The Process

Prepare

When a Rector announces that they are leaving, it is important that the vestry make sure the parish will be taken care of in the interim and a group of diverse, thoughtful and objective members are formed to lead the process of selecting a new rector.

Meet our Interim Rector, the Rev’d Darby O. Everhard, who joined us All Saints Sunday in 2020

Meet our Search Committee

Discern - See the new summary of the Parish Survey

It is the desire and responsibility of the Search Committee to gather information on the desires and concerns of the members and staff of St. Mary’s. They look not only at where we have been as a parish, but where we are going. These insights give the Search Committee the tools to build a profile of the person desired and needed to guide St. Mary’s.

✓ Self Study

✓ Parish Survey (click to download)

✓ Staff Survey

✓ Group Meetings

✓ Results

✓ Congregational Ministry Portfolio (click to download)

✓ Position Posted. Saint Mary’s is accepting applications through June 1.

Receive

During this time we are quiet.

Potential candidates are learning what St. Mary’s is looking for in a rector and discerning for themselves if they feel they possess the talents required and are called by God to apply for this position. We wait while God prepares our candidates.

Receiving Applications

Evaluate

You may not hear much from the Search Committee while they are prayerfully evaluating applications and speaking with candidates. This process is very intense and may take some time. Please understand that this is a confidential process and the Search Committee cannot share specific details of the candidates, and trust they are working hard to find a great rector for St. Mary’s.

Review Applications

Phone Interviews

In-Person Interviews

Site Visits

Select

When the Search Committee has selected their candidate, they present the candidate to the Vestry for approval. Concurrently, the candidate will be interviewed and approved by the Bishop.

Candidate Presented to Vestry

Interview with the Bishop

Call

When the Vestry and Bishop approve the candidate, the Vestry will make a call to the candidate. The candidate reviews the call and accepts or declines the offer. If the call is declined, the Search Committee reconvenes and repeats the selection process. If the call is accepted, an announcement is made to the members of the St. Mary’s.

Call made to the final candidate

Accept the Call

Announce

Father Rob Travis has accepted the call to join St. Mary’s as our new Rector.

Born in Waynesville, NC, he is a cradle Episcopalian and son of an Episcopal priest. He and his wife, Leah Franklin, joined families in 2019 with Leah bringing four grown sons and Rob bringing his three, Evan, Simon, and Jack. They are the loves of his life, and he learns more about God from them than from just about anyone else.

Fr. Rob’s professional passions are Missions and Contemplative Prayer, and he loves to teach and serve Children of God of all ages. He plays cello, enjoys making pottery, swimming, and being outdoors. He loves pets and misses his dog and chickens, who he recently lost.

First serving as a youth minister in Long Island, NY, he was ordained in 2006. He led churches in Florida, Tennessee, and Rhode Island before deciding to come to High Point. We’re looking forward to celebrating his arrival and welcoming him into our community.

Celebrate

We are looking forward to many opportunties to celebrate Fr. Rob’s arrival, and hope everyone will join us for his first Sunday in worship, November 14!