Compensation based on clergy-only health premiums, but this is negotiable.

Liturgical style and practice: Traditional
URL: https://www.emmanuel-delaplane.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmanuelEpiscopalChurchDelaplane

Emmanuel Church of Piedmont Parish is a welcoming, inclusive, and friendly Episcopal church community in Delaplane, Virginia.  We are committed to celebrating God’s grace in the world, inviting others to be a friend of Christ, and restoring people to unity with God.  Our church has a long history within our community, as we have been part of Delaplane since 1859.  Many of our current parishioners can trace their family’s connection to Emmanuel back multiple generations.  This sense of family and connectedness is one of the main things parishioners report as a strength of Emmanuel.  Our location, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Fauquier County, is picturesque and truly speaks to the majesty of God’s creation.  Our campus, which includes our church, our parish hall, and our food pantry, is located very close to routes 66 and 17, making us convenient for both those that live locally and those that enjoy getting away from suburban Washington, D.C. for worship.  We are currently offering two church services a week--a traditional Sunday service that could be liturgically described as “middle of the road” and a more intimate healing service on Wednesday evenings.  Our goal is to have our services be a place of comfort and fellowship, so jeans and shorts are as equally acceptable as suits and dresses.  One particular area of strength for us is our music ministry.  We have an active choir that leads us in song each Sunday and a Director of Music Ministries that strives to integrate a wide variety of musical styles and themes to support and enhance the rector’s message each week.  We are also blessed to have a bell choir that is made up of parishioners from Emmanuel and other local churches----these individuals provide us with a different musical experience on a regular basis.

Another strength of Emmanuel is our willingness to support the community.  Members of our congregation saw a need in our community for support w/ food and worked in conjunction with the local food bank to open “Share the Harvest”, a free food pantry that is open each Tuesday and Wednesday and one Saturday a month.  This ministry is supported by members of the congregation and other churches/civic groups.  We have converted a building on our campus into a fully functioning food pantry and have added an additional structure as an office for this work.  We also support the community through the use of our parish hall, which includes a large meeting room, a large kitchen, classrooms and a nursery.  This space is used by community groups, a private school, and as a polling location.

Emmanuel, like many churches, has seen a decline in membership over the last decade.  Many of our former parishioners have either moved out of the area or have passed away.  Adding to this issue is the fact that we are located in an area that is limited in affordable housing or the amenities that attract young families.  This, in turn, has negatively impacted our ability to sustain a vibrant youth program.  We continue to seek strategies to expand our reach beyond our immediate community and to build relationships with families that live beyond our normal geographic footprint.

The need for growth directly connects to our struggle to maintain financial stability.  A combination of increased expenses and required capital improvements coupled with a decrease in our annual income has forced us to start to draw from our investment income to stay operational.  Our congregation must grow in order to reach financial stability and to reestablish activities which have waned in recent years.

Seeking a priest:

With strong spiritual and preaching/teaching skills, able to give sermons that people can understand and apply to their own lives.

Who is accessible with good listening skills and who demonstrates empathy and understanding.

Who supports people at significant points in their life and willing to provide pastoral care to all including the sick and elderly.

With a collaborative leadership style, involving church members in planning, decision making and leading church activities.

Who understands what youth and young adults need from a church and has ideas as to how to make connections with these groups of people.

Willing to go into the community and take church to the people—get involved w/ community events, connect to local organizations, etc.

Who respects the traditions of the church while at the same time is open to exploring different types and styles of worship.

The Rev. Shirley Smith Graham, ssmithgraham@thediocese.net, 804-622-3180. To apply, please email a letter expressing interest, OTM, and resume.