St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church
| Location | Chicago |
| Date Posted | August 28, 2023 |
| Category |
Chicago (Sierra Reyes & Andrea Mysen)
|
| Job Type |
Full Time
|
| Setting | Urban |
| Compensation | $147,680 = $110,000 (cash stipend & SECA) + $34080 (rectory value) + $3600 (rectory utilities) |
| Diocesan Compensation Info | https://episcopalchicago.org/for-clergy/clergy-salary-and-benefits/ |
| Health Benefits | Full Family |
| Housing | Supplied Housing |
| Is there a rectory? | Yes |
| If there IS a rectory, is the compensation figure above inclusive of fair market value of rectory? | Yes |
| Equity Allowance | No |
| Budget | $1,135,446 (2022) |
Description
Additional comments re: compensation, benefits and housing.
Cash Stipend - $110,000
Liturgical style and practice
St. Chrysostom’s uses the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer, most often Rite II, but with variations. It offers a spoken Eucharist at 8am each Sunday, a full choral Eucharist at 10:15am on the first three Sundays of each month, and choral Morning Prayer on the fourth Sunday. There is an additional Choral Evensong service at 4pm on the second Sunday. During the school year, students, parents and staff attend a Day School Chapel service on Wednesday. Music is an important part of our worship. Since 1927, our 43-bell carillon has invited the neighborhood to Sunday worship by playing hymns and providing a mini concert afterwards. Our Music Director of 39 years leads a professional choir of 13 to 16 members that includes some of the finest choral singers of Chicago and is accompanied by our Fisk organ. A volunteer parish choir and a children’s choir began decades ago and are an active part of many services. The full choir is on break during summer, but music continues through the parish choir and through donations for vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles. Our choral services are broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube using three cameras and multiple microphones.
Strengths
Our annual campaign for financial support of operations under a committee of the vestry and parishioners provides the basis for budgeting. This involves presentations at services, mailings and a calling campaign seeking online and in-person contributions to fund over 80% of the St. Chrysostom’s annual operating budget. We recently concluded an $11.5 million campaign to fund the renovation of the church buildings and to provide upgraded classrooms for the Day School. Separate fundraising is organized by, and benefit operations of, the Day School and Music at St. Chrysostom’s. These funds, and in turn, upgrades to our facilities help foster our missions of education, worship and outreach. Recently construction was completed to equip a first-rate commercial kitchen and renovate a social gathering space. These areas of the church support ministries that feed residents of local women’s shelters, dinners for neighborhood indigent guests each month and collect and assemble 15,000 bag lunches a year for the needy. The kitchen supports community and parish gatherings and its florist cooler and storage allow our flower guild to arrange fresh flowers for worship and events.
Challenges
St. Chrysostom’s has experienced some form of conflict over a sustained period of time but most recently with staff and administrative changes. These personnel changes, coming almost at the same time, have created uncertainty and some conflicting narratives among the congregation based on varied personal experiences. The confidential and voluntary handling of these changes for personal reasons was successful, but some the parish feel unheard and upset. There is an opportunity and a need for our new Rector to come in and jumpstart the healing process, of which there is broad consensus. The St. Chrysostom’s parish wants to continue to welcome new people, grow spiritually as a congregation, better integrate the Day School into the church and drive more outreach, but we can’t do that without guidance from a new Rector. We hope that our new Rector can help those who were hurt to reconnect with the larger church community and drive toward a more connected congregation.
Comments
St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church is searching for a full-time rector. Located in the City of Chicago, St. Chrysostom’s offers regular worship services, outreach opportunities and operates a Day School. There are two Sunday morning worship services, choral evensong once per month and a Wednesday eucharist for the students, families and staff of the Day School. St. Chrysostom’s is home to a robust choral and music program, with professional and volunteer choirs as well as a children’s choir. Christian Formation is offered for all ages, children through adult, with a new initiative titled “Justice and Dismantling Racism” for the adult formation. There are also fellowship events for all interests and ages.
Outreach and Ministry opportunities include over 20 active programs, including feeding neighbors through the “St. Chrys’ Kitchen” meal ministry, a partnership with the “Chicago Help Initiative” to assist people with health care, utilities and housing.
St. Chrysostom’s staff include a Director of Operations, a full office , music and Day School staffs, in addition to the rector and associate rector. A rectory provides housing for both the rector and associate rector. The congregation is seeking an incoming rector who will maintain the high standards of worship and music, provide inspiring sermons and be an excellent pastor to members and the community. The rector should be able to engage with parishioners, staff, Day School students and families and the neighborhood. An energy for being involved in the community and outreach is desired.
Located in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, St. Chrysostom’s is within walking distance of Lake Michigan’s beaches and lakefront trail, several modes of public transportation, close proximity to Chicago’s downtown “Loop” and many museums, theatres, sports venues and fine dining. There are several choices nearby for schools as well as the many colleges and universities that call Chicago home.
To learn more, please view their OTM profile, download the parish profile or visit the website. To apply, please fill out the clergy form for transitions.
Contact Information
Questions about the application process should be directed to The Reverend J. Sierra Reyes, Canon for Ministries. Sierra can be reached at jsreyes@episcopalchicago.org.