Church of the Lamb, Elkton, VA is seeking a rector. To Apply Submit a CV or résumé, completed application (see the last section of this portfolio), and a cover letter to parish@elktonchurchofthelamb.org. Church of the Lamb Church of the Lamb is a church plant that meets for worship on Sunday mornings at 10 am at 315 West Spotswood Trail in downtown Elkton, VA. The congregation of approximately 50 individuals is a balanced mixture of singles and families, i.e., young, middle-aged, and retirees. Throughout the week we meet in small groups organized by geography in and around Elkton. History Church of the Lamb is a church plant of Church of the Incarnation, Harrisonburg, VA, (www.theincarnation.org). Incarnation began in October 2010 with a vision of being a small, healthy church deeply rooted in downtown Harrisonburg that plants other small, healthy churches deeply rooted in neighborhoods and communities throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Our dream is of a network of healthy parish churches, working together for a holistic, renewed valley under the gracious reign of Jesus, the risen King. Incarnation meets for worship on Sunday mornings at 10 am at 292 N. Liberty Street in downtown Harrisonburg, VA. The congregation of approximately 190 is young and vibrant (50% of the congregation is 21 years old or younger), but also has a critical mass of members over 55 years of age. Throughout the week they meet in small groups, organized by geography, throughout the city. Incarnation has 2 full-time staff, Rector and Curate, a Parish Administrator who works 30 hours per week, 1 part-time staff director of music, 1 part-time bookkeeper, and 2 interns who work 40 hours per week. The vision of Incarnation is to be a church for the glory of God and the good of the city. On September 15, 2014 Incarnation entered into a season of prayer and fasting to discern if they would plant a church in the suburbs on the eastern side of Harrisonburg or in the community of Elkton, which is about 16 miles east of Harrisonburg. By November 6, they Church of the Lamb, Prospectus, Rector p 1
were beginning to see that God was strongly directing them to Elkton. On November 13, the Incarnation small group that met in Elkton committed themselves to being planted as a new church named Church of the Lamb. On December 7, 2014, Church of the Lamb began meeting for worship and potluck dinner on Sunday evenings in the home of one of its members. On December 28, the church moved into a building in the center of downtown Elkton, 315 West Spotswood Trail. On January 11, we celebrated our first baptisms. On January 18, we began worshipping on Sunday mornings. The rector of Incarnation, Aubrey Spears, the Curate of Incarnation, Kevin Whitfield, and priests from sister churches in the Valley lead the services each week. In addition to Sunday worship, we maintain 3 small groups, organized by geography, that meet weekly in homes. Over the course of the next several years we hope Church of the Lamb will be firmly established as a church for the glory of God and the good of Elkton and east Rockingham County. As agents of God s Kingdom, embodying His Kingdom in this place, our hope is to see the shalom of that Kingdom come to our town and Valley as it is filled with worshipers of the triune God and the renewing presence of Christ in our culture. To this end, we will share our lives with each other, cultivate our relationship with God, engage in joyful congregational worship, and seek the good of our town through prayer, service, and labor. Context Elkton is a small rural town in Rockingham County, Virginia, centrally located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Harrisonburg, a growing city of about 50,000 (127,000 in the metro statistical area) lies 15 miles west of Elkton; Charlottesville, home to University of Virginia, lies 35 miles to the southeast. Like all towns in the valley, Elkton is rich in history, particularly pertaining to the Civil War. Its scenic location nestled between the Blue Ridge mountains in the east and the Appalachian mountains in the west provides multiple outdoor recreational activities including canoeing, hiking, biking, climbing, caving, skiing, hunting, fishing, and golf. Demographically, the community is situated in a portion of the county commonly referred to as East Rockingham, which generally corresponds to the Stonewall District census data. Elkton has a population of 2,000, with a total of 19,500 in the Stonewall District. The largest age categories in the district are 24% under 18 years old; 22% 35-49 years old; and 21% 50-64 years old. Ninety-four percent of the population is Caucasian; 3% is African- American; and 3% is Hispanic. The town is home to two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. Sixtynine percent of the population has a high school diploma; 9% has a bachelor s degree; and 3% has a graduate or professional degree. According to 2011 census data, the median household income is $48,125. Twelve percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Primary employers in the broader area include Merck, Miller-Coors, and Massanutten Resort. Many local residents are also employed at nearby regional colleges and universities including James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College, and Blue Ridge Community College. Along with other communities in Rockingham Church of the Lamb, Prospectus, Rector p 2
