The Crossing @ St. Paul’s Cathedral
138 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
July 24, 2013
The Crossing, a worshiping community at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston, is ready to welcome a new half-time
minister to be a pastor to our community. This represents a new phase of our life together, following the
departure of our founder and a year of discernment in community.
We are an emergent Christian community, rooted at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in the heart of downtown
Boston. Now in our seventh year, The Crossing is committed to embodying a fresh expression of authentic
community, serious discipleship, radical welcome, and contextual worship. We welcome everyone on a journey
that leads to our mutual transformation into the fullness of Jesus Christ, the church’s transformation into a body
that shares the fearless love of God, and the world’s transformation into the kingdom of God.
Our congregation is a diverse one, founded and led mostly by people in their 20s and 30s and welcoming those of
all ages, cultures, classes, races, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. We find God
expressed in the entire breadth of Christian tradition and church experience: charismatic, liturgical, evangelical,
orthodox, skeptic, and seeking. We hope to create a community where disparate worlds come together and new
life – a new church – is born.
Together we govern ourselves, baptize and welcome people into our Christian life, and raise much of our funding
from our own members and partners. We are also grateful to partner with our Cathedral family that shares space
and financial support with us; and with the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, which provides significant
funding, shares our mission, and welcomes us to share wisdom that helps to transform the whole church.
A full description of the half-time Priest & Lead Organizer position is attached and more information about our
community can be found at www.thecrossingboston.org. If you believe that your calling draws you to walk
forward with us, we welcome hearing from you. To help us get to know you, please send the following materials
to our committee:
1. A letter expressing your interest in the position & addressing the following 4 questions:
● What is your vision of the church in the 21 st century?
● What is the “good news of Jesus” at this moment?
● Describe your leadership style. Tell a story of a specific situation that illustrates your leadership (if
possible, highlight experiences serving in leadership among young adults).
● Tell a story about a time when you have experienced transformative community and felt something
change in you and in the people around you. What did it feel, look and sound like? How would you
facilitate and build such a community for others?
2. A Résumé or CV
3. An audio or video recording of a recent sermon (if possible)
ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SHOULD BE SENT VIA EMAIL TO : [email protected]
The Crossing @ St. Paul’s Cathedral
138 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
We will begin reviewing materials as soon as they are received and will continue accepting applications
until the position is filled. If you would like to speak with a member of the Crossing Search Committee before
responding in writing to our call, please e-mail [email protected] with your contact
information and a good time to reach you.
Thank you for considering this invitation. If you know others who may be interested in, and well suited to, this
ministry, we would appreciate your recommendations.
On behalf of the community,
The Crossing Search Committee
[email protected]
The Crossing Priest Search Committee:
Tom Marsan
Isaac Martinez
Mary Beth Mills-Curran
Penny Wilhelm
Job Description
Priest & Lead Organizer
As we enter the next stage in our community’s life, we seek a spiritually grounded Episcopal priest to serve
as half-time Priest, Lead Organizer, and primary pastor. Because we believe every member of The Crossing is
leader and minister, a priest in our midst should be…
a passionate lover of God and community who helps nurture our relationships with Jesus, with each
other, and with our truest selves
● an embodied, prayerful person who helps to lead worship with authenticity and creativity, particularly
our weekly Eucharistic celebration
● an organizer who gathers and nurtures strong teams of leaders and builds relationships of mutual
empowerment in our congregation and beyond our doors
● an experienced leader with a background in growing and sustaining communities, setting and meeting
goals, and building organizational/financial capacity
● a listener and mentor who discovers and nurtures gifts, especially among new leaders
● a reconciler who seeks justice and mutual relationship with groups often not celebrated in the church
(including children, young adults, people of color, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender people, poor,
homeless)
● a bridge-builder who can help us to link worlds: institutional church and emergent communities
(artists, schools, civil groups, etc.), the faithful and doubters, and more
● a teacher excited to share our community’s wisdom with partners in the church and beyond
● a humble, generous person who isn’t afraid to get her/his hands dirty and leads with love
As community that believes in shared leadership and mutual engagement, our Priest / Lead Organizer has a
diverse set of responsibilities, including:
●
General:
Prayer
•
Pray for members of the congregation is personal prayer and in meetings with members
•
Nurture private prayer life
Leadership Development
•
Gather and nurture the Council (facilitate or arrange facilitation of meetings, initiate scheduling
of meetings, manage generation of agenda, host or arrange host for meetings)
•
Recruit leaders for Worship and Mission Circles
•
Arrange trainings for Crossing leaders, as needed
•
Recruit and supervise interns from area seminaries and intern programs, procure training as a
field supervisor, manage relationship with area schools/seminaries/intern programs
Fundraising
•
Present case for funding to Diocesan and Cathedral committees in spring, meet with Diocesan
and Cathedral leaders to ensure support for the Crossing
Worship:
Worship Leadership
•
Lead exuberant worship, “read” and respond to energy at worship
•
Craft and offer Eucharistic prayer and blessing
•
Assist with song selection, especially re: inclusive language, “the groove,” and accessible yet
traditional songs
•
Assist with set-up and clean-up, being certain all items are in place, lighting levels are
appropriate, name-tags and worship sheets are in place, signage is in front of church and in the
entryway; also help to ensure all items return to their place and that sanctuary is clean before
departing church for the night
Hospitality
•
Offer radically welcoming presence, noticing people on margins of community
•
Manage crises in worship hospitality
Job Description
Priest & Lead Organizer
Post-Worship
•
Lead organization of post-worship offerings (help to identify topics/programs, recruit leaders)
•
Help to herd people for post-worship gatherings
Community:
General Community
•
Do 1:1s with newcomers or other community members
•
Manage community energy, noticing general drops or spikes in energy/mood
•
Help to keep people connected in healthy ways, including doing interventions when personal
and/or interpersonal crises emerge
Small Groups
•
Manage small groups (gather ideas for groups, recruit and train facilitators, manage and
encourage community sign-ups)
Pastoral Care & Spiritual Formation
•
Serve as first-call for community's pastoral care and spiritual direction
•
Nurture and train Pastoral Listeners
•
Nurture and train Spiritual Formation team
•
Assist with planning retreats
Mission:
Advocacy
•
Provide strong, priestly presence at mission-related events (e.g. Waltham House, Occupy
Boston, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Queer Youth and Allies Retreat, Pride Parade)
Support Mission Circle
•
Advise on engagement with entire Crossing community and ties to Crossing Mission
•
Help with discernment process to determine community concerns, passions, and gifts
•
Help to identify and organize members for evangelism opportunities in surrounding area
“Groovement”
•
Help organize Crossing teams to lead teachings, trainings, Worship Learning parties, locally
and nationally
contact: [email protected]