When is Dave’s last service?
Sunday, July 29th will be the last service that Dave and Pat are with us.
Why are Dave and Pat leaving us?
The Church of England has a strict policy of insisting that all vicars retire at age seventy.
Will we be celebrating Dave and Pat’s eighteen years (plus) time at St Luke’s?
Yes, there is an all age party taking place at St Luke’s on the evening of Friday 6th July which will also be Dave and Pat’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration.
Get tickets here: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Who will be our vicar after July 29th?
Over the next 6-9 months we will embrace the church of England process of recruiting a new vicar.
This is called an interregnum or vacancy.
We have planned for a variety of speakers coming to St Luke’s who will be delivering talks loosely themed on introducing us to characters from the bible.
The Eucharist will also be celebrated every week with a variety of visiting clergy and our own Richard Burridge and Martin Wroe.
Weddings and funerals will be arranged through the diocese and we also have access to pastoral care through the archdeacon.
Who’s keeping the show on the road during the interregnum?
The PCC appointed a small steering group to help lead St Luke’s in the period when we have no vicar.
The Vacancy Steering Group meets every couple of weeks to follow through on PCC decisions and help manage any day-to-day issues which arise.
This group also helps inform/respond to the work of the new Parish Administrator.
The members are made up of Joy Hinson, Lay PCC Chair, Susie Holland and Dean Willars the two church wardens, Martin Wroe, Associate Vicar and two PCC members Jif Thomson and Sarah Rowe.
Who is doing church admin once Pat leaves?
Tina Cooney started work a month ago learning the ropes.
You can find her through the door just beside the organ working with Lucy Blair (booking person) in the church office.
She is in 4 mornings a week and can be telephoned on 0207 607 4892
You can email her on admin@saintlukeschurch.org.uk
How does the recruitment of a new vicar work?
The PCC and church wardens are working on a parish profile and a person spec to send out through a formal advertising process in conjunction with our patrons, the Church Pastoral Aid Society and the Bishop of Stepney.
This process will start in September giving us time to consider assess what St Lukes is all about without Dave.
We have a target interview date for prospective new vicars in mid January.
If all goes well and we find the right candidate, then we could have a new vicar starting at St Luke’s next April or May.
If the first round of interviews does not result in a suitable candidate, then the process will continue until the right person is found.
What can I do to contribute to the (recruitment) process ?
There have been and will continue to be, meetings about the parish profile and a person spec.
Right up to it’s publication date around the end of October 2018.
These are the most important documents in attracting a new vicar as they describe who we feel we are and were we think we are going.
If you have something you particularly want to draw our attention to, please do approach a member of the PCC.
What if I still have questions?
Speak to any of the PCC or church wardens for an update or clarification.
Please pray that this process runs smoothly and is fruitful.
