1. How does this benefit St. Peter’s?

By having co-rectors, the church would gain the knowledge and experience of two people, not just one. It would bring additional energy to the church. Further, it would enable St. Peter’s to keep Mary Marguerite within the budget for one Rector. Each one of us would be able to provide more focused attention on specific program areas, rather than one person needing to focus on all program areas. In the past six years, Kirk and Mary Marguerite have demonstrated complimentary gifts and strengths which have already benefited St. Peter’s. Additionally, their partnership models the kind of strong leadership a co-equal male and female team offers.

2. How will a co-rector situation help the church to grow?

As people see the energy and the outreach of the church under the direction of its co-rectors, they would be more inclined to want to worship here and to take advantages of the ministries that the church offers. Mary Marguerite would provide oversight with the Guest and New Members Incorporation processes. Likewise, Kirk’s gifts in working with children and young families through the St. Peter’s School, for example, will continue to bring people deeper into the life of the parish. His visibility in the community and throughout the diocese has also extended the name and life of St. Peter’s to more people. The personality of the two co-rectors would continue to attract a wider variety of people into the parish community.

3. How will the duties be defined and separated?

As explained in the proposal, areas of shared responsibility would include all Worship Services (both present, except during Vacation/Continuing Education time off), Liturgy planning and preaching, Pastoral Care Visitation, weddings, baptisms and funerals, and the Thursday Contemplative Prayer Service. The co-rectors would alternate chairing Vestry meetings month to month. Kirk would continue oversight with the Junior Warden on Property Issues. He would continue the St. Peter’s Nursery School Chapel and meet monthly with Sunday School teachers. Mary Marguerite would supervise training of Acolytes, Subdeacons, ushers, and those groups who serve on Sunday mornings. Mary Marguerite would officiate at the Tuesday morning service, oversee Youth Ministries and act as liaison to Guests and New Members Committee. Kirk and Mary Marguerite would work together to develop confirmation classes, newcomer’s orientation classes, parish retreats, and other new programs. This division of oversight will be revised as we move forward and as necessary to provide the best possible leadership and service to St. Peter’s.

4. How will the pastoral visits be handled? If a person needs to see someone immediately, what would happen?

Someone would be in the office on a regular basis. In addition, there would continue to be a minister available 24x7 for emergencies. Both Kirk and Mary Marguerite believe Pastoral Care will be strengthened by this move.

5. Having just met the challenge of going from three services down to two, is it poor timing to present this to the parishioners so soon after another major change?

Both Kirk and Mary Marguerite felt the process and outcome has been positive, demonstrating St. Peter’s ability to make changes happen. feel that in this Start Up/Start Over time of transition, people will also get behind this idea once they have the facts and understand the benefits and reasoning.

6. “Start Up” says churches of our size are “clergy centered.” How can clergy drive our church if they are here part time?

Even though the two Co-Rectors would be splitting their time, there would still be full-time direction and ministerial coverage for the church. Kirk and Mary Marguerite both said that they felt the term “clergy centered” is an inaccurate label for what has long been understood as a Pastoral Sized Parish. The key is for the members of the congregation to strengthen relationships with the clergy and one another so as to be a healthy and vibrant Pastoral Parish. The focus is on what the church is doing, not on who is guiding it.

7. Can the church’s budget deal with the additional expenses that this would create, e.g.; additional mileage that would need to be paid?

There should be no impact on the parish budget. Expenses incurred for work outside the parish will not be paid by St. Peter’s.

8. Fr. Kirk: Are you bored/tired with St. Peter’s after 15 years?

No, I am not and have never been bored or tired of being at St. Peter’s. I believe St. Peter’s will benefit from having Mary Marguerite stay and the two of us working together will bring new energy and ideas to the church’s ministry. I feel that St. Peter’s best years lie ahead of us, and I intend to continue to do everything I can to grow the parish as we continue to “rebirth” the parish in the Start Up/Start Over process together. Our contemplative prayer service has already contributed an important new dimension to our life together. I believe that Bishop Sutton is correct in asserting the role Contemplative Prayer will play in the life of our congregation and my life as your Co-Rector.

9. Fr. Kirk: Do you want leave and go somewhere else?

No. I have already passed on a number of opportunities to do so. I have felt God calling me to be at St. Peter’s since 1989, and being called here in 1994 is one of the great joys of my ministry and life. As of now, that call is still vital. I love everyone here, and feel humbled and honored to be a part of St. Peter’s unique history in the Diocese of Maryland.

10. Fr. Kirk: Some people could interpret this desire for a co-rector as you abdicating some of your duties. Is that what is happening? What would you get at St. Timothy that you are not getting at St. Peter’s?

I see this as a way of better addressing the duties of being Rector of St. Peter’s, while being an active part of our outreach to the wider community, in this case extending the spiritual strengths of St. Peter’s to the students, faculty and staff at St. Timothy’s School for Girls, Stevenson, Maryland. This is a way to continue to share the duties of Rector with Mary Marguerite, with each of us being able to give more careful attention to the areas we each oversee. St. Peter’s faces both staffing and financial challenges, and this is a way that both of those issues can be addressed.