County, which ranks first in the state for agricultural production, Elkton has a longstanding agricultural heritage, including large scale poultry production as well as smaller family livestock and crop operations. The Elkton area has an interesting contrast of residents. Many families have lived here for multiple generations. Most in this category fit the standard southern profile rural, hard working, blue collar. Many are resistant to change, growth, and urban influence. Elkton people are generally family oriented and loyal, which can have the unfortunate consequence or perception of creating a somewhat closed community. A second population group near Elkton resides at Massanutten Resort, a large four-season resort five miles west of the town, which includes approximately 2,300 year-round residents. Most of the residents at Massanutten are out-of-towners, and many are successful retirees looking to slow down and enjoy the beauty and charm of the Shenandoah Valley. Of the Massanutten residents who work, most are well educated and have moved to the area to occupy management level jobs in local manufacturing or positions in the vibrant higher education communities in nearby Harrisonburg. A third group of residents in the Elkton area fit the profile of country gentleman. Many of these residents have migrated here, but live intentionally in this place, embracing the simple, rural lifestyle as ideal for raising their families. They love the Valley, care for the land, and many have adopted varying degrees of the homestead lifestyle including gardening, small scale farming, and sustainable focus. (Think Wendell Berry.) Most of these residents are well educated and are leaders in various aspects of the local business community. Thus far, Church of the Lamb is primarily comprised of people from the latter two groups who seek to worship and glorify God in our particular place by loving and serving the local community. Most of our members have historically traveled to Harrisonburg to attend our mother church, Church of the Incarnation, or one of two churches belonging to the Presbyterian Church of America. Many of the churches in Elkton operate along family lines and can feel closed to outsiders. Predominant traditions include Pentecostal, Brethren, Mennonite, Baptist, and Methodist. Other traditions include Presbyterian, Church of God, Seventh Day Adventist, and Catholic. Church of the Lamb is the only missional, orthodox, reformed, liturgical church in the community. Connections We enjoy the friendship, pastoral care, and spiritual authority of our bishops, the Rt. Rev. Steven Breedlove and the Rt. Rev. Quigg Lawrence. Both of these men are veteran pastors and church planters. They serve as our overseers and mentors. Aubrey Spears, rector of the Church of the Incarnation, is leading us, our church, and our Parish Council until we call a rector. Aubrey has been a pastor for 23 years; for 9 years he has been a rector/senior pastor, first as a Baptist, and since 2010 as an Anglican. In addition to Church of the Lamb, he has planted two churches one in Birmingham, AL as well as Incarnation in Harrisonburg, VA. Kevin Whitfield, the Curate at Incarnation, is also playing a significant role in this church plant. He was ordained as a pastor by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2011. He has Church of the Lamb, Prospectus, Rector p 3
worked in full-time church ministry for four years. As a Southern Baptist, Kevin served as an ministry intern, youth minister, associate pastor, and interim senior pastor. Approach Identity Our mother church, the Church of the Incarnation, is a gospel-centered church committed to establishing liturgical, reformational Anglican churches deeply rooted in their neighborhood/community throughout the Shenandoah valley. The church plant in Elkton is one such church. Together we are a family of churches. Our churches enjoy dual ecclesial membership within the Anglican Church North America (ACNA) as well as Province de l Eglise Anglicane au Rwanda (PEAR). Faith We are committed to an understanding of the gospel that brings God s renewal of all things, including personal, societal, and cultural, as well as creation itself, through Jesus Christ, the risen King. Adopting a mere Christianity approach, we separate our distinctives from the essentials of our faith, giving priority to the beliefs and practices that unite all Christians. As Anglicans, we place special emphasis on the reading and study of God s Word. The Bible shapes our imaginations, worship, values, practices and common life. We love to see God work in people and institutions. While we have modest expectations of our own abilities, we have enormous expectations for what the Lord will do. Mission God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6). We believe in the transforming power of the gospel for a particular place, through Christians loving their neighbors, proclaiming God s Word, and engaging in spiritual warfare against the idols which enslave people. This community will know that we are Christians by our love. We believe that church plants should grow out of sustained missional presence in a community. We would rather plant ten parish churches of 250 people than one regional church of 2500, because small, healthy, parish churches can be deeply rooted in the warp and woof of their own communities, applying the whole gospel to the whole place in a manner relevant to a distinct place and particular people. We celebrate the unique spiritual heritage of Christians in the Global South, particularly through our brothers and sisters in the Church of Rwanda. We believe the Lord is at work in our own redemption and also in the redemption of the world. We long for that day when he makes all things new. Community and Collaboration We are programmatically simple and community-oriented. We avoid the professionalization of ministry by empowering our people to fully utilize their gifts to build up the Body of Christ. We believe that we are better together, so we place a high priority on partnership, serving the region as a family of churches, and seeking partnerships with other likeminded gospel-centered organizations. Though we are a family of churches, each individual church will have its own leadership and financial structures. Church of the Lamb, Prospectus, Rector p 4
