ST. BARNABAS. Incense and Liturgy. Extraordinary. The Mercy of Jesus. Glen Ellyn, Illinois

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1 ST. BARNABAS Glen Ellyn, Illinois! Extraordinary I also found myself going to an extraordinary church or, with my rather dim experience of churches back home, one that was extraordinary at least to me. Its name was Saint Barnabas, and it was located in a small town nearby called Glen Ellyn. It was described to me as an evangelical high Episcopal church, and that seemed so wonderfully anomalous that what took me there first was pure curiosity. Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets, 82! The Mercy of Jesus! Bringing the mercy of Jesus to the world. Incense and Liturgy We are a devout community of believers who want to elevate Jesus in our midst. Our mission statement is: Bringing the mercy of Jesus to the world. We recognize that our own spiritual maturity is an essential component to making this happen. We seek a rector who can help us navigate through the challenges we will face as we become a church that focuses much more on its mission. Mission Statement,

2 In our recent church assessment, we heard many confirming things about ourselves. Morale is extremely high and conflicts are few. Our members are not of one mind in matters theological or political, but there is room at our table for all. Regarding the more contentious issues that have divided the Episcopal Church, we value a generous, respectful, and conciliatory life and we have actually done well in this. That we welcome, value, and respect this diversity is not merely the wish of a few, but a parish-wide desire as confirmed by the recent congregational survey. We are devoted to spiritual growth, personal ministry, and the character of the worship/music program. For instance, we have retained the church s historic contemplative worship style: portions of the liturgy are sung, incense is common, and a usual Sunday will find cello, flute, guitar, piano, violin, and percussion accompanying a skilled choir of about twenty. The liturgical seasons are also integrated richly. We are contemplative as well. We believe that the deeper resources of the soul are what make for effective life and ministry. Worship, prayer, service, and study are high values for us, but we hope that this does not lead us to be merely introspective. We want the goodness of Jesus to pour from us into the lives of those who live alongside us. We hope to forge within our community a spiritual vitality that is contagious and attractive to any who visit us. While located in an area that hosts a large number of churches, St. Barnabas has always been unique in its setting. Visitors will point to the inspiring atmosphere of its sanctuary that invites contemplative worship. Some will talk about its monthly Taizé service that draws people from outside our community. Others are drawn to St. Barnabas s vision statement, which uses the words generous orthodoxy to describe its theological commitments rooted in classical Christianity, while staying alive to the challenges and opportunities of present-day culture. And all will recognize a warmly welcoming community that is home to lifelong Episcopalians and a great many more from a wide array of backgrounds Roman Catholic to Evangelical. The rich and welcoming worship experience is not new, but has been an 2

3 integral part of St. Barnabas character for decades. In the 1980s, the well-known novelist Frederick Buechner was invited to teach a semester of English literature at Wheaton College. During those four months Buechner became active at St. Barnabas and some time later in his memoirs he described it as an extraordinary church. In his book Telling Secrets, he even devoted more than five pages to describing what he experienced there. He wrote that it was the hushed silence of its worship, the sung liturgy, the artful use of liturgical symbolism (incense, color, altar, cross, chanted song), and its lively community that brought him back. The worship experience at St. Barnabas is still as Buechner said extraordinary. We are a community that values hospitality as a high virtue. We happily expend great energy on our ministry to the homeless. Each July and August we weekly host the homeless in our area. This past summer, some seventy members participated each week in preparing meals and comfortable sleeping spaces for the homeless. Many members spent upwards of ten hours each week on this ministry. Of course, we have other mission commitments. For example, we support two former members who are missionaries in South Africa and two others who are serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators. We also have a heart for the suffering of the world. We are small, we have a laser-focus on one essential world ministry: South Sudan. We work closely with the Diocese of Renk, South Sudan. And we are friends with its bishop, Joseph Garang Atem. We love him and his churches and are profoundly and unflinchingly committed to supporting his courageous ministry in that war-torn country. The recent parish-wide survey confirmed that we are a congregation strong in spiritual vitality, with a high level of energy that is financially stable and has successfully navigated tumult that has unsettled the greater church. Our blessings underscore our greatest challenges. We are ready to move out of this comfortable place and grow into a church that focuses its energy and the efforts of its leaders to further its mission: Bringing the mercy of Jesus to the world. As a community we pray for our own preparedness to advance that 3

