God is in Charge: Reflections on Leadership and Community at Saint Mary’s
By The Rev. Jane Milliken Hague, Interim Priest in Charge
My official title at Saint Mary’s is Interim Priest in Charge. The acronym spells IPIC, which sounds like the latest software update or a disease. The title is really a misnomer because in the Episcopal Church, the rector/ priest is not in charge! Better yet, during a transition the Interim is even less so. Most importantly, we always need to remember that God is in charge, and our work is to follow the Ho-ly Spirit as she guides us. Our work as a church is to create a scaffolding that runs our little church in the most responsible ways.
When the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (PECUSA) was established in 1785, we had just formed a government independ-ent of England. The national ideals that are stated in the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Constitution were reflected in the by-laws of the new Church. We had to cre-ate a church that was separate from the Anglican Church in England because the prayers in our Prayer Book prayed for the king or queen. Most Anglican priests in America returned home to Britain during the Revolutionary War because they were loyal to the monarchy. New country, new church, new clerics.
The title of the new church in America began intentionally with the word protestant. That is our democratic ideals speaking. Our protestant wing does believe that the community has the power and responsibilities to run the church. The emphasis reminds us that the congregation is responsible for the management of each church, and the Wardens and Vestry are chosen from the congregation to serve as leaders. The term protestant also reminds the priest in charge that they cannot make decisions without the consensus of the parish. That brings such comfort to me as a parish priest and especially as an interim. We are in this together!
This brief history lesson is to remind you how important it is for you to attend the Saint Mary’s Annual Meeting on January 26 at 10:30. Please mark your calendars now. The Treasurer will present the 2025 budget, the Discernment Committee will give an update on its work, and we will also hear from the Foundation 135 Steering Committee on the progress of that campaign. It is especially important in a transition that all voices are heard so please come. We are in this together.