Fresh Start

Transition in parish leadership raises many important issues in the life of the community. The early years in this new relationship are critical and formational.

Part of the wellness initiative of the Diocese of Toronto, Fresh Start is a two-year program offered by the College of Bishops to clergy and congregations in transition. Fresh Start is a facilitated process for both new incumbents and associates and their parishes.

The time of transition between clergy can be a stressful time of uncertainty. It can also be a fertile time of newness and opportunity which can bring about health and growth. An excellent resource to help you and your congregation through this unsettled period is: “A Change of Pastors . . . And How It Affects Change in the Congregation,” by Loren B. Mead.

To help you get the most from this time of transition, the College of Bishops have offered you the Fresh Start program. Fresh Start is a diocesan-led program for clergy and their congregations during the first two years of the appointment of the incumbent. It seeks to strengthen the relationships among clergy, congregational lay leaders, the bishops and diocesan staff during critical periods of transition in clergy leadership in the congregation. Fresh Start was created by the The Episcopal Church in the late 1990s. After successful use in over 40 dioceses in the United States, a Canadian version was developed by the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario. Fresh Start is a program in the dioceses of Huron, Niagara and Toronto. Facilitators have been trained for the dioceses of Nova Scotia and Ontario. The program is available to all dioceses in the Canadian Church. See the Fresh Start Brochure.

Benefits

  • Assists with the transitions issues inherent in any new ministry.
  • Sharpens the skills of lay and clergy leaders for congregational development.
  • Strengthens the collegial relationships among the clergy of a diocese.
  • Deepens the trust and interconnection between and among the clergy, the lay leaders of congregations, and the bishop/bishop’s staff.

Congregational Process

Congregations are encouraged to invite their lay leaders to attend an introductory session about exit and entrance issues. The program then involves six sessions over a two-year period which cover many of the important transition issues facing congregations. Leaders are churchwardens, board members, synod members, committee chairs and search committee members.

Clergy Process

Clergy in new incumbencies in the Diocese of Toronto meet monthly in either a northern or southern group. These gatherings are led by trained Fresh Start facilitators and offer a collegial environment in which to examine transition issues in the new ministry. As stated in the appointment letter, it is an expectation that clergy participate in this important program.

Getting a New Priest

In the Diocese of Toronto, a new incumbent is selected by the Parish Selection Committee (PSC), which always works with the area bishop, who is the hiring authority for clergy. In effect, the role of the parish selection committee is to make a recommendation to the area bishop. To this end the committee works with the area bishop to:

  • Develop an effective selection plan.
  • Ensure compliance with the diocesan canons, and all legislative and human rights policies, and uses sound human resources practices.
  • Suggest names of candidates for the interview list.
  • Ensure all interview procedures and decision are as objective and fair as possible.
  • Provide a comprehensive and accurate profile of the parish.

The Parish Selection Committee consists of the two churchwardens, and four other lay people, of which at least two must be members of synod (unless the parish has only one.) These four other lay people are elected by the Vestry or Advisory Board. The normal maximum size of the PSC is six, but it may increase to eight in multi-point parishes. The policy governing the Parish Selection Committees is found in Liturgical Standards and Resources, under “Clergy Appointments.”

Where do we begin?

  • Elect a chairperson.
  • Arrange a meeting date with the area bishop.
  • Read Canon 10 of the Diocesan Constitution and Canons.
  • Request the demographic and benchmark data from your area bishop’s office.
  • Read the material in the parish selection committee package (“Shedding Light on Choosing a Priest”; PSC Guide, “Transitions,” by Dr. Walter Deller; and the Human Rights Code of Ontario) which you can receive by downloading or by requesting a copy from your area bishop’s office.

Where a parish wants to advertise a vacancy and wants to go beyond the normal website/The Anglican listing, the parish selection committee must discuss this with the area bishop. If a parish wants to cast the net widely, then permission must be granted by the area bishop to intentionally carry out a search or advertise the vacancy beyond the Diocese. Under no circumstances should a vacancy advertisement be placed without the area bishop’s consent.

Assistance in the form of a skilled volunteer facilitator is available through the Congregational Development department, 416-363-6021 ext. 225 (1-800-668-8932). Your PSC facilitator will be able to help the committee:

 

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