GRACE-ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 2017 PARISH PROFILE
AT THE CORNER OF PEABODY AVENUE & BELVEDERE BOULEVARD IN MEMPHIS, in the shade of the towering 100-year-old oaks of the city’s historic Central Gardens neighborhood, you’ll find the story of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The first chapter opens in a rented room in 1850s Memphis, and subsequent stories include a pre-war merger, a reign as the largest Episcopal parish in the state of Tennessee, and the establishment of an exceptional school. The tale leads to the present day, where you’ll find a parish that is vibrant, open-armed, and growing — a diverse family of Christians who relish the sustenance of a rich worship experience, and who treasure the programs that comprise their community of faith. You’ll find new programs, new faces, and a growing excitement about what’s possible. The end of this story is, in fact, a beginning. The family of faith in this cherished place has seen a lot in its more than 150 years, but is most excited about what the future holds.
PART ONE: OUR PROLOGUE
The story begins more than 150 years ago. Grace Church — the first part of our hyphenated name — was founded in 1852 as a mission of Memphis’ first Episcopal church, Calvary Church. Grace’s early days passed in rented space over an oyster saloon and billiard parlor downtown, but soon the little mission began to grow. By 1870, it was the largest Episcopal church in Memphis with 260 communicants, and by 1900, the church had begun a beautiful new downtown building, adorned with a stained glass window made by Tiffany and Co. and installed under the direction of Louis Tiffany himself.
The combined parish grew and soon laid the groundwork for a new school. Grace-St. Luke’s School was founded — as a kindergarten only — in 1947, but the little school grew. By 1959, it included the six elementary grades and was put on a firm foundation with its charter as an independent parish school. A new, dedicated building was ready for the 1960-61 school year.
The history of St. Luke’s Church — the second part of our hyphenated name — began in the bustling Memphis streetcar suburb of Idlewild in 1894. By 1912, the east end suburbs of Memphis had been incorporated into the burgeoning city, and St. Luke’s Church broke ground on a new building at the corner of Peabody and Lemaster to accommodate the new parishioners. As the first half of the 20th century progressed, however, both churches experienced significant transitions. Grace saw the bulk of its parishioners leave downtown, decided to sell its building, and by the late 30s was in search of a new home. St. Luke’s had its new building in the heart of pre-war residential Memphis but, by the late 30s, was experiencing declining membership and financial instability. A combination of the two parishes could strengthen both, and Bishop James Maxon led them through a merger. The first service of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was held on Thanksgiving Day, 1940.
In 1962, the parish called the Rev. C. Brinkley Morton to serve as rector, and Father Morton presided over a growth from about 500 communicants to more than 1,800 when he left in 1974. Grace-St. Luke’s had become the largest Episcopal parish in the state of Tennessee. The parish’s momentum lasted well beyond the departure of Father Morton. The Rev. Bill Trimble, called in 1975, infused a fresh “outward” focus that proved vital during the national church’s struggles with a new prayer book and the ordination of women. Father Trimble inspired and led the parish through the adoption of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, and one of Grace-St. Luke’s own, the Rev. Anne Carriere, would become the first woman ordained in the Episcopal Church in Tennessee during his tenure.
By the mid-1970s, Grace-St. Luke's had become the largest Episcopal parish in the state of Tennessee.
By the early 1980s, Grace-St. Luke’s was experiencing strength and vitality, and the parish had gained its reputation for welcoming worshipers across the ideological spectrum. The music program also grew exponentially in this time. From new children’s choirs to the development of a Sunday-morning music experience unsurpassed in the region, Grace-St. Luke’s established its reputation (still enjoyed today) for glorious music. The school was growing, too. Though independent from the parish, Grace-St. Luke’s School was a big part of the church’s internal life and image in the community. However, the parish soon encountered rough waters. When Father Trimble divorced his wife to marry one of his parishioners and resigned his rectorship in 1985, the parish was shaken. The parish would make three calls in the next decade and a half. It was a period of turbulence and often of sadness, as the parish wrestled with divisive debate and struggling leaders, culminating in 2007, when deep divisions led to the stepping down of the Rev. John Moloney. Father Moloney was then diagnosed with cancer and died in a matter of months. He is interred in the church’s columbarium. After Father Moloney’s departure, Grace-St. Luke’s took a deep, collective, organizational breath. The vestry worked with Bishop Don Johnson to establish an intentional interim period in which the parish turned its sights from “a way back” to a path forward. The parish cleaned its rolls, ensuring that communicant information was accurate. Tireless volunteer committees redesigned financial governance, implemented new budgeting models, and undertook an overhaul of human resources policy. And most importantly, the parish collectively and transparently assessed its history over the prior decades, bringing out into the open the stories and patterns of its recent past.
In 2009, the parish was ready to move forward and called the Rev. Richard Lawson, a dynamic young priest with strengths in both ministry and leadership. As programs expanded and the Sunday morning experience flourished, membership grew. Some wayward parishioners returned. Visitors abounded. Two major building projects resulted in renovations throughout the entire physical plant without the necessity of a capital campaign. The parish achieved a new level of financial stability not experienced since those days back in the early 1980s. So, the parish was not surprised to learn in 2017 that Father Lawson had been called to an exciting new position as Dean of one of the largest cathedrals in the country.
