Search Process Status: Please see below for the latest updates.
2/16/28: Announcing the Rector Search Committee!
After prayer and careful consideration, the Vestry is please to appoint the following to serve on the Rector Search Committee:
- Christina Calvit
- Frank Gaytan
- Chris Horlacher
- Melissa Kanter
- Jason Martin
- Amy Meadows
- Rich Gage, Co-Chair
- Laura Singer, Co-Chair
Many thanks to all who submitted their name for consideration. Your thoughtfulness and willingness to serve is so appreciated.
Please join the Vestry in praying for this committee as they begin the important work of searching for St. John’s next rector on behalf of the entire community:
Almighty and everliving God,
source of all wisdom and understanding,
be present with those who will take on the work
of searching for the next rector of St. John’s.
Teach all of us in all things to seek first your honor and glory.
Guide us to perceive what is right,
and grant us both the courage to pursue it
and the grace to accomplish it;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.-Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer
1/28/25: Self-Nomination forms are due by 2/2! Annual Meeting Video and Report 2025 are now posted.
1/3/25 Update: Self-Nomination Process Open for Rector Search Committee
With St. John’s Episcopal Church of Chicago having recently bid farewell to our long-serving rector and having welcomed our interim rector, we’re now beginning a national search for a new rector. The Rector Search Committee will take the lead in doing so and will be charged with collecting and preparing information about St. John’s to create comprehensive parish and rector descriptions, confidentially interviewing candidates, and deciding on one candidate to recommend to the vestry.
We are looking for people with a variety of gifts, who are willing to take the time necessary for a successful transition to our new rector. We seek nominations from parishioners – particularly those from historically underrepresented groups – who will bring a variety of perspectives, skills, and ideas.
Applicants must be “members in good standing”, meaning that they attend services regularly, are involved in parish life, and are “known to the treasurer” (i.e., give financially to the church). The Search Committee will serve for a minimum of 12 months, will meet at least monthly, and will be required to do significant work, as needed, between meetings.
We are committed to a transparent search process during which both committee members and parishioners will be heard. However, there will be some information gleaned by the Search Committee – particularly the identities of candidates – that will be kept in strictest confidence.
Submission options:
- Complete and submit online – Google form link here
- Complete paper form available in parish hall and submit to the parish office St. John’s Episcopal Church Attn: Search Committee, 3857 N. Kostner Ave. Chicago, IL 60641
Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 2, 2025
Questions? Please contact Laura Singer (laura.t.singer@gmail.com) or Rich Gage (RichardGage1951@gmail.com), Search Committee co-chairs.
Decision-Making Process: Self-Nomination Forms will be reviewed by both the church vestry and the Search Committee co-chairs, and decisions will be made by Sunday, February 16, 2025, and announced publicly thereafter.
12/1/24 Update: The church met with Rev. Andrea Mysen. The link to view the talk is linked above. It was nice to have Rev. Andrea, Canon for the Ordinary, here to talk with us. In Episcopal speak, “Ordinary” is the Diocesan Bishop. Please reach out to Laura Singer or Rich Gage or our vestry if you have any questions after watching the video. (Yes, it is LONG)
11/17/24 update: The Vestry named Rich Gage and Laura Singer as co-chairs of the Rector Search committee.
Next steps: The Vestry and the Search Committee co-chairs, Rich Gage and Laura Singer, will be meeting with our diocesan transition minister at the Nov. 20, 2024 Vestry meeting at 7:15 p.m. Due to time limitations, Rev. Andrea Mysen will be visiting with St. John’s after the 8am and 10am services on 12/1. (The post 10am session will be recorded and posted via YouTube up top.)
The Vestry and Co-chairs will meet again in December to plan and develop the self-nominating process for the St. John’s Search Committee.
For questions or more information, please contact Rich Gage at richardgage51@sbcglobal.net or Laura Singer at laura.t.singer@gmail.com.
In the meantime, please pray with us:
God, please help us set aside
Everything we think we know about You,
Everything we think we know about ourselves,
Everything we think we know about others,
And everything we think we know about
St. John’s, so we may have open minds
And new experiences with these
Things and come to know You
Better. Please help us see the truth.
Amen