4 growth (see the sidebar A Prayer for Someone). Rector Expectations We recently asked our entire congregation what they would most value in a new rector. In this survey and in follow-up meetings, we heard many of the same themes. Essential gifts of our future rector need to include many of the following: Collaboration. We are a church with a number of leaders, all willing and able to work under the leadership of our priest. This is because we want to work together, following and supporting the ministry of the rector and in many cases sharing collaboratively the work of Christ in this place. We hold the rector in high regard but do not expect her/him to carry all of the burdens of this parish. Growth. We are placing a premium on growth in the immediate future. Therefore, we want a leader who is energetic, visionary, and who can guide us as we work to increase our numbers, particularly among younger families. We recognize that outreach is not the sole task of the rector. We want to be a wellequipped team that can do this work well. Conflict Management. We have a wide spectrum of beliefs about possibly divisive issues and yet virtually no conflict. We value diversity and respect those whose opinions differ from our own. We need a leader who understands this, brings a conciliatory demeanor to leadership, and does not shy away from opportunities to bridge differences. Theology. We recognize that the church universal has a variety of positions on theological matters. However we seek a leader who enjoys thinking theologically and is alert to theological nuance. We have utmost respect for the Bible and the Creeds and we wish for them to form the foundation for how we believe and how we live. It s important to us that our worship continues to honor the great traditions of our church. Preaching. We are thoughtful listeners. We value an intelligent, well-prepared, well-delivered, spiritually insightful sermon. We desire to be taught about scriptural truths, but are less interested in political advocacy. Pastoral Care. The care of souls includes those who are not with us due to age or infirmity. We want a rector who is fully invested in the ministry we have to those who are suffering among us. Listening skills are a must Music. Music is important to us and traditionally portions of the liturgy are sung. In the past, rectors have taken lessons in singing the liturgy (which we supplied). This skill is not essential (but is encouraged). We recognize that singing/ chanting is a gift and not everyone has it. 4

5 Administration. We need a leader who will plan well and execute well. We would value a rector who has prior experience in business. However we do not expect that this person will do everything well or everything alone. We want him/her to delegate, to teach us to carry the work of ministry as well. But this requires excellent strategies and follow-through. Parish Life The congregation has an attendance that has averaged between 100 to 140 over the last 10 years. About 70 percent of the church is over 55, while 30 percent are younger. The congregation has always hosted cohorts of university students and young adults in their twenties and early thirties who are in transition. This is a group we know we have only for a short time. We see it as a ministry to love them where they are, encourage their growth, and celebrate them as they transition into their adult lives. St. Barnabas hosts a remarkable number of activities that indicate our commitment to community and life lived outside the worship setting. A partial list of regular activities includes: Taizé Prayer - A contemplative evening service on the third Friday of each month involving chanted prayers, meditation, silence, and liturgical readings. Many from other churches attend. Julian Meeting - Meets every second Sunday of the month for contemplative prayer. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Weekly Sunday education for the elementary-school-aged members of our parish. Romans Group - Meets weekly in a member s home to discuss upcoming Sunday's Bible readings. Morning Bible Study - Meets every Monday at church. Women s Bible Study - Meets weekly in the morning in a member s home. Men s Bible Study - Meets every Saturday morning at the church. A Prayer for Someone This is a prayer for evangelism and parish growth that we have recently adopted Gracious God, you have given me my life and my faith; I ask that you show me someone who desires to know you better. I ask that I see that person and that I see the opportunity to invite him or her to St. Barnabas. May I have the courage to do so. May I listen to that person; may I become aware of his or her needs. I ask that the person accepts the invitation and that he or she appear at our red doors. May our community welcome that person just as he or she is. May our music and worship that day be filled with your presence and your livingkindness. May the person hear whatever he or she needs to hear that day. I ask this so that I may join your work in the world and your dream for St. Barnabas. And I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Education for Ministry - A program to give members ministry skills. Sunday Adult Education - Meets at midhour every Sunday in the adult education room. 5

6 Daughters of the King - A spiritual sisterhood dedicated to a life of prayer and service. Meets monthly on Saturday mornings. Play Group - A weekly gathering of parents and children at the church s nursery. Foyer Groups - A dinner gathering of members who meet four to five times annually in small groups in members homes. new ways to reach more people in our community and within our congregation. We are especially concerned to attract young families and singles to our parish. We hope that our new priest will help us examine these needs and feel genuine freedom to lead us to new places. We like what we have built over the years and in some areas (such as worship) can be protective. However we value a leader who will think imaginatively with us about new areas of growth and expression even in worship. Parish History Ethnic Dining - A dining fellowship that meets regularly to try the myriad ethnic restaurants in our area. Barney s Book Babes - A gathering of women who discuss leading books of significance. Young Adult Group - A fellowship of post-college young adults who meet for fellowship, food, and activities. Two Thumbs Up - A gathering of adults who are movie-aficionados and like to discuss current, thoughtful films. These various activities signal that this is an active congregation that enjoys a wide variety of events together. Nevertheless, we are eager to explore St. Barnabas began in the 1960s with a young community of about seventy-five adults and fifty children who were seeking to build a Christian community that understood liturgical worship, could use it with skill, and would build a sanctuary that evoked the mystery and wonder of God. So when the groundbreaking occurred in 1965, the first stake was anchored to the present location of the altar. An octagonal structure encircled the altar as a spiritual statement of the centrality of the Eucharist. Three towers rose over the building along with the cross and these symbols were not missed by anyone. The altar, processional cross, font, windows and many other items continued the tradition of sculpting a sanctuary rich with theological symbolism and growing a congregation that knew what that symbolism meant. In the 1970s and 1980s, St. Barnabas became a well-known destination for liturgical renewal among both mainline 6

