision s 30 Hour Famine and a mission trip or project. Most of them serve as acolytes and crucifers. They assist with child care during the 10:30 service, and help with the annual St. Nicholas s Day Sale and Renaissance Dinner. They also enjoy an annual pool party, a retreat at a nearby camp, and an annual ski trip. Adult Christian Education classes are offered sporadically from September through June, mostly on Sundays between the services. In the recent Leeds Parish Survey (2011), the most desired topics requested included religious history, Bible study, theology, and book discussion. We have a weekly bible study and gather for an evening Lenten series. We have offered confirmation classes, inquirers classes, and lessons in Greek. Our Christian Education Committee plans intergenerational events that are held between services during the Advent and Epiphany seasons. We are challenged to find leaders to offer sustained adult education and to find times 8
convenient for parishioners who are juggling commitments to committee meetings, children and youth with different Christian Education schedules, and weekend, workday, and weekday evening preferences. In recent years, Leeds parishioners have enjoyed a family weekend retreat at Shrine Mont Diocesan Conference Center in the Shenandoah Valley, providing opportunities for spiritual and community rest and renewal. Church members lead and participate in worship events, hikes, hand chimes, and creative workshops which have included tai chi, pop-up books, drawing, beading, book clubs, board games, and fishing. The weekend culminates in an outdoor Eucharist at the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration, an open-air stone chapel. Leeds is home to our very own Leeds Episcopal Activity Preschool (LEAP), open to all children in the community. LEAP has two programs: Play and Learn class held two mornings each week for 3- and 4-year-olds and a prekindergarten class held three mornings per week for 4- and 5-year-olds. Both programs have chapel time, field trips, cooking, and sharing day. Many of the LEAP students families do not attend Leeds as their regular church. Generous tuition assistance, funded by an annual silent auction, enables Leeds to provide quality preschool for families struggling in the current economy. LEAP is supervised by a board composed of parishioners and school parents. 9
PARISH LIFE WE ARE A CARING AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY that is active and engaged in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Parish life is centered on our historic church, its people, and our Parish House. Pastoral care is a priority at Leeds Episcopal Church. We are always ready and willing to take care of our members, whether that involves preparing meals, providing transportation, doing routine jobs, or anything else that we can to comfort our parish family. Not surprisingly, our parish survey found that 91 percent of respondents felt positive about our fellowship and social activities. We enjoy many social and spiritual activities offered through the church. Some of these activities include coffee hour after Sunday services, local mission opportunities, ECW, crafts group, monthly potluck dinners, the annual Shrine Mont weekend retreat, Youth Group, Mothers and Others, and the annual Renaissance Dinner. The Leeds Parish Crafts is a small group of hardworking people who meet weekly to produce items, which may be sold to generate funds for outreach and church projects. The main sale outlets are the St. Nicholas s Day Sale and the Spring Plant Sale. The Mothers and Others group offers a monthly potluck dinner and program. The Youth Group meets for service, fun, fellowship, and Christian growth. The Parish House is in use on a daily basis, and is available to both the church and local community groups. Our facility is used for exercise classes, art classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, Leeds Ruritan Club, and of course our very own LEAP. OUTREACH AND MISSION OUTREACH AND MISSION PLAY A VITAL ROLE at Leeds Episcopal Church. Despite our small size, we have taken on major outreach activities and sponsor many programs that support local, national, and international communities. Last year, the congregation raised and distributed an estimated $40,000 through our various outreach programs. Our ECW hosts an annual fund-raiser from which all proceeds are sent to our sister church, the Diocese of Toungoo in Burma. The ECW also holds several large bake sales at the Delaplane Strawberry Festival and at our St. Nicholas s Day Sale. These funds are used to support many local outreach organizations. Through donations from our congregation, Leeds participates in the Shoebox Ministry 10