As far as what I expect to get from St. Timothy that isn’t here at St. Peter’s, first and foremost is the opportunity to shape the spiritual lives of young women in the 9th through 12th grades. I am also looking forward to revitalizing the school’s traditional connection to the Diocese and the Episcopal Church. I believe being a parish priest to be an important part of doing this, and at the same time being a chaplain in the school will contribute to what I can offer the parish as Co-Rector. I will also be working with young women representing 18 foreign countries, 15 states, and a variety of religious backgrounds. The challenge and opportunity to foster inter-faith understanding in such a diverse and pluralistic environment is the kind of work to which I have been committed since my undergraduate days. Working in such a diverse academic environment will surely revitalize me and my thinking so that I will bring fresh new ideas back to St. Peter’s. The school also has a beautiful campus, including walking trails of the former Irvine Nature Center, and I can see St. Peter’s visiting St. Timothy’s School for things such as retreats, nature walks, picnics and other events in church life. I will seek to develop a symbiotic relationship between the two institutions.

11. Fr. Kirk: When would you actually start at St. Timothy’s?

Monday, August 17, 2009.

12. What will Fr. Kirk’s commitment be to St. Timothy’s?

While acting as chaplain of the school, I will teach a class in world religions, lead a weekly worship service, work to develop the school’s community outreach, and be an advisor to four students each year. Teaching duties will be four days a week in the mornings.

13. Fr. Kirk: Since schools usually operate on a year-to-year basis, what happens if, after a year at St. Timothy’s, your contract is not renewed?

This is where the risk of the proposal comes in. The school does have yearly contracts and it is possible that my contract would not be renewed. However, I look forward to being at the school for a long time and to continue to serve as Co-Rector for St. Peter’s for a long time. If the school does not renew my contract, I will seek God’s direction at that time. Both St. Peter’s and St. Timothy’s will review this arrangement on an annual basis.

14. What happens with Mary Marguerite gets a good job offer?

I believe God has called me to be a parish priest and completing the Ph.D. does not change that belief. I have also felt that God played a hand in my call to serve St. Peter’s specifically. I consider the position of co-rector with Kirk to be wonderful opportunity--not as a short-term job or stepping stone to something else--but as a desirable permanent position.

15. If a better job offer came along for Mary Marguerite, would you want to stay at St. Peter? Why?

I am committed to St. Peter’s and want what is best for the parish, and believe that staying here is a positive move for me as well. However, I don’t have a lens that allows me to see the future. Should an offer appear at some point, I would try to discern God’s invitation. I can only say that I perceive the opportunity to continue to serve St. Peter’s as a “better” job offer than I had imagined possible.

16. Mary Marguerite: Can you accomplish the dreams that you have had if you stay at St. Peter?

Yes. As I have stated, I believe that God has called me to be a parish priest, and that I have gifts that can benefit St. Peter’s in the long term. I have friends in this area now, as well as a community at St. Peter’s. I would like to be able to put down permanent roots in a faith community. Further, by assuming the Co-Rectorship, I will have the opportunity to use my pastoral counseling skills and expertise in the area of clergy sexual abuse to benefit the diocese as well.

17. Mary Marguerite: Is the half-salary that St. Peter would be paying you enough to meet your needs?

The salary that St. Peter would pay will provide a livable wage that would give me the opportunity to explore other ways to use my skills, such as starting a private practice. I am scheduled to teach a course at Loyola in the fall, and occasional work from the diocesan office will also be a nice addition. I am grateful for the vestry’s generosity in considering my financial situation.

18. Can Mary Marguerite take the job at St. Timothy’s?

The job was actually offered to Fr. Kirk based on his abilities and background. It would be inappropriate to try to switch the offer.

19. There is an old business adage that says “work expands to fill the available time.” How will the two part-time rectors avoid seeing their part-time work broaden into full time work at part-time pay and burn them out?

This is always something that clergy in parish ministry must do: learn to manage Parish time, with other commitments, family time and refreshment time. Their own spiritual growth will be a key factor to their leadership. Each will have to guard against becoming too busy and neglecting their own spiritual life. The Vestry can play a role in supporting and overseeing the demands placed on the Co-Rectors. Kirk and Mary Marguerite already support one another with their respective spiritual lives and emotional health.

20. With two rectors, how will you prevent a polarization toward one or the other co-rector from happening in the congregation?

A key to preventing this from happening is communication between the two rectors, the Vestry and the church members. The Vestry, Officers, Staff and Co-Rectors would need to be unified in their approach to issues that face the parish.

21. How will you resolve issues when they arise between the two rectors?

Fr. Kirk and Mary Marguerite have developed a good working relationship over the past six years based upon mutual respect, open communication and friendship. This would continue to be a keystone of their working relationship. They are committed to continue to develop their working relationship so as to effectively respond to challenges facing St. Peter’s.

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Co-Rector Proposal

Senior Warden Statement

Vestry Statement

Co-Rector FAQs