7 and evangelical leaders. Inspired by the writing of the liturgist Robert Webber, the worship life of the church matured and grew in its reputation. Numerous ordinations came from this era and these people became important church leaders during their careers. In the 1990s liturgical renewal was in full swing and many looked to St. Barnabas as a model of how this is done. Today many major Anglican and Episcopal churches can trace their inspiration to what their founders and leaders experienced at St. Barnabas. In 2006 the church studied the original plans of the sanctuary, consulted with architects and an art historian, and Our Vision Statement We seek to be Centered in worship and prayer Committed to a generous orthodoxy Committed to God s ministry of the restoration of the world commissioned a $4 million wellintegrated expansion that would provide generous welcoming space, efficient classrooms, first-rate offices, and a downstairs center for fellowship that could double as a site for the church s active ministry to the homeless. For instance, we built showers and a professional kitchen (and purchased dish ware and cutlery), not for the enjoyment of the congregation so much as for honoring of the homeless. We wanted our guests to know that meals served free at St. Barnabas would evoke a restaurantquality experience. It was how we would honor the needy and this commitment continues today. The cost of this 2006 expansion was considerable and today 97 percent of its debt has been paid and the vestry expects to retire the mortgage in the next 12 months. Financial generosity is a consistent feature of our life and this is seen in the church s fiscal soundness. Our 2013 budget listed expenses at $283,172. Our net income was $283,991. Current Staff, Governance and Facilities We currently have an interim rector and two deacons. We also have an interim director of music. We have two priest associates who assist with worship services, and other members who can preach effectively. The office has a halftime secretary. However, many have suggested that when the current mortgage is retired, we should revisit our staffing needs and expenditures. We have a thirteen-member vestry. Members are elected to staggered threeyear terms. The junior warden and senior warden each serve two-year terms. Our parish belongs to the Diocese of Chicago, led by Bishop Jeffrey Lee since The diocese includes 127 congregations, with a total of 40,000 baptized members. In 2013 our diocese increased average Sunday attendance more than any other in the Episcopal Church. Our church building has 26,000 square feet on two floors and our sanctuary seats 250. We have classrooms (one seats 100), choir and education rooms, a fellowshipwelcome center near the entrance, a memorial garden with 200 plots, and a 7

8 parking lot for 86 vehicles (including handicapped spaces). All facilities are ADA compliant and air-conditioned. Our undercroft was designed to support our overnight ministry to the homeless and can accommodate 115 guests. Glen Ellyn, Illinois St. Barnabas is located in an actively growing region of metro-chicago. While Glen Ellyn has only 27,000 people, it dwells alongside cities that form a mosaic of towns that contribute to the millions who live in the Chicago region. This city was founded in the 1830s and while it is now part of a large metropolis it still retains its charm. For all its $90,000. (The Illinois average is $55,000.) Wheaton is adjacent. Wheaton has 55,000 people with an average age for residents of 38 and a median income of $88,000 (2012). In our county, about 50 percent of the population has a college undergraduate degree or higher (US average: 33 percent). Glen Ellyn and Wheaton boast excellent public schools. Local events are common. And within minutes from St. Barnabas, you can find the nationally acclaimed Morton Arboretum and its 1,700 woodland acres. Many consider Glen Ellyn and DuPage County a very good place to live. The immediate neighborhood of the church is extremely stable with long-term residents having strong local commitments. urban amenities, Glen Ellyn has preserved its small-town feel. Its old downtown near the train is preserved and generously used. Glen Ellyn is also connected to Chicago by a commuter train line. By train or car, you are less than an hour from Lake Michigan, world-class museums, theaters, and events in Chicago. This train is handy for commuters to Chicago and has also contributed to making Glen Ellyn highly professional in character. The average age in Glen Ellyn is 40, and median household income (2012) is 8