program. Members from our congregation also crochet prayer shawls, which are blessed and given to members of our church community who are in need of comfort. Our craft group supports the Pine Ridge Reservation Projects in South Dakota, sending trucks loaded with clothing and supplies to the reservation. Volunteers travel there annually to work on various projects that address needs within the reservation. Carol s Christmas is a project of our Outreach Committee. The committee works with local elementary and middle schools to adopt 30 35 children for the Christmas season. In addition, holiday meals and food baskets are prepared for families within our community six times a year. Our youth are involved in several mission projects such as participating in World Vision s 30 Hour Famine, working at the Volunteer Farm, and serving at the local food bank. They have recently undertaken support for the American Cancer Society by organizing a Relay for Life Team. This coincides with members of our church walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to support breast cancer awareness, research, and treatment. In 2005, Leeds Church contributed $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity, and joined forces with local Ruritan groups to build a Habitat house in our community. In 2007, we also joined with other community groups to rebuild the home of a local family that had sustained extensive damage in a fire. For 18 years, Leeds Episcopal Church organized an annual Applefest. This weeklong event relied on all age groups, from our preschoolers who gathered apples at a local orchard on a field trip, to the teens and adults who spent three days in the Parish House preparing the apples. Once the apples were prepared, the next group of volunteers took to the orchard where batches of apple butter were stirred continuously for 36 hours. The apple butter was canned right in the orchard and sold at an all-day festival. Proceeds from this event were donated to a different worthy cause each year. Though circumstances eventually led us to cancel Applefest, Leeds parishioners are looking to recapture the spirit and traditional community feeling of this churchwide outreach project with a new endeavor. 11
OPERATIONS Staff Two full-time and four part-time staff members serve Leeds Episcopal Church: A full-time rector (currently an interim rector) A full-time parish administrator who also handles bookkeeping and financial reporting A part-time director of music who serves as organist for worship services and directs the choir Two part-time preschool teachers for LEAP Paid custodial help is heavily augmented by volunteer efforts for handyman tasks, nonroutine grounds keeping, and trash removal A volunteer parish nurse provides and coordinates medical advice to Leeds parishioners and the surrounding community, including activities such as flu shots, blood pressure screenings, grief counseling seminars, nutrition advice, and adult education programs In addition, we have had five seminarians from the Virginia Theological Seminary who have selected Leeds for their field education assignments, as well as four seminarians who did their summer intensive field education program at Leeds. FACILITY/BUILDING AND GROUNDS/RECTORY LEEDS PARISH IS BLESSED with a beautiful historic church, a modern Parish House, and a modest rectory situated in a beautiful setting. The one-room church, with balcony area, can accommodate 150 people. Church After many years of deferred maintenance and emergency fixes, major repairs to the church were begun in 2004. We elected to undertake a significant, historically accurate restoration project. Windows were reconstructed using the original glass panes, the ceiling was replastered, wooden floors were refinished, and a copper roof was installed. We addressed water issues by installing a new gutter system and reinforcing the stone foundation. 12
Parish House The Parish House began as a church office in 1950. In 1988, the main hall and kitchen were added. The metal roof was replaced in 2005. In 2009 2010, the parish administrator s office, reception area, and kitchen were remodeled. The building now houses a large fellowship hall, kitchen, the church offices, library, nursery, choir room, and bathrooms on the main level. The basement consists of three classrooms used for both LEAP and Sunday School, and a craft room. Rectory The rectory is a three-bedroom, one-bath, rambler-style home with a full basement. It is situated on approximately two acres across the road from the church. The rectory was constructed in 1955, and last used by Rev. Llewellyn Fairchild in 1991. Since that time, it has been rented and serves as a source of income, pending its future need as a rectory. Cemetery More than 500 people are interred in the cemetery surrounding the church. In addition to Dr. Ambler, many direct descendants of Chief Justice John Marshall, whose extended family made up the core of the congregation for several generations, are also buried there. The cemetery is surrounded by a natural stone wall that has been diligently repaired and repointed over the years. 13
