The Search Process for a New Rector

We are all very sad to see Father Michael leave us, but as lay leadership of the Parish we want you to know that we are moving ahead toward the next phase in the life of Church of the Holy Trinity with all due earnestness and responsibility, and importantly, with the good auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

The group that works with Parishes seeking a new Rector in the Diocese is called the Office of Deployment. The wardens and vestry will be meeting with the Diocesan Canon for Deployment, Rev. Canon Thomas Orso, on May 10th.

For all those curious about the complete guidelines for a parish in the search process, a complete description is available on the Diocesan website at http://www.dioceseny.org/pages/123-leading-a-parish-through-a-transition-in-clergy-leadership

To summarize the process according to the Diocese, there are 8 major steps which may take 12 to 18 months on average to complete.

1. The wardens notify the Bishop that the current Rector is leaving.
2. The wardens arrange for "Supply" Clergy to conduct services after the Rector leaves.
3. The current Rector finishes his term with Grace and celebration of his ministry with the congregation.
4. A Search Committee is formed.
5. Working with the Diocese, wardens and vestry select an interim pastor.
6. The Search Committee interviews, screens, and ultimately selects 3 top candidates deemed capable.
7. The Interim Pastor stays on, leading the congregation until a new Rector is found.
8. Finally, the Vestry votes to select the best candidate from the 3 presented by the Search Committee.

Paul Feuerstein Named Supply Priest After Rev. Phillips Steps Down

After Father Michael leaves, starting on July 8, the wardens have asked Rev. Paul Feuerstein to be CHT's primary Supply Priest and he will conduct all three services each Sunday until we have selected an Interim Pastor. The Interim Pastor will ride with us until we find the next Rector at Church of the Holy Trinity. However long that takes. Our new Supply Priest, Paul has been at Holy Trinity (with the exception of one year in Washington, D.C.) since 1974. He was on staff for the final years of Clarke Oler's ministry and continued working with Reid Isaac during his interim ministry at Holy Trinity. After serving as the Associate Chaplain of St. Alban's, the National Cathedral School for Boys, he came back to New York and returned to Holy Trinity as a Priest Associate.

Paul Feuerstein is the founder and President/CEO of Barrier Free Living (BFL) in New York City. BFL is a multi-service agency that works with disabled victims and survivors of domestic violence and homeless people with disabilities. He has developed the largest domestic violence program for people with disabilities in the country.

He has served in many capacities as an advocate in the City of New York: Chair of the Federation of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities; Steering Committee of the New York City Domestic Violence Residence Coalition, Board Member of Homeless Services United, Chairman of the Board of the Disability Network of New York City, Board Member of the Human Services Council. He is also actively collaborating with the Institute for the Healing of Memories in Cape Town, South Africa and is the Chair of the Board for a United States branch of the Institute.

His chapter entitled "Disabled women and Domestic Violence: Notes from the Field" was recently published in a textbook Service Delivery for Vulnerable Populations: New Directions in Behavioral Health (Springer, 2011). He has been published in two other books as well.

Paul has an MSW, a Master's in Education and a Master's in Theology.