The Search Committee has begun the extremely busy stage of the search process in which the list of the final three or four serious candidates is being sent to the Bishop's office for approval. The potential rector(s) will then be brought to Albuquerque to visit the community and interview with the search committee and vestry. Preliminary interviews have been conducted by the Search Committee through phone interviews and, in the case of some candidates, the decision to not proceed with their candidacy has been made. The people of St. Mary's need to know that the members of the Search Committee have been truly impressed with the godly qualities of the individuals who have expressed an interest in becoming our permanent rector. From the beginning of this discernment process, the committee has been aware of our responsibilities to our entire family of parishioners here at St. Mary's, and we ask for your continued prayers and support.

In faith, Peggy Dowdy, Search Chair

Search Committee Chairperson Peggy Dowdy contributed a detail update on the search process for the monthly newsletter of St. Mary's, The Magnificat. The article may be found here: Search Committee News Aug 2007

The Search Committee continues to make progress in the search for a rector for St. Mary's. At our meeting Tuesday evening, June 12, we reviewed the final draft for the Parish Profile, which includes the results of the parishioners’ survey. This document will go out to prospective candidates so they might have a clearer picture of who we are and what we have to offer in our parish life and ministries. 

There will be a classified advertisement in The Living Church magazine, which will run for three issues and hopefully spread the word of our need for a pastor who will lead and guide us in the potentially challenging times ahead.

Our next step will be an evaluation of those personal profiles that are received from candidates. Keep in mind that members of St. Mary's can submit names of individuals whom they might like to be contacted by the committee and whom the parishioner feels fits the desires of St. Mary's, as reflected in the results of our questionnaire. 

Please contact any member of the Search Committee with questions or concerns about this process. 

Faithfully, Peggy Dowdy, Chairperson

The following ad will be placed in The Living Church, a weekly publication for The Episcopal Church:

FULL-TIME RECTOR: St . Mary's Episcopal Church, Albuquerque, NM, Diocese of the Rio Grande. Episcopal parish with an Anglican Communion Network perspective desires energetic, engaging, orthodox rector with a commitment to Biblical preaching, church growth and faithfulness to traditional Anglicanism. St. Mary's is about 150 strong, located in a growing city of diverse cultures. Parish profiles available upon request. Deadline for inquiries: July 15, 2007.  Send resumes and personal profiles to Mrs. Peggy Dowdy, Search Chair, 1621 Robert Dale Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87112. E-mail: Peggy@nmdowdy.com.

The ad will run for the first three July editions.

At the May 15, 2007 Vestry Meeting, Peggy Dowdy reported that the committee had handed out or mailed approximately 175 parish surveys. Of those, the committee has received back about 120. They are working in two-person teams to tally the responses and hope to finish that task this week. The next step will be entering all the data into a computer. The committee is also working on the rest of the Profile, compiling information from the Chamber of Commerce. They are also referring back to the 1997 Profile for ideas. Their hope is to have everything completed by June 1st.

The Search Committee has distributed a total of 143 surveys/questionnaires to parishioners of St. Mary's on Sunday, April 22nd and Sunday, April 29th.  Those parishioners listed in the Parish Directory who have not picked up a survey will be contacted by Susie Davis to see if they would like to have a survey mailed to them. All parishioners are asked to return their completed survey by May 6th, either to the designated box in the Narthex after services, or to the church office by mail or in person.  Keep in mind that you don't have to sign your survey and your answers will be anonymous (although you may choose to identify yourself if you desire).  The next step will be a compilation of all answers to be used in preparing the Parish Profile.  This is the document that describes Saint Mary's to members of the clergy who are interested in becoming our next Rector.  Please contact any member of the Search Committee with any questions or concerns. 

Yours in Christ, Peggy Dowdy, Chairperson

The Search Committee wishes to thank all those parishioners who picked up their Parish Survey/Questionnaire last Sunday. Completed surveys may be placed in the Survey Return Box located in the Narthex today, April 29, and those individuals who have not yet picked up their survey, may do so today and return them by May 6. Search Committee members are available to answer questions such as eligibility for participating in the survey and alternative arrangements for picking up and returning surveys. It is our hope that all parishioners will give the survey their prayerful attention and continue to pray that our Lord will send St. Mary's a faithful pastor who will guide us forward in our mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yours in faith, Peggy Dowdy, Chairperson, Search Committee.

The Search Committee has finished developing the Survey/ Questionnaire and will have it ready for distribution to parishioners 16 years old and older on Sunday, April 22 after each service. The survey will be available again on Sunday, April 29. The Search Committee asks that all surveys/questionnaires be completed and returned no later than Sunday, May 6. It is our hope that all parishioners will give their thoughtful and prayerful consideration to all aspects of the survey so that St. Mary's may use this information in our Parish Profile, which will be going out to prospective candidates. Continue to pray that our Lord will send us a faithful pastor who will lead us forward in our mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yours in faith, Peggy Dowdy, Chairperson, Search Committee

The Rector Search Committee met Tuesday, March 27 and is making good progress on developing the survey/questionnaire. Plans are to have  the survey ready for distribution to church members 16 years old and  older as soon as possible after Easter.  Continue to pray for all  involved in this search process that we may receive a faithful pastor who will equip us for our ministries during the troubled times that lie before us. 

Faithfully, Peggy Dowdy (Chair, Search Committee)

Members of the Search Committee wish to thank you for your confidence in us. Please pray for us as we seek to serve the church in this capacity. Church members will soon be receiving the Pastor Search Questionnaire in which you will be asked to describe to us your expectations for our next pastor. A compilation of your responses will be used to develop our parish profile which will go out to prospective candidates. Please give this questionnaire your prayerful attention.

Search Committee for new Rector Announced

The members of the committee appointed by the Vestry and charged with undertaking the search process for a new permanent rector for St. Mary's Episcopal Church are:

Peggy Dowdy, Chair
Matt Thomas, Co-chair
Bill Bonahoom
Susie Davis
Terry Dwyer
Anne Mallory
Mark Yuska

This page will be updated periodically with news and information about the search process.