COMMUNICATIONS MOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONGREGATION is handled electronically, including a comprehensive monthly newsletter, which is compiled by the parish administrator. Printed versions of the newsletter are available, as well as a yearly membership directory. Leeds also maintains a Web site and has recently upgraded our landline Internet access to wireless Internet. The annual meeting in the spring and periodic updates by the Vestry during Sunday services announcements provide opportunities for discussions on specific topics. FINANCE LEEDS EPISCOPAL CHURCH S 2010 INCOME was $218,000, largely composed of pledges, plate cash and gifts (75%), investment earnings (17%), and rental of the rectory and Parish House. Expenses were $233,000, with the major categories being personnel costs (60%), utilities and maintenance (15%), administrative costs (10%), and diocesan/regional tithes (11%). The majority of outreach is funded through various projects outside of the operating budget and is described in the Outreach and Mission section of this profile. 11% 4% 10% 15% 60% Personnel costs Utilities and maintenance Administrative costs Diocesan/Regional tithes Other Leeds 2010 Expenses 14
Expenses exceeded income by a comparable amount in 2009. These deficits were covered by withdrawals from cash reserves held separate from endowment funds. Leeds s endowment funds currently total over $1.2 million. More than half of the endowment originated from a series of donations from an individual whose family has been associated with the parish since inception. This portion of the endowment is held in Diocesan investment funds. For the last several years, income has been drawn from this fund at the rate of 5 percent to supplement cash requirements. About $300,000 of endowment funds were used in 2004 to pay for the major refurbishment and deferred maintenance of the church and Parish House. The 21st Century Campaign, a capital fund drive, was subsequently conducted to replenish the endowment. The funds raised through this campaign are invested in a managed growth fund overseen by the Investment Committee. STEWARDSHIP REVENUE FROM PLEDGES was $127,000 in 2009 and $150,000 in 2010, with seventy-six pledges in both years. The recently completed campaign for 2011 resulted in sixty-three pledges for $136,000. Compared with other churches in our region, Leeds ranks at the bottom in per capita pledging. Understanding and dealing with the gap between pledge revenue and operational expenses is challenging, given the congregation s generous response to the many ad hoc requests for contributions and to outreach-related projects throughout the year. Leeds is both blessed with a rather large endowment that provides a steady source of income, and challenged with our per member pledge rate being at the bottom of the churches in the region. 15
DIOCESE THE DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA, organized in May 1785, was one of the nine dioceses represented at the first General Convention in September 1785. Today, the Diocese of Virginia is one of the largest in the Episcopal Church by active membership with over 80,000 members. Its congregations have the second highest average Sunday attendance in the Episcopal Church. It is composed of 181 congregations and covers thirty-eight counties, extending from its southern boundary at Richmond and the James River to northern Virginia and from the Chesapeake Bay on the east to the Shenandoah Valley on the west. The diocesan offices are located in the Mayo Memorial Church House, a nineteenth-century Greek revival mansion on West Franklin Street in Richmond. The building was left to the Diocese by heirs of Peter Mayo, a wealthy nineteenthcentury tobacco merchant. The Diocese also maintains a Northern Virginia office at Goodwin House in Alexandria. The Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, who was elected and consecrated in 2007, began his ministry as the thirteenth bishop of Virginia on October 1, 2009. He is joined in his Episcopal ministry by the Rt. Rev. David C. Jones, Bishop Suffragan since 1995. In January 2011, the Rt. Rev. Edwin F. Gulick, retired bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky, began serving our diocese as Assistant Bishop. The bishops serve the Diocese well, working with congregations in their ministry to help them pursue diocesan priorities: youth and young adult ministry, strengthening existing congregations, evangelism and proclamation, multicultural and ethnic ministries, and mission beyond ourselves. The bishop s seat is the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration, an open-air stone chapel at the Shrine Mont Diocesan Conference Center. This facility, located in the Shenandoah Valley, is used for diocesan meetings, conferences, and clergy retreats, and hosts extensive summer youth camping programs. The Diocesan Center at Roslyn in Richmond overlooks the James River and is a gathering place for diocesan events of continuing education. It is also often used for vestry and parish retreats. The Diocese owns and operates six secondary schools and has part ownership in and shares operation of five continuing care retirement facilities. The Diocese enjoys the benefits of the Virginia Theological Seminary, the world s largest Anglican seminary, as a resource for education. 16
