Updates & Information
The “Parish Profile” Explained
September 25, 2026
To conduct a Rector Search, representatives of the parish must create a “Profile” that describes who we are as a parish and what qualities we hope to have in our next rector. Under the leadership of Chair Colleen Murphy, the Profile Committee has already met to get a sense of the landscape of the work, which is far from trivial. The process, laid out by the National Episcopal Church, asks us to answer a series of questions, each of which are allowed up to 2500-character narrative responses, not that we have to fill all that space. Some questions are required; some we must pick from among 17 choices.
It’s a big job. The Committee urges all parishioners, including new people, to come to the October 4th meeting to express both how they would describe our identity and to help list our key wishes for a new rector. The Committee must have this input so the profile is broadly representative of all of our collective thoughts and wishes.
After the second Congregational Conversation on October 4th, the Committee will divide the questions among themselves and begin drafting answers. Yes, the Committee has a sense of urgency about getting this done, but there’s no guessing how long the work will take. Volunteers must have time to write, discuss drafts among themselves and come to consensus.
After a committee member has edited the completed draft for consistency, it goes to Canon Dena for approval or perhaps changes. When she and the Committee agree, the Vestry must approve it as well. Assuming they do, the Profile will then be posted by the Diocese, essentially opening up the search to the pool of potential candidates. At that point the Search Committee takes over.
Please, please join us at the October 4th meeting – in person or on Zoom. Your insights and opinions are the resources the committee will use to develop a richly representative profile.
This is the last public opportunity to do so!
Upcoming Congregational Meetings
As we begin the search for the Twentieth Rector of S. Stephen’s Church, we are entering an important season of listening and discernment. On Sunday, October 4, The Rev’d Canon Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew from the Diocese of Rhode Island will a gathering designed to help us reflect together and articulate our shared experience and vision for S. Stephen’s. Your participation in these parish-wide conversations is vitally important.
Congregational Conversation
Sunday, October 4
after Solemn Mass in the Great Hall
The Congregational Conversation provides an opportunity for members of the congregation to have direct input in the Vocation Hub Profile for S. Stephen’s. Your participation is vital for us to be able to create an accurate understanding of where we have been as a faith community, where we are, and how we are called to grow as God's people. The meeting will last approximately two hours.
Potluck. Childcare is provided.
Thank You — And See You October 4
September 18, 2026
Thanks to everyone who attended last Sunday’s meeting. Especially given the near-monsoon last Sunday, we were pleased with the robust turn-out and participation in the conversation with Canon Dena, when we looked back at the gifts and challenges of our prior Rectors. We appreciate the honest feedback from the in-person, and Zoom attendees. We’ll collect yet more information at our next meeting on October 4 (See below), where we will break into groups – so all voices can be heard – to decide collectively what top 5 qualities we’d like in a new Rector.
You certainly don’t need to have come to the first meeting to participate in the second one. Come!! Your participation is vital!
Search Status: The Prayer Team is praying daily. The Profile Committee has met and outlined its work. The Communication Committee is very active, meeting weekly.
As always, should you have any questions about the Search Process, don't hesitate to reach out to the wardens: Tom Bledsoe (thomas_bledsoe@brown.edu) & Julia Steiny (juliasteiny@gmail.com)
Parish History
Review
September 11, 2026
We need your help!! This Sunday, September 13 we will have Canon Dena Cleaver-Barthlomew, Canon to the Ordinary, joining us to do a deep dive into the history of our prior Rectors. This will let us as a congregation look at the key qualities we admired in each and those we found challenging.
She will have a white board and take notes during the approximately 2 hour meeting and help us distill our top qualities we hope to find in a new Rector. We have set up a Zoom link (information below) so that as many people as possible can join in the conversation and help us collectively work towards coming up with a profile that will be the basis of our postings to appeal to candidates applying to be our next Rector.
Lunch will be served after the 10am Sung Mass at approximately 11am, and the workshop will start promptly at 11:30am. Childcare will be provided.
Please plan to attend in person if possible, we need everyone’s input and look forward to seeing you there on Sunday! If you cannot make Mass please show up for the workshop, or join via Zoom so your voice is heard.
Parish History Review Zoom Info:
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81665866891
Meeting ID: 816 6586 6891
Committee Chairs
Annouced
September 3, 2026
Good news! The Vestry has identified chairs for the following committees:
Prayer Team Chair: Nancy Gringrich, gingand@cox.net
Communications Team Chair: Katy Gilchrist, katy.gilchrist@gmail.com,
Profile Team Chair: Colleen Murphy, cmurphy@rwu.edu
Search Team Chair: Tom Bledsoe, Senior Warden, thomas_bledsoe@brown.edu
The committee chairs have been reaching out to the people who either volunteered for their committee or who were suggested by other parishioners. Strong teams are in place.
However! The Prayer committee can have as many members as are interested, so please feel free to contact Nancy (top of the list above) to volunteer if you haven’t already. Finding our next rector deserves a wealth of intercessions. See below for a description of the work of the prayer committee.
Upcoming Rector Search Events
August 28, 2026
In only 2 weeks we’ll have our first parish wide meeting after Mass on Sunday, September 13, led by Canon Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew. Together we’ll look back at our history with prior rectors in this parish – what we loved, what we didn’t, and what’s important to us now. Canon Dena will help us tease out our topmost desired characteristics. Those wishes will be crafted into a “Parish Profile,” essentially a job description for potential Rector candidates, that will be finalized after the second meeting on October 4.
Your input is vital!!
A Zoom option will be available for those who cannot attend, but we urge as many of you as possible to be present in person.
Lunch and childcare will be provided.
An Update on Committees
August 21, 2026
The vestry is delighted to report that our invitation to join committees for calling the next rector got a robust response. The vestry deliberated and chose potential chairs for each committee, but some are not vestry members and still need to be asked. The committee membership has been sketched out using both people who volunteered themselves and others suggested by vestry members. Nothing is yet set in stone. So if you are thinking you might want to participate, by all means come forward. Read more about the committees below:
A Prayer for the Election of a Rector
Almighty God, the giver of every good gift: Look graciously, we beseech thee, on thy Church, and so guide with thy heavenly wisdom the minds of those to whom is committed the choice of a Rector for this Parish that we may receive a faithful Pastor, who shall feed thy flock according to thy will, and make ready a people acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ, thine only Son, our Lord. Amen.