ST.
MARY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
EUGENE,
OREGON
NOVEMBER
2006
Dear
Parish Family,
We
are pleased to announce the call of Bingham Powell to be our new Associate
Priest.
Personnel
searches are full of details and impressions, and more than a few surprises. In the end, those who had the most exposure to the candidates
agreed that Bingham Powell best fits at St. Mary's and that he will learn
quickly and contribute substantially to our parish. Though the youngest in years, Bingham brings a life of
experience in a clergy family, where he clearly learned respect and appreciation
for both church theology and the church as an institution. He has exemplary academic credentials, having completed high
school with a 4.0 grade point average with study emphasis in math and science,
graduated magna cum laude from Wake Forest University, and has earned a
3.8 grade-point average in seminary. He learns quickly and writes well. Bingham has been active in youth and pastoral ministry from
his high school years, and is eager to join our family-centered ministry to
children and youth and the pastoral care team at St. Mary's.
His visit showed highly developed communication skills that enable him to
engage individuals and groups attentively, cordially, and with compassion based
on a deep understanding and respect for our Anglican heritage.
Bingham is most eager, and he was well received by those who met or heard
him. He cherishes the opportunity
to work with Fr. Ted in this vital and diverse parish, and he expects to be with
us several years.
Several
factors affect Bingham's appointment. He
will take the General Ordination Examination in January and his ordination as a
deacon is anticipated in early June. There
is every reason to expect him to succeed at both, but his appointment at St.
Mary's is contingent on success in both. Continuation
after the initial appointment will be contingent on successful performance here
and his ordination as priest after the obligatory six months as a transitional
deacon. Bp. John Thornton has been
assisting Fr. Ted since last spring, and he will continue as the principal
clergy support for pastoral care and regular preacher and celebrant on Sunday
mornings until Bingham's ordination as priest.
Though
Bingham is new to St. Mary's, he has Oregon roots and childhood connections to
several parishes in the diocese when his father, Neff Powell, currently Bishop
of Southwest Virginia, served in this diocese as Canon to the Ordinary for
Bishop Ladehoffe. Both Bingham and
his sister, Louise, our Office Manager, attended schools in Salem before the
family moved to Roanoke, Virginia. Working
with a relative can present challenges, but we feel blessed to have two such
capable, professional, and dedicated young people on the staff.
Joe
Cox chaired the search committee, which was comprised of Liz Glover, Mary Lee
Gray, Anna Lowden, Bruce McKinlay, Mary Ann McMurren, and Jack Wilson.
As with previous clergy searches, the search committee and the personnel
committee, with help from the office staff, compiled a position announcement and
background on St. Mary's parish, Fr. Ted, and Eugene. The national church and the Oregon diocesan office helped
publicize the opening, and Joe Cox placed an advertisement in Episcopal Life.
The office sent information packets to everyone who inquired, and 17
prospects sent material. All were
contacted again to be sure their files were complete and to answer any of their
questions.
The
number and quality of applicants was encouraging.
The pool included seminarians and priests, men and women, people from the
U.S. and others branches of the Anglican Communion, people with a lot of
experience and others with little experience in the church and in other work
settings. Our parish search
committee reviewed each applicant's file, and after discussing the most
interesting applicants, selected three for interviews during the last month.
In
reviewing files and interviewing candidates, the committee looked for successful
experience in school and in jobs, superior performance in seminary and in parish
work, pastoral and leadership qualities, commitment to youth and to family
ministry, and a temperament for pastoral care and an understanding of the
potential for pastoral caring among the parish family.
The committee also looked for a commitment to learn about and contribute
to the vitality of this parish, compatibility with the rector, and the potential
for growth and faithful service now and in the future.
The
interview process extended over three days.
Like previous clergy interviews, it was intended to give the candidates
exposure to the parish and the community and to give all of us opportunities to
see, hear, and talk to the candidates. Parishioners
involved in pastoral care and in ministry to children, youth, and families
interviewed each visiting candidate, as did the office staff, Mary Ann McMurren,
Bp. John Thornton, Fr. Ted Berktold, and the Search Committee.
Each candidate also preached at three services, talked with parishioners
after services, and spoke at a potluck dinner open to the parish.
Parishioners were invited to write comments on the strengths,
limitations, and areas to develop for each candidate as well as to make other
observations. The Search Committee
read all those comments as well as interacted as much as possible with each
candidate. Each event, each
presentation, and each interview or discussion showed a different facet of the
candidates' backgrounds, preparation, liturgical and pastoral interests,
reaction to St. Mary's, and approach to the responsibilities of this position.
Each event and comment, as well as parishioners’ comments, added
clarity and depth to the incomplete impressions we had gleaned from the
application files. The interest,
participation, and thoughtful comments from many parishioners were most helpful
and much appreciated. The selection
is better and the congregation is better informed as a result.
Just
as most of the applicant pool showed promise, the visiting candidates showed
talent, skill, commitment, and a desire to serve God.
All three who visited showed leadership abilities and all three, like the
rest of us, had limitations and undeveloped potential.
Two of the three were not available immediately.
Two were men and one a woman; two have been priests in entry positions
and one is completing seminary; all can preach a good sermon; all have
experience in one or more of the three areas of responsibility for our Associate
Priest, but none had substantial experience in all three areas.
All three candidates could make productive careers in the church, and all
three were familiar with the Northwest. All
three could contribute and learn from a time at St. Mary's, but the search
committee and the rector had to decide which one best fits our staff needs, our
stage of development, and which one will most strengthen our ministry to our
parish family and our community. Bingham Powell best fits our needs and we are confident that
he will quickly earn the respect and love of the parish.
Please
join in our prayer of thanksgiving to God for the call of Bingham Powell as
Associate Priest of St. Mary’s, and to the presence of the Holy Spirit in all
that we strive to do in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sincerely,
Bruce McKinlay
Parish Administrator