Clergy interested in serving in the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware
Whether you are active or retired, we welcome your interest in serving in one of our congregations, schools, or related ministries. We would like to get to know you and learn more about your interests in ministry.
Delaware is a good place for clergy to work and serve. Clergy wellness is vitally important to us. We care for our clergy and seek to provide an affirming place to work. Regular clergy gatherings promote a spirit of collegiality among our ordained leadership. The size of the diocese affords ample opportunity for participation in leadership roles and easy access to the Bishop and staff.
We are always looking for creative, healthy, responsible clergy. If you are such a person, you will find Delaware an attractive place to live and work. Contact our diocesan transition officer, the Rev. Canon Gary Rowe for additional information.
Please continue to visit our website and the websites of our congregations.
Faithfully,
Wayne Wright
Bishop of Delaware
Schools
Google Map
Click here to see our Google Map. Find directions, distances, satellite views, etc.
Clergy Resources
Supplement to the Active Clergy Guide
Guide for Parishes in Transition
Social Media Guidelines for the safe and
responsible use of social media in youth ministry. These guidelines should be of interest to anyone using social media in the church. The Episcopal Church addressed this issue in an article, "Clergy must navigate traditional boundaries in new social media world.
Developing policies is a challenge, observers say." 10/26/2011
Safe Church Training
Safe Church Training
Safe Church Training is mandatory for all clergy, full or part-time church staff, volunteers who provide individual pastoral care, Eucharistic Visitors, and youth & child supervisors. Training is recommended for Sunday School teachers and lay leaders in supervisory or leadership roles. Re-certification is required every five years
Clergy Safe Church Policies and Practices (8-page PDF document). We want the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Delaware to be a good place and safe place for everyone to worship, work, and serve. 7/1/2011
Safe Church Personnel Manual. (PDF) This 23-page document provides guidance for hiring employees, guidelines for employees and volunteers, a sample misconduct prevention policy, a sample anti-harassment policy, a sample form for those transporting children and youth, best practices for those working with children and youth, and incident reporting guidelines. 6/15/2009
Diocese of Delaware's policy of a professional work environment. (PDF document) This 5-page document outlines our policy, especially in regard to sexual harassment and other forms of harassment. It recommends sexual misconduct awareness training for all employees and many volunteers. 4/17/2009
Social Media Guidelines for the safe and responsible use of social media in youth ministry. These guidelines should be of interest to anyone using social media in the church. The Episcopal Church addressed this issue in an article, "Clergy must navigate traditional boundaries in new social media world. Developing policies is a challenge, observers say." 10/26/2011
In Praise of Small Congregations
by the Rev. Elizabeth Masterson, St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church, Newark, Delaware, January, 2012.
Recently I was speaking with some fellow clergy about parishes that cannot afford full-time clergy. I advocated for small worshipping communities, because they can have an important place in the geographic area they serve. They also offer a wonderful environment where you can know and be known by almost everyone. Sometimes I call them "Cheers" churches, because I am reminded of the TV show about the people who frequented the Cheers bar—"where everyone knows your name."
Of course, there are some downsides. Unless there is an endowment, clergy must have other income to serve in a small parish. Most folks must volunteer in more than one area of responsibility, which sometimes feels as if it is too much. There will be only a few program offerings that all parishioners will be urged to support.
I have completed my fifth year at St. Nicholas and am one-third of the way through my sixth. I am VERY proud of this parish! Our worship life, our outreach to charitable organizations in the community, and our support of each other in times of sadness and in times of joy measures up well with any Episcopal church I know about—and I know about many of them. And although our giving to God through the life and work of St. Nicholas has increased in the last five years, I have decided I need to work fewer hours to help balance our budget. Other staff also have reduced their time. The vestry has agreed to this, and I am pleased that I will have greater flexibility in my personal life working one-third time or 15 hours a week.
Please continue to pray for the ministry of our parish, and pray about how Christ might be calling you to be more involved in 2012.
Faithfully, Elizabeth+
Remembered
The Rev. Fred VanderPoel died Monday, January 30, 2012. He served as the Bishop's Assistant for Congregational Development and as Vicar of St. Stephen's, Harrington from 1989-1992. Following his retirement he served for five years at St. Philip's, Laurel. He went on to serve as an interim priest in several congregations before moving with this wife, Martha, to a retirement community in Lititz, PA. Before coming to Delaware, Fred had a long career in ministry. He studied at the Philadelphia Divinity School and was ordained in 1957. He served parishes in Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Maryland. Services will be on Saturday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m. at St. James' Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA. Our prayers are with Martha and their family as they mourn this loss. May he rest in peace.
Ministry News
The Rev. Dustin Trowbridge of Trinity Parish, Wilmington, has accepted the call to be Priest-in-Charge of a pair of churches in the Diocese of New York: St. George's, Newburgh, and St. Thomas', NewWindsor, which are embarking on a new joint ministry together. He credits his experience at Trinity as the training needed to lead this 40% Latino, multi-congregational, urban parish. 1/16/2012
The Rev. Edgar G. (Gary) Taylor was ordained by Bishop Wight on Friday, January 20, at Saint Anne's Episcopal School, 211 Silver Lake Road, Middletown, Delaware, where Gary serves as Chaplain.
The Middletown Transcript had an excellent article about the ordination of Gary Taylor at St. Anne's. Click here to take a look.
