Rector Transition

Hello,

We are St. Ann’s Episcopal Church and Faith Lutheran Church working collaboratively in Windham, Maine and we are looking for a clergy person to serve both congregations. Windham is a growing town in Cumberland County that is the gateway to the Lakes Region and about 20 minutes from the City of Portland. Portland is known for its restaurants, museums, music venues and variety of activities for all ages. There are opportunities for skiing, hiking, boating, and swimming within 30 minutes of town. Windham is a mix of farms, established neighborhoods, and new developments with plenty of places to shop, parks and playgrounds to play in, and restaurants to dine at.

St. Ann’s and Faith Lutheran have been informally collaborating and working together for several years and entered into a formal clergy sharing position just over a year ago. Both churches are deeply rooted in our community, welcoming to all, and involved in several outreach opportunities. We provide Christmas stockings for children in our local schools and host a monthly essentials pantry. We work with two other area churches to provide a weekly meal for our community and to support the Sebago Lakes Fuller Center for Housing. Each church also has individual outreach programs. We both collaborate with other area churches in ecumenical services through the Windham Area Clergy Association.

St. Ann’s is known locally as the ladybug church due to our playground that is open to the community. The playground was created in memory of an 11 year old member of the congregation who passed away from cancer and has ladybug swings as a reminder of her favorite creature.

Faith Lutheran has a beautiful outdoor chapel in the woods behind the church building. It is used regularly during the summer and was used throughout the year during COVID. There is a thriving music ministry led by a talented director. The combined choir sings at local nursing homes and other venues throughout the year.

St. Ann’s and Faith Lutheran both have dedicated long term members and are hoping to grow their congregations through faith formation, continued collaboration, and with the help of a compassionate, encouraging, and creative clergy person. We are searching for someone who delivers an inspiring and encouraging sermon, is able to engage with and get to know the members of our congregations, and is willing to be innovative and vulnerable. If this could be you, please apply for this unique position. We look forward to talking with you!

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St. Ann’s, in partnership with Faith Lutheran Church, is currently searching for a new clergy person to lead our congregations. The Discernment Committee is a committee of appointed volunteers from both churches to play an important part in finding our next shared clergy. The Call for a shared full time clergy person will go out to both the Episcopal and Lutheran Dioceses.

On this transition page you will see regular updates from the Discernment Committee on the progress of this search. Updates will also be shared via email and through announcements at services.

Discernment Committee members are:

Dave Guiseley, Co-Chair, Faith Lutheran Church

Meredith Scaplen, Co-Chair, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church

Rachel Galbraith, Faith Lutheran Church

Jo Hartwell, Faith Lutheran Church

Beth Kelsch, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church

Bob Ritter, Faith Lutheran Church

Dan Wheeler, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church

Kim Wallace, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church

As we venture on this endeavor, we ask you to keep the Discernment Committee in your prayers as we search for our new shared clergy person.

Gracious and loving God, we come before You in gratitude for the journey that has brought us together as one faith family. As we embark on this search for a new clergy person, guide our hearts and minds with Your wisdom and peace. Help us to listen deeply to Your Spirit and to one another, discerning the needs of our community with open hearts. Bless those called to lead, that they may feel Your presence and strength as they consider joining us in service. May our unity in this endeavor reflect Your love and inspire our shared mission. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen

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Discernment Committee Update 12-17

“The Discernment Committee met on December 16th and discussed the questions we will want to ask during our first round of interviews. We are preparing for interviews as the profiles of both St Ann’s and Faith Lutheran are being posted this week. They will remain posted thru mid February and we will be looking forward to conducting interviews once the posting period is closed. Our next meeting will be January 27th where we’ll finish preparing for interviews and hopefully discuss the applications we have by that time. We pray for God to continue to guide us through this process.”