CLERGY
SEARCH PROCESS IN THE DIOCESE OF BETHLEHEM
Names of prospective candidates come from the following sources and are sent to the office of the Archdeacon:
- Recommendations from members of the congregation
- Clergy who desire to be considered
- The Church Deployment Office computer search
- When openings occur they are listed in the CDO Positions Open Bulletin and the Deployment Ministry Newsletter. The CDO Profile and resume are sent to the Archdeacon.
- Screening of applications is accomplished in either of two ways: by the Bishop and Archdeacon or by the Search Committee. The Bishop and committee agree on a list of clergy to be considered and contacted.
- Reference checks on the candidates are conducted by the Bishop and the Deployment Officer with their counterparts in the dioceses of the candidates. At the same time, clergy are mailed a parish profile and materials, and then contacted to assess their interest in continuing in a discernment process with the parish.
- The Bishop and/or deployment officer meet with the Search Committee to review information about the candidates on the final list.
- Candidates are visited by members of the Search Committee. Finalists are invited for interviews with the Search Committee, Bishop, and Archdeacon. Background checks are conducted on the finalists.
- The Search Committee meets to make selection of a new Rector
- The Search Committee reports to the Vestry.
- The Vestry meets with the priest and elects the priest. The Senior Warden informs the Bishop of the election and extends the call to the rector-elect.
- The Search Committee is strongly urged to communicate with all candidates under consideration to advise them about the status of the search and whether or not they are still under consideration. If applicants have any questions concerning their status in a search process, they should contact the Deployment Officer. Finalists should contact the chair of the Search Committee.
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