Christ Episcopal Church is actively searching for a new rector. If you would like to apply or if you would like to nominate someone, please use the form on the right side of the page.
You can download the Parish Profile here.
Update: August 8, 2021
Hello from the Christ Church Search Committee. We want to update you on the search for a new rector for our parish.
We finally received our first list of candidates in early April of this year. Strict rules imposed by the Diocese because of the Coronavirus pandemic delayed our start for over a year. As soon as we received the list, our work began as we interviewed each of the five candidates. Sadly, we did not find that any of them fully met the needs of Christ Church. We are disappointed, but we are united in our desire to seek until we find the rector who God has called to this parish.
We are in constant communication with the Diocesan’s Transition Office. The canon assures us that we will be receiving more resumes and potential candidates so that we can continue our work.
You can assist us in our search in two ways.
- Check your weekly email for a link that will allow you to submit names of possible candidates. The names will be reviewed by the Diocese and, if appropriate, refer them to the Search Committee. All of this is confidential.
- Secondly and most importantly, we ask for you prayers and patience as we journey together. We believe that God knows who our next rector will be and how long all of this will take to complete. We prayerfully seek His guidance as we faithfully follow this process.
The members of our search committee are:
GA Whitehead, Bette Winegar, Ruben Torres, Mike Shobe, Scott Morrow, Leigh Gardner Kisner, David Jones, Birdie Jones, Henry Garza, Renee Carberry, and Patty Benoit.
Prayer for the search for a new rector from the Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Update: May 10, 2021
Greetings from the Christ Church Search Committee. My name is Mike Shobe. I want to update you on our progress to call a rector for our parish.
In early April, we received a list of rector candidates from the Diocesan Transition Office. We immediately began our first round of interviews with each candidate. We are close to completing this first round.
Every one of these candidates has skills and abilities that we find appealing.
Each person is remarkable in his/her own right. Each person has accomplished great things in ministry. Our job is to find the right person to be a shepherd for our congregation.
During our conversations, some candidates rose to the top with their resumes, their pastoral experiences and their willingness to move to Temple. They are our finalists.
We will soon go to the second phase of the interview process by conducting second interviews with these finalists. We expect that next step to begin in the next few weeks.
We don’t know where God will lead us or who God has selected for us. We are certain that this process is God-led; we are carefully listening, guided by a lot of prayer.
In the meantime, please be assured, we’re working, we’re meeting, we’re praying, and we’re moving forward. We ask for your prayers during this serious task before us.
Update: April 13, 2021
Greetings from the Search Committee to call a rector for our parish. I want to update you on our progress.
Many of you have asked questions about who our rector will be: man or woman, short or tall, blond hair or black hair, blue eyes or brown eyes. The answer to all of these questions is “maybe.” This search is a deliberate process with many steps we must follow.
Our parish search committee is working very hard. God knows who our new rector will be. We will follow where God leads us.
Last week, we received the first group of candidates to start interviewing from the diocesan Office of Transitional Ministry. We are following the protocols and advice of the diocese. Each person is remarkable in his/her own right. Each person has accomplished great things in ministry. Our job is to find the right person to be a shepherd for our congregation.
We have a list of several dozen questions to ask these candidates – everything from their call to ministry, their approach to problem-solving, their ability to lead and teach, even how they structure their daily lives.
We also review videos from their churches. We listen to their sermons, and we read their online writings. All of these help us find the right person for our congregation.
We understand that waiting is hard. It’s hard for us, too. In Galatians 4:4, scripture says, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law.” This verse declares that God the Father sent His Son when “the time had fully come.” Other translations say “in the fullness of time.” There were many things occurring at the time of the first century that, at least by human reasoning, seem to make it ideal for Christ to come.
We believe that that when we have finished our work and the time is right, our rector will be revealed to us.
We expect interviews with candidates to begin soon. We ask for your prayers and patience as we journey together on this important task before us. In the meantime, please be assured, we’re working, we’re meeting, we’re praying and we’re moving forward.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, page 818
Update: March 16, 2021
The Search Committee has been quietly, methodically working, continuing our task to call a new rector for our parish. We received training at the end of January from the Rev. Kellaura Johnson, Diocesan Transition Minister for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Since then, we have entered an intense phase of the search process.
The diocese has guidelines and protocols for us to follow. Using these directives, we have begun formulating our questions to ask each candidate, based on our Parish Profile, the 2019 Holy Cow survey and our knowledge of the congregation. Christ Episcopal Church is considered a “transitional congregation,” meaning that it has a membership and average Sunday attendance of between 151-225 people.
In case you haven’t seen it, our Parish Profile is on our church web page. www.christchurchtemple.org. look at the top for RECTOR SEARCH to find the link to nominate a candidate. You can also submit names to prospective candidates directly to the diocese for review and vetting.
We have not yet received a list of prospective candidates to interview. When we do, please remember that we cannot disclose any of the names on the list nor can we tell you where they are currently. We are bound by strict confidentiality protocols. All candidates will have been vetted by the diocese before being presented to the Search Committee. These candidates have expressed interest in coming to Christ Church.
Please be assured we are diligently working, praying and moving forward. We ask for your prayers, your patience and your support. God has chosen our next rector; our job is to complete the tasks before us before issuing the call.
The following serve on the Search Committee (in alphabetical order): Patty Benoit, Rene Carberry, Henry Garza, Birdie Jones, David Jones, Leigh Gardner Kisner, Scott Morrow, Mike Shobe, Ruben Torres, G.A. Whitehead and Bette Winegar. Mike Shobe is chairman; Patty Benoit is assistant.
Please continue to pray for them and our next rector – whoever he or she might be.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, page 818
Dear Christ Church Parishioners,The Vestry and the Search Committee have received this information and it is important to make you aware of it as well. Our Parish Profile has been submitted to our diocese and is now posted on the Churches in Transition page of their website. Click here to view the Parish Profile. We are thankful…
The following were nominated and elected to serve on the Search Committee (in alphabetical order): Patty Benoit Rene Carberry Henry Garza Birdie Jones David Jones Leigh Gardner Kisner Scott Morrow Mike Shobe Ruben Torres G.A. Whitehead Bette Winegar