This is a very exciting time for Good Shepherd! We are currently “Receiving Names” for new rector, which means that our Office of Transition Ministry at the Diocese of New Jersey is gathering the documents of prospective rectors who have inquired about our parish. Meanwhile, we have been busy preparing to review candidate portfolios and interview the candidates. In May we met with our Diocesan Transition Ministry Officer, Canon Cecilia Alvarez, for an orientation about the interviewing process. We also attended a Diocesan Anti-Racism Workshop at St. Peter’s Church in Clarksboro. Father Dave, Canon Alvarez, and many  of our Vestry members attended this valuable workshop as well. We are grateful to the parishioners of St. Peter’s who opened their doors as hosts and welcomed us for the workshop.

This week we will meet with Canon Alvarez to receive the candidate portfolios gathered so far. We are ready! We are still in “Receiving Names” status, so if any parishioner or friend is aware of a priest who is in search of a new parish home, please promptly contact Mark Nicolle to get them into the diocesan process: markbnicolle@mindspring.com or forward their contact info directly to Canon Cecilia Alvarez: calvarez@dioceseofnj.org

Our Parish Profile and OTM Portfolio are on bulletin board display in the parish hall. By now you must know that our Parish Profile is here on our website in several places. Take a look if you haven’t already! Our Portfolio is posted on the national search database of the OTM, and an abbreviated version appears on the regional recruiting database of the Transition Ministry Conference network.

Through the past months of creating our Profile and Portfolio, we have been building a strong team based on respect and prayer. This has prepared us well for this next phase: the work of discerning God’s will. Keep praying for us, for all the candidates, and for the next Rector of Good Shepherd!

Mark Nicolle, Chairman
Roger Baker, Aimee Burgin, Pat Braidwood, Len Clark, Becky Goff, Stuart Lynd, Elizabeth Nelson, Deb Prieto, Chelsea Richmond, Tom Rigg, Chris Southwick, Jeff Snodgrass, Wayne Szalma, Diane Wall, Jim Wynkoop