Today, Grace-St. Luke’s is in a period of optimism, creativity, and strength. We are excited about what our faith will make possible next.
PART TWO: OUR PARISH In our worship, in our fellowship, in our ministries, and in our management, Grace-St. Luke’s is striving for a continued recognition of God as Emmanuel — the profoundly comforting, stirring, troubling, and strengthening mystery of “God with us.”
Worship Our congregation is Eucharistically centered and appreciates the use of liturgical vestments, vergers, acolytes, lay readers and chalice bearers, and a vested choir. Our 10:30 Sunday service, which includes a full choir and procession, is our most attended service. It is the service in which Grace-St. Luke’s cherished music ministry shines most brightly. Our 8:00 and 5:30 services offer a quieter and more contemplative setting, where a smaller group of congregants typically gathers in the nave at 8:00 and in the chancel area at 5:30. All three services currently use the Rite Two liturgy, though historically the 8:00 service has used Rite One.
Membership Following a decade of declines, recent years show healthy membership and attendance.
SUNDAYS AT GSL 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Sermon 8:40 a.m. Breakfast (served by GSL's Crossmen) 9:30 a.m. Rector’s Forum and Christian Formation Classes (September-May) 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Sermon 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Sermon
Our Parish By the Numbers Age Distribution Like many mainline churches in the 21st century, our largest single age group includes Baby Boomers in their 60's. However, our membership also includes a healthy, and growing, number of young families with children.
0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90-99
Neighborhood Location Our communicants come from more than 40 zip codes, but many consider Grace-St. Luke's to be a neighborhood church, with 41% of parishioners living in the 38104 zip code where the church is located. Over 75% come from the areas typically associated with Midtown and East Memphis.
Staff Clergy Two Interim Priests Curate (two-year diocesan appointment began June 2016)
Lay Staff Activities and Athletics Director Assistant for Membership Assistant Nursery Director (part-time) Children's Education Director Communications Administrator Development Officer (part-time) Financial Assistant (part-time) Interim Youth Minister Music Associate (part-time) Organist/Choirmaster Parish Administrator Pastoral Care Coordinator (part-time) Sexton Youth Intern (part-time)
Budget Our budget reveals a healthy financial position and a strong endowment. As a parish, we are committed to financial transparency and conservative financial practices.
Inclusion
Worship and Music Ministries
Grace-St. Luke’s strong commitment to inclusion dates back at least thirty years to our pioneering stance on the ordination of women, yet the parish remains ideologically and theologically diverse.
The Sunday worship experience is a — if not the — vital ministry for many Grace-St. Luke’s parishioners. And our worship experience is made possible by many who choose to make this ministry part of their commitment to their parish. Acolytes, lay readers, and altar guild members are just a few of those who provide the gifts that magnify the worship experience.
More recently, the parish and vestry made another strong and visible commitment to inclusion with the ratication of the following parish inclusion statement: We seek to serve God and our neighbor by welcoming into Grace-St. Luke’s parish all people who seek to love God and participate in an open and supportive community based upon the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. Honoring the vows of our Baptismal Covenant, we respect the dignity of every human person by welcoming and afrming all. We seek to become more fully loving and inclusive. We welcome all who wish to join us in this journey.
Our parish’s music program is treasured by many in the parish. The Chancel Choir, with more than 40 members, rehearses twice a week and is responsible for vocal leadership during the 10:30 Eucharist and other special services throughout the year. The St. Cecelia Choir is composed of children in senior kindergarten through second grade and the Canterbury Choir is made up of children in grades three through six. Perhaps inspired by the beauty of our sanctuary, our parish has often sought opportunities to integrate art and music within our worship services and sacred space. Our music ministry is frequently mentioned as one of our greatest strengths, and highly anticipated performances, both religious and secular, take place throughout the year. The relationship between aesthetics and worship remains an important connection for many parishioners.
A FEW OF GRACE-ST. LUKE’S WORSHIP AND MUSIC MINISTRIES: Acolytes • Guest Musicians • Altar Guild Lay Eucharistic Ministers • Chalice Bearers Lay Readers • Chancel Choir • Ushers Children’s Choirs • Vergers
Christian Education and Formation Ministries As living members of the Body of Christ, we are called to search for and deepen our faith. The Rector’s Forum on Sundays provides an opportunity for faith development for our adult parishioners and a large number of visitors who are attracted to this thoughtful and creative class. It is designed with an eye toward encouraging everyone to make meaningful connections between scripture and the daily grind of ordinary life. Recent themes have ranged from the relationship between cinema, art, and music and the divine, to contemporary issues including theological perspectives on war, racial reconciliation, and social justice. Small group classes of limited duration are offered at different times of the year, and our recent survey data indicated a desire for additional programming of this type. A mid-day, mid-week book group meets monthly. There is also an active Education for Ministry (EFM) program at Grace-St. Luke’s that operates under the auspices of the University of the South at Sewanee. The Christian