A Note from Sue Carter, Senior Warden

Holy Cow! The Holy Cow Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) survey you recently participated in provided the Profile Team and the Vestry with some interesting information to consider in our search for a new rector. In case you missed the information provided by Vestry member Diane Ohan at the Town Hall meeting on Sunday, October 6, here is a brief summary.

We learned that our top three priorities are:

  • Growth – Holy Comforter members desire to make necessary changes to attract families with children and youth.

  • Growth – Members want to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reach new people and incorporate them into the life of the church.

  • Education – Members desire the provision of more opportunities for Christian Education and spiritual formation at every age and stage of life.

Emily Swanson, the owner and president of Holy Cow! Consulting, and Holy Comforter’s consultant, noted during a Zoom meeting with the Vestry and Profile Team last month that every church wants to grow. Flexibility, adaptability, and healthy systems are important components in growth.

The survey also informed us that Holy Comforter is what they term a "Paraclete Culture." This fascinates me, as coincidentally, paraclete is the Greek word for comforter. Information regarding a Paraclete Culture will be discussed in next week’s E-News article.

Previously…

Our meetings for Holy Conversation questions are now completed and we have held a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the results of the Holy Cow survey.

We welcomed Co-interim Rectors for the first time Sunday, September 1, 9:30am. The Rev. Canon Lucy Amerman & the Rev. Jackson Haas, Co-Interims and married couple, will be our interim rectors. Lucy was an attorney prior to being ordained as an Episcopal priest. She has served as the Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Colorado. (A Canon to the Ordinary is an assistant to the Bishop). Jackson is a retired Lutheran (ELCA) pastor. He has been trained as a mediator, and has served as a hospice and hospital chaplain.

Special thanks to our retired clergy: The Reverend Charlie Piper, The Reverend Linda Piper, The Reverend Cass Strotheide, and The Reverend Kelsey Hogue for their faithful sharing of their gifts these past months. We are blessed to have you with us, and we are grateful for all you do.

The CAT (Church Assessment Tool) by Holy Cow! Consulting was sent to those on our email list who actively participate in the life of Holy Comforter, including some who are here part-time or are with us from home-bound spaces. The survey window closed on August 22, 2024. We had 150 parishioners take the Holy Cow! Survey in the month of August! We are told that is a very good response. Thank you, Holy Comforter!

The Profile Team members will categorize, sort and digest the information that they receive to tell our story – who we are, what we believe, and how we live out our lives as members of the body of Christ worshiping in Broomfield, CO. That story will become our profile, which is one of the first pieces of information that a priest reviews when looking for a potential new parish. Please stay tuned, and watch this space as updates and new information are received and published weekly.

The Vestry has called a married couple, the Rev. Canon Lucy Amerman and the Rev. Jackson Haas, to serve as co-interim rectors at Holy Comforter beginning September 1, 2024.

Remember to read your “playbills” (the weekly Enews and Sunday bulletin) to stay apprised of the latest developments in the acts/stages involved in our search process.  Please reach out to any member of the Vestry or myself to ask questions. warden@holycomforterchurch.net

 Here is the Vestry Senior Warden’s most recent letter to the congregation.