St. James’s Episcopal Church

St. James’s Episcopal ChurchAssociate Rector for Adult Christian Formation

St. James’s Episcopal Church

Who we areoSt. James’s is a resource-sized parish of approximately 2,500 members

with an average Sunday attendance of 600 and an annual budget of $2,000,000.00.

oWe are a vibrant, active community of faith committed to our Lord Jesus Christ, each other, and the wider community. Click here for our Parish Resource Guice.

oThe words of St. James, “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only,” have been inscribed on the wall above our altar since 1839. These words are part of our DNA. Living out our faith in the world is one of our core values.

What we seekoWe are looking for an outgoing, energetic priest who is passionate about

the Gospel.

oWe hope this new member of our clergy team can help us to “go deeper” through the development of programs that enhance spiritual growth and discipleship.

oWe want this person to be entrepreneurial, spiritually mature, and committed to the lifelong process of Christian formation.

oWe expect our new Associate to be a good teacher and preacher.

oWe expect our new Associate to be pastorally engaged.

oOur new Associate needs to manage and mentor numerous programs while at the same time lifting up others for leadership.

oHe or she should be a team player who enjoys working with a large staff.

oWe want someone who laughs quickly and often, someone who values what it means to belong in community, someone who is eager to walk with others through life’s challenges.

St. James’s Episcopal Church

What our associate will dooTake the lead in all adult Christian formation activities including classes,

retreats, forums, and pilgrimages

oEncourage and equip others in the creation of small groups focused on Bible study, prayer, spirituality, mutual support and more.

oLead worship and preach on a regular basis as part of our clergy team

oWork with the other clergy to offer pastoral care, home and hospital visitations, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other rites of the church

If you would like to be a part of our searchoSend us your name, address, telephone number and email address

oSend us a current resume and an updated OTM form

oSend us a short essay that tells us about yourself and explains why you think you might be the right person to share with us in this ministry.

Please forward all of the above information to our Parish Administrator Anita Lisk at alisk@doers.org.

We hope to have our new Associate Rector in place by early summer 2015.

You will find out much more about us at:

• www.doers.org• facebook.com/St.Jamess.Doers• twitter.com/beadoer• stjamesdoers.tumblr.com• plus.google.com/+StJamessChurch• youtube.com/stjamesrichmond

St. James’s Episcopal Church

St. James’s HistorySt. James’s was the third Episcopal church to be established in Richmond when, in 1831, a group of

Episcopalians petitioned Bishop Moore seeking permission to start a new church on Shockoe Hill. In 1835 a small lot at the corner of Fifth and Marshall Streets was acquired and a small Sunday school building was erected. In 1837, the Reverend Adam Empie, president of the College of William and Mary, was called to be rector. The first service was held in November, 1837 in the Sunday school building and the cornerstone was laid on April 2, 1838. Consecration services were held on June 23, 1839.

In 1854, the vestry elected the Reverend Joshua Peterkin. Dr. Peterkin served for thirty-seven years and was active in establishing other churches in Richmond, among them Holy Trinity, St. Mark’s and St. Philip’s. During the days of racial segregation he taught African Americans to read and during the Civil War he ministered to Confederate soldiers. The attractive brass pulpit used today was given as a memorial to the beloved Dr. Peterkin shortly after his death in 1892.

A move intended to follow the gradual western movement of many communicants was realized under rector Reverend William Meade Clark. On May 7, 1912 the cornerstone of the present church was laid at Franklin and Birch Streets. In 1926, the St. Andrew’s Chimes were given to St. James’s by Mr. Henry Lee Valentine and they still chime today at 9:00 a.m. noon, 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. Dr. Churchill J. Gibson became rector in 1929 and served until 1957. His joyful faith, happy nature, and acute sensitivity endeared him to his congregation and to the community. Due to growth under his leadership, additional space was added to the Sunday school building in 1956 and it was designated the Churchill J. Gibson Building.

The Reverend Richard Royal Baker III was rector of St. James’s from 1957-1978. He conceived the idea of the Stuart Circle Parish, established in 1970 with St. John’s United Church of Christ, First English Lutheran Church, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, and Cathedral of the Sacred Heart “to be an instrument for common work and mutual inspiration.” As his health began to fail, Mr. Baker relied more and more on greater involvement of the laity in assisting in church services and in visiting newcomers and the sick. A tradition of lay involvement has remained a hallmark of St. James’s to this day.

The Reverend Frank F. Fagan became the rector in 1982 and in 1984 the Children’s Center was established as a preschool program for both handicapped and healthy children. In March of 1994, the vestry elected the Reverend Robert B. Trache rector. That July, lightning struck the church and a great fire destroyed the roof and much of the interior of the building. Mr. Trache’s administrative talents were put to good use as the church entered a rebuilding process. Our neighbor temple Beth Ahabah kindly invited the congregation to use the temple for Sunday services while the restoration was in progress. The completed church opened in 1997, with a magnificent new Fisk organ and a much needed parking deck.

In 2000, the Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith was called to be St. James’s 13th rector. Mr. Hollerith has led the church through multiple strategic plans and capital campaigns such as the one that funded the second education building, known as the Michaux House, built in 2008, and a redesign of the interior of the Gibson Building that same year. In 2013, St. James’s celebrated 100 years at its current site and we continue to thrive under Rector Hollerith.