Search and Transition Update

HOLD YOUR BREATH!!

The announcement about our new settled priest will be coming very soon! 

The Search Committee and the Bishop’s Committee have met with one candidate over dinner.  After dinner the Search Committee was excused, and the Bishop’s Committee conducted their own interview.  A similar meeting is scheduled in early June with the other candidate.

The next morning one or two members of the Search Committee takes the candidate(s) to Seaside to the Diocesan office to meet Bishop Romero.  As St. Philip’s is still a mission church, the Bishop must approve any candidates for call to be the settled priest.

These two candidates will be the final recommendations made by the Search Committee to the Bishop’s Committee, who will then make the final choice.  The candidates will not be ranked by the Search Committee, as both are equally qualified and equally supported by the Search Committee.

Again, we on the Search Committee thank all of you in the congregation for your prayers, your emotional support, your patience, your contributions to the fund for moving a priest to Scotts Valley.  Our entire process, beginning a year ago with the Transition Committee has been grounded in prayer.  We have felt guided by the Holy Spirit every step of the way.  We know that the candidate we choose is the priest that God would have us call to St. Philip’s to lead this congregation into a new phase of growth and spiritual development.

WE ARE TRULY ALMOST THERE!  HANG ON!  STAY TUNED FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Karen Krestensen, for the Search Committee:  Steve Dodds, chair, Donna Jones, Karen Krestensen, Julie O’Brien, Dave Sanguinetti,
Susan Seaburg

The Search Committee
NEEDS YOUR HELP! 

· THANKS to you, we are on our way, with gifts totaling about $7000 so far. We estimate it will cost between $10,000 and $20,000 to move someone here and for transportation for the candidate and the search committee.

· The Search committee STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP. If every family that attends St. Philip’s gave $100 to the fund, we would have enough. That is only $2 per week—less than a cup of coffee. Can you make an investment in the future of your church, equal to a cup of coffee a week?

· Our goal is to have 100% of the congregation commit SOME AMOUNT toward our new settled priest. Even if you cannot afford $100 or more, your contribution in ANY amount helps us to reach our goal of EVERYONE participating. Imagine the great show of support it will be for the new priest if they see evidence that the WHOLE CHURCH pulled together in this effort!

· The Search committee also would appreciate donations of flight miles. We are determining where we need to go, and, thus, which airlines can help us. But we need to know if you may have some extra miles you could donate and on which airlines. Please contact Steve Dodds if you can help on this.

· The time we need extra financial help is NOW. We are working with the bishop’s Committee to make the final choice of candidate, and hope to make an offer this month. We must be ready to move and settle our candidate.

· So far, about 25 individuals or families have contributed—let’s make it ALL of us!.

THANK YOU for your prayers and for your support during the process—it is much appreciated

             Susan Seaburg, Bishop’s Committee-