The pastors in our churches will cultivate a common life together of prayer, worship, study, strategy and friendship, believing that this community will strengthen and equip each to serve more effectively. Worship We strive to balance rootedness and relevance, engaging contemporary culture through a historically-informed worship and perspective. We are liturgical and sacramental, practicing holistic Christian formation that involves the head, the heart, and the body, emphasizing imagination as well as information, and producing disciples with gospel-shaped desires. We do not practice liturgical worship in order to appear sophisticated. Rather, we believe that liturgy is a form of hospitality, enabling people from all walks of life to participate together in worship. We believe that liturgy is a valuable and important tool for discipleship, as what we say together in common prayer shapes what we believe and do as Christians. Ideal Applicant Has a seminary degree and at least some pastoral experience. Loves God s Word, studies it carefully, and is comfortable in the pulpit. Is a skilled pastor who will shepherd the church in love. Has a heart for evangelism and pushing the church outward. Has skill and a strong interest in discipleship beyond Sunday services. Is a mature theologian whose doctrine is consistent with that described in the Articles of Religion, thirty-nine in number, and the Jerusalem Declaration. Desires to know and be known by others. Is meek, warm, hospitable, flexible, and loyal. Loves to worship, has a robust devotional life, and takes prayer seriously. Enjoys and appreciates the Anglican tradition and is able to lead worship in it. Has some experience managing teams and volunteers. If single, has a high view of women and conducts himself in relationships with wisdom and integrity; if married, has a wife eager to engage the women of the church. Can love and understand this small rural community. Is willing to put down roots and remain here in this community as our pastor for the long-haul. Ministry Description Church Church of the Lamb, Elkton, Virginia Supervisors The Rt. Rev. Steven Breedlove, Bishop; The Rt. Rev. Quigg Lawrence, Assisting Bishop. Hours Full-time (Compensation is salaried and benefits are available) Church of the Lamb, Prospectus, Rector p 5
Primary Responsibilities: Leadership Consistently and regularly study the Scriptures, devote time to prayer, and provide spiritual direction. Lead the church s Parish Council, bearing responsibility for the church s execution of its vision and strategy. Meet regularly with the Rector s Warden. Lead regular events in the life of the church, including weekend and weeknight events, e.g., membership classes. Congregational Worship Preach and lead worship on Sunday and on retreats, holidays, weddings, and funerals. This may also include occasional ministry responsibilities at other services with our sister church(es) and church plants. Oversee the liturgies used for Sundays and special services with input from the Bishop. Discipleship, Evangelism, Community, and Pastoral Care Develop and oversee a regular schedule of teaching, evangelism, and discipleship opportunities for the congregation. Work to identify, disciple, and encourage those with teaching gifts within the congregation. Provide general pastoral counseling to church members and regular attenders. Provide pre-marital counseling for couples and perform weddings. Intentionally meet one-on-one with men at the church in discipling relationships. Seek to make your home a place of hospitality to church members, regular attenders, and those on the margins. Broader Church Duties Attend PEARUSA and ACNA conferences and meetings as directed by the Bishop. Actively participate in Atlantic Coast Network-Mt. Virginia Regional meetings. Develop relationships with local clergy from other evangelical traditions. Application Applicant Information In addition to providing your CV or resume, please list your 1) full name, 2) postal address, 3) telephone number, 4) current employer, and 5) three references we may contact regarding your suitability for employment. We will not contact your current employer without your permission. Discussion Questions Provide short answers (300 words or less) to the following questions. 1. Briefly narrate your spiritual autobiography. Make sure to describe: how you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, your baptism, and significant encounters or experiences with the Lord. If you have ever been disciplined or dismissed from a Christian congregation or denomination, please explain. 2. Briefly describe your current participation in public worship and exercise of spiritual disciplines. What role do the Scriptures play in your daily life? What about liturgical worship? What are your strategies for growth in Christ? Church of the Lamb, Prospectus, Rector p 6
3. Are you currently ordained? If so, in what tradition? If you are not ordained in the Anglican Communion, are you willing? Describe your experience serving under spiritual authority in the past. Have you ever been denied or removed from an ordination or credentialing process with another Christian congregation or denomination? If so, please explain. 4. Carefully read the (Thirty-Nine) Articles of Religion and the 2008 Jerusalem Declaration. List and explain any reservations or exceptions you may have with these documents. 5. Briefly describe your sense of calling, particularly as it relates to ordained ministry. How have previous ministry positions and others affirmed your sense of calling? Do you believe that you re especially wired for a particular pastoral role (e.g., church planting, evangelism, counseling, revitalization, senior pastor, etc.)? If you had unlimited time and resources, what would you do? 6. Please list and describe your previous pastoral, leadership, and work experience. Do you prefer working for/with a larger institution, smaller staff, or alone? How do other people perceive you in a work environment? Give an example of a challenging situation and how you ve handled it. 7. What experience do you have in working on a team? What roles do you prefer to play when working with a team? Why are you interested in working with our family of churches? 8. Where have you seen the Lord s favor and blessing in your ministry? 9. If you are married, please have your spouse respond to the following questions: Do you agree and support your spouse s sense of calling to ordained ministry? Are you of one mind and heart regarding your spouse s choice of our particular Christian tradition, that is Anglican Christianity? How have you prospered from your spouse s ministry? If you have children, how have your children prospered from your spouse s ministry? Church of the Lamb, Prospectus, Rector p 7