This is a shared position between two churches -- half-time each with alternating Sunday services. See compensation guide for details on salary.

Burlington: a mix of the formal and informal using the Book of Common Prayer. We value lay participation and folk music in our communion services. The move into a constellation with Vergennes has strengthened the ministry of our lay worship leaders and preachers.

Vergennes: With a 1/4 time intern pastor, our lay leadership provided Morning Prayer. When clergy was present, we had a Rite II Eucharist at both 8 am and 10 am services. During the pandemic, we met on Zoom at 9:30 am. We did not have Eucharist but had special services where we blessed bread and other offerings at home. We are back to in-person gatherings, with both clergy and lay-led services. The Diocese has supported training for lay preaching. We have a variety of music from the 1982 Hymnal and LEVAS II. We have a talented organist and pianist, and have Taize, harp, guitar music. The younger folks enjoy a "folk" service, some older members prefer more traditional services.

Burlington:

Widespread participation in ministries that include music, formation, worship ministries, pastoral care, finance, technical support

Learning to take on and delegate tasks and ministries without relying on clergy; building a collaborative relationship with Vergennes.

They report that the pandemic has helped them discover their adaptability and capacity to change and strengthened their commitment to not get locked into doing things a certain way without asking why.

Vergennes:

Personal connections: "Our service to each other has deepened during the pandemic. Our weekly connections were critical moments of compassion and spiritual support, where our shared worship was followed by open updates on everyone's health and well-being."

Community engagement: Members volunteer with the elderly, hospice, and homeless, serve at local thrift shops, make meals for the homeless, coordinate toy donations to local nonprofits, etc.. Others serve on boards of local nonprofits and in diocesan roles.

The Strategic Investment in Sacred Places (SISP) project started as part of a long-standing concern over the preservation of their historic buildings. After a two-year training, they focused on a public greenspace project around their buildings.

They built a partnership with a community shelter and provided temporary emergency housing in their rectory for a local family living in asylum.

Both churches called a newly ordained priest a year ago and have made significant progress in shared resources, some shared services and engaging each other in education or ministries. Then the governor persuaded their priest to be the state's attorney following the incumbent who resigned after charges of harassment. His abrupt departure has been difficult for some even while others are proud that their priest is able to help their state in its time of need. The challenge will be to maintain the momentum while searching for a new priest.

The current priest is willing to provide Sunday services until we can provide a transition priest. However, we would like to find a priest fairly quickly to stabilize these two congregations. This is a Priest-in-Charge appointment with an option to convert to Rector if both churches and the priest request it during or after the initial three -year agreement. For more information, contact the Transition Officer.

The Rev. Canon Linda L. Grenz

Transition@diovermont.org

413-221-0571