Announcing Our New Rector - the Reverend David Cumbie!

Dear Holy Cross Family,


On behalf of the Vestry, it gives me great pleasure to announce that we have called a new Rector! 

We discerned, and Bishop Edgar confirmed, that God has called the Reverend David Cumbie to be our new Rector. Reverend Cumbie accepted the Call. We anticipate he and his family will be here around the week of December 10th.  

Reverend Cumbie has been ordained for around 10 years and has been Rector of the Church of the Apostles in Houston, TX for the past 6 years.  

If you look at the description of the type of Rector we were praying for in the Parish Profile, David is clearly who God wanted for us. David is a servant leader who will shepherd and lead Holy Cross with love and in step with the Holy Spirit. He and his family want to develop deep roots in the community and be here for the long haul. He has a background not only in small group ministry but also has developed children and adult education programs. He feels that discipleship is not just through small groups but also through education classes.

Reverend Cumbie asked us to share the attached letter (see below).

The Search Committee and the Vestry would like to express our gratitude for all of the prayers and support you have given us during this search process. Please continue to pray for the Cumbies and the Church during this time of transition.   


Thank you,

Your Brother in Christ,

Darren Hartford

Senior Warden, Church of the Holy Cross

Read the Letter

Updates

This is where you can find recent updates from the Rector Search Committee. Click the button below for which update you'd like to read. 

February 5 February 23 March 30 April 27 June 11 Meeting July 28 August 18 September 7 October 19

The Process

Step 1: Vestry meets with Bishop. Appoints Search Committee and approves the Search Process.

Completed January 3, 2023

Step 2: Search Committee begins meeting weekly to pray, set goals, objectives, assign roles, and determine next steps.

Start January 10, 2023; Ongoing

Step 3: Congregation Input/Feedback. This will be done initially through a Parish Survey containing about 40 questions available online and hard copy during the month of February.

Start February 5; Ongoing


Step 3.2: Listening Sundays to begin shortly after the survey’s completion. These roundtable discussions will be held after church on Sundays.

Start March 26, 2023.

Step 4: Parish Profile is created to describe the congregation – our history, location, demographics, membership, finances, traditions, strengths and weaknesses. It will also include the rector attributes we are seeking, and the direction we feel the Holy Spirit wants us to go. The Parish Survey and Listening Sundays’ information are strong source documents for the profile.

Roughly April/May

Step 5: Nominations, Reference Checks, and Interviews: The Parish Profile is used to match persons to the open position. It is given to all potential candidates to acquaint them with the parish and position. Nominations are received from the congregation, the Bishop, and other available avenues. All nominations are given to the Bishop to screen. The Parish Profile is sent to all initial nominees. Next, a survey-style questionnaire is the first step of the interview process, followed by calls and zoom meetings all of which the purpose is to gather information about the candidates.

Roughly June/July.

Step 5.2: A select few candidates (5 or less) will present as semi-finalists. The Search Committee will then arrange for field visits to observe the candidates at their present churches. When the list has been narrowed to 2 or 3, we will invite them for on-site interviews.

Roughly July/August.

Step 6: We trust at this time, that the Lord will unite us to a consensus on who to recommend to the Vestry. The Vestry prayerfully considers and recommends to the Bishop. The Bishop calls the candidate.

Roughly August/Sept.

Step 7: The candidate takes some time off and then begins as the new Rector of the Church of the Holy Cross.

Roughly Fall.

Our posture before the Lord

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

Our Parish Profile

Learn about who we are and who God is calling us to be. 


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