The Right Reverend Wayne P. Wright ordained Deacon Kenneth F. Athey, Jr. to the Sacred Order of Priests on Saturday, January 21, at All Saints' Episcopal Church, Delmar, Delaware. Following the ordination, everyone was invited to a luncheon prepared by the Ladies of All Saints', Delmar and St. Philip's, Laurel at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Laurel, Delaware.
In December, 2011, St. Martha's, Bethany Beach, called the Rev. Mary Allen to be its new rector. Since 2005 Mary has been serving as rector of St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, Marysville, Washington. She began her new ministry at St. Martha's on December 1, 2011. 11/9/2011
In November, 2011, Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly accepted the call to become rector of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, Plainview, New York. Jennifer was ordained here in Delaware and has been serving as curate at Christ Church, Christiana Hundred. We will miss having her here in our diocese, but wish Jennifer and her husband, Scott, the very best as they begin this new season of ministry. 11/9/2011
SsAM's Rector Emeritus named Wilmingtonian of the Year. Every year the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation honors an outstanding person. In 2011, they honored the Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson, who has a long history in Wilmington, Delaware, not only serving the Episcopal Church as a priest at Saints Andrew and Matthew, but also serving briefly as head of the Wilmington School District. He is currently pastor at Calvary Hillcrest Episcopal Church in Bellefonte and chair of the school board at Reach Academy for Girls in Claymont. 10/28/2011
St. Paul's, Georgetown called the Rev. Joe Rushton to be their new rector. Joe came to St. Paul's from the Diocese of Maryland where he recently served as an interim priest. Ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, Joe was later received into the Episcopal Church. He also served for 19 years as a clinical social worker. He began his new ministry at St. Paul's on November 1, 2011. 10/12/2011
Tammy Woliver has concluded her ministry at Christ Church, Delaware City. In mid-September, 2011, she began working as a CPE supervisor and serving a congregation in her native Oklahoma. 8/31/2011
Jo Ann Barker has retired as rector of St. Anne's Church, Middletown. At the end of August, 2011, she moved to Sewanee, Tennessee to be with her husband, who recently retired from his medical practice. During her time in Delaware, Jo Ann made real contributions to the life of our diocese since she began serving in 2009. She provided significant leadership as a member of Diocesan Council and the Cathedral Ad-Hoc Study Committee. She also served as the diocesan chair for the Education for Ministry (EFM) program. 7/15/2011
The Rev. John Stonesifer has been called by the people of Immanuel on the Green to be their interim rector. He recently served as the interim at Grace Church, Utica, NY.
The Rev. Ed Godden, Immanuel on the Green, New Castle, has retired. Having served in a multitude of leadership roles for the diocese and Episcopal Church, Ed had been the longest-serving active priest in the diocese. That distinction now falls to the Rev. Louise Howlett of St. Anne’s School. Now Ed serves part time at Church of the Ascension, Claymont, as their interim rector.
Earl Beshears has accepted a call to be associate rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Venice, Florida. Earl and Jean came to Delaware eight years ago from the Diocese of Easton. They have shared a vital and effective ministry at St. Paul’s, in the Georgetown community, and in our diocese. We wish them Godspeed as they prepare for this new ministry. 7/14/2010
The Rev. George Karney has been named Priest-in-Charge of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. Fr. Karney has been ordained a priest over 50 years. He has served congregations in Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, most recently as an interim priest at several congregations in both Delaware and Pennsylvania. Fr. Karney began his appointment with Good Shepherd August 1, 2010. George was an original member of the New Church Commission that planned for Good Shepherd. 7/13/2010
The Rev. Mark Cyr has been called as Interim Rector of St. Martha’s, Bethany Beach. After six years, the Rev. Bill Wickham completed his active ministry as rector as of July 31. 7/8/2010
The Rev. Emily S. Gibson joined Grace Episcopal Church, Wilmington as their Interim Rector on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Ordained in 1983, the Rev. Gibson has more than two decades of experience in Episcopal ministry, including work with parishes in Maine, New York and New Jersey. Certified in Appreciative Interim Ministry, she is uniquely qualified to lead Grace Church during this time of transition.
The Very Rev. Margaret K. "Margie" Pumphrey has been called to be Rector of St. Albans, Wilmington. She took up her duties on July 1, 2010. The parish bid farewell to its interim rector, Fr. George Karney. Click here to learn more about Margaret Pumphrey's return to Delaware.
The Rev. David Andrews was called as the new rector of Saints Andrew & Matthew, downtown Wilmington. Click here to learn more about David Andrews, who began serving in February, 2010.
Deacon Cecily Sawyer-Harmon is the new campus minister at the Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Delaware. Cecily has worked at U.D. for the past 20 years and is in line for ordination as deacon in late 2009.
Jay Angerer has been called to a new ministry in New Orleans, LA. His last Sunday at Good Shepherd was July 26, 2009. Click here to read the letter he wrote to his congregation.
Tom Kerr was recognized as the Rector Emeritus of Immanuel Highlands on Sunday, March 29, 2009. Click here to see the photos of the ceremony honoring Tom.
Kim Capwell began serving as rector of Immanuel Highlands in September, 2008. Click here to see photos of his institution and first service.
The Rev. John Wright is now serving St. Stephen's, Harrington as of Advent 1, 2008. Soon after he started serving, his church got a new website!
The Rev. Paul Gennett began serving as Rector at St. Thomas’s, Newark on November 30, 2008. Paul comes to St. Thomas’s from St. David’s in Radnor, PA (where he served as senior associate rector).
The Rev. Howard Backus began serving as Pastor of St. Philip’s, Laurel on September 1, 2008. Howard is from North Carolina.