Rector’s Position Description
Preface: The rector in an Episcopal Church occupies a unique position being, at one and the same time, an employee, the Chair of the Vestry, a colleague in ministry with all the baptized, and the pastor with responsibility for the spiritual well-being of all the members of the parish. The rector also shares the responsibility with the bishop for the ministry of the Episcopal Church in the parish. The rector is expected to spend some portion of his or her time participating in the life of the diocese. Finally, the rector is a priest. A priest’s primary function is to reveal the presence of God and to remind the community of the priesthood of all believers.
The work of the rector is governed by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. The liturgical statement of a priest’s duties is found in the service for the Ordination of a Priest (BCP, 531).
As rector of the St. James Episcopal Church, the rector shall carry out his/her duties as outlined in the following job description:
There may be other duties, not outlined here, that fall to the rector in the normal course of parish life.
As Rector, he/she will have primary responsibility for worship according to the Book of Common Prayer. Included in this responsibility is worship for Sundays and Holy Days, including music. In addition, he/she will:
- Offer sermons each week based ordinarily on the lectionary readings for the day.
- Coordinate and supervise the work of all other participants in worship, including readers, lay eucharistic ministers, choirs, musicians and all others.
- Develop other worship opportunities and services appropriate.
- Encourage and utilize extensively the extraordinary musical talents and resources of St. James in worship and the community
- Spend regular time in prayer and study of the Bible.
- Extend the Grace of the Church to all persons regardless of ethnicity, age or sexual orientation.
He/she will serve as chief steward and administrator of the assets and ministry of the Church. His/her responsibilities include:
- Care and use of the property of the parish, especially its buildings.
- Management of the parish’s assets and finances, in consultation with the Vestry.
- Encouragement of good stewardship on the part of members of the parish, including the making of wills and the giving of gifts to the church and upholding the tithe as the standard of giving for the church.
- Supervision of other staff persons and making staff contracts with the Vestry.
- Oversight of the administration of the life of the church, in consultation with the Vestry. He/she will prepare for and chair Vestry meetings.
- Support of the Vestry in its work of developing the program of the parish.
- Recruitment, training, oversight and management of the lay leadership of the parish, in consultation with the Vestry.
- Stewardship of his/her personal time and energy, including regular days off and vacations.
- Create, oversee and implement Building Fund Campaigns for retiring the existing debt on Church property.
He/she will be responsible for overseeing Christian education and formation in the parish.
He/she will:
- Teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ by word and example.
- Oversee Christian Education in the parish, including education for young people and adults.
- Oversee preparation for baptism, confirmation, reaffirmation and reception.
- Develop other educational opportunities as appropriate.
- Promote training programs and opportunities that support and enhance the leadership abilities of the congregation.
- Participate in continuing education programs for his/her own growth and development as appropriate.
He/she will assist the parish in reaching out to and welcoming members of the larger community into the Church. He/she will:
- Model the hospitality of Christ by welcoming all sorts and conditions of persons into the church.
- Encourage the development of ministries of hospitality.
- Equip the laity to proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ.
As Rector, he/she is the chief pastor of the parish. He/she will:
- Oversee the care of individuals and families in joy and sorrow.
- Offer pastoral care in relation to birth, marriage, and death.
- Make referrals for counseling and other services.
- Equip the laity for extending pastoral care to one another.
- Offer spiritual counsel and guidance for members in the parish.
- Model good self-care by managing his/her times of work and rest and giving adequate time and support to his/her family.
- Tend to the quality of his/her own spiritual life through retreats, days of refreshment, spiritual direction, and other appropriate means.
- Participate in clergy support groups as appropriate.
He/she will encourage the Church to serve the larger community. He/she will:
- Model concern and care for the needs of the world.
- Assist in the development of ministries of service to the wider community.
- Open the building for use by the larger community.
- Take his/her share in the life and ministry of the diocese of Texas.
He/she will encourage and enable St. James Episcopal Church as an inclusive and multicultural community. These responsibilities include:
- Participating, regularly, in continuing education relating to leadership of a multi-cultural parish.
- Furthering the mission of St. James Episcopal Church by demonstrating credibility with the National Church UBE, the Diocese of Texas and the City of Austin in general and East Austin in specific.
- Furthering St. James Episcopal Church as a caring, joyful community by homily and music, especially by use of the LEVAS.
- Observing and celebrating the feast days commemorating Absalom Jones, Dr. Martin Luther King, the founding of St. James Episcopal Church, Dia de Los Muertos and other feast days important to the congregation.