This information is provided by the Office of Transition Ministry of the Diocese of Virginia. For more information about the Diocese of Virginia and Region XIII, which Leeds is a part of, visit www.thediocese.net. The Leeds Parish Survey confirmed that the congregation overwhelmingly finds the Episcopal Church to be both a welcoming and safe place for people of a variety of perspectives. Leeds Episcopal Church proudly supports the Diocese and region at the full recommended financial level and actively participates in council meetings, ad hoc committees, and the national convention, and sponsors seminarians who seek to serve at Leeds for their fieldwork. We have also embraced Bishop Johnston s five priority ministries: youth and young adult formation; strengthening our congregations; multicultural and ethnic ministries; mission beyond ourselves; and evangelism and proclamation. We seek a rector who embraces the same. 17
THE RECTOR WE SEEK THE SEARCH COMMITTEE has relied both on the recent Leeds Parish Survey and our longer church traditions to shape our vision of the rector we seek one who will grow with us, while respecting our traditions and inspiring us to shape a dynamic future. We have no predetermined expectations as to experience, age, gender, race, sexuality, or national origin. We view our rector s responsibilities as encompassing three areas: worship, leadership, and ministry. We seek a rector who brings skill, experience, and enthusiasm to each of these important roles. Worship We seek a rector who can plan and conduct interesting, intellectually engaging worship services and sermons. By demonstrating in-depth knowledge of both biblical and historical understanding of God s message, the new rector will engage us in reaching a deeper understanding of our faith. Through development of both formal services and Christian Education programs, the new rector will effectively lead others in the formation and development of a deeper spiritual life, which will enrich our daily lives. We seek a rector who supports the inclusion of laity in services and embraces congregational diversity. Leadership We seek a rector who will lead us with confidence and bring new ideas and creativity to help us reshape existing programs and introduce new ones; one who will inspire each of us in the development and use of individual and congregational resources. The new rector should demonstrate effective organizational skills and have the ability to manage the affairs of the parish and effectively delegate to staff and laity. We seek a leader who possesses the ability to understand and work with groups and individuals to resolve conflicts and build consensus. Ministry We believe it is important that the new rector is comfortable communicating with and reaching out to both current members and new people beyond our doors. We desire a rector who has a passion to inspire our young people and incorporate them into the full life and ministry of the church. We seek a rector who is caring and compassionate in helping people feel nurtured in times of need, including hospital, 18
nursing home, hospice, and home visits. The rector must be prepared to help parishioners with problems, both personal and spiritual. Other Qualities Eight qualities have been identified as the most important characteristics we seek in a rector. They are listed here in order of their ranking, starting with the most important: 1. Relates to all age groups 2. Good speaker 3. Accessible 4. Personable and outgoing 5. Sense of humor 6. Good organizational skills 7. Energetic 8. Enjoys social events and gatherings with parish members We hope that this profile of Leeds Episcopal Church paints a thorough and welcoming picture of our past and our present congregation. When Rev. Linnea S. Turner announced her retirement after 17 years of service, we recognized, once again, how blessed Leeds has been to embrace those priests whom God called to lead our community in worship, spiritual growth, and service. We look forward to the opportunity to write a new chapter in the long and rich history of Leeds Episcopal Church, led by a new rector who will guide our journey in the future. If you are interested in applying for the position of Rector of Leeds Church, please send a cover letter and your OTM Portfolio, including your resume, to LeedsChurchSearch@gmail.com 19
CONTACT INFORMATION 2011 Vestry John Douglass, Senior Warden Gary Pearson, Junior Warden Suzanne Cliver, Registrar Cici Brayton Ann Garrett Marion Long Jay Marshall Margaret Thomas Anne Whitelaw Robert Shoemaker, Treasurer 2011 Search Committee Don Ferro, Chair Pernille Brandt Stephanie Burke Jack Callander Parker Harrell Karen Moore Shawn Nashwinter Tom Newlun Jim Stribling Search Committee Contact Information Don Ferro Phone: 540-364-0318 Email for Applicant Correspondence LeedsChurchSearch@gmail.com Church Office Phone Number 540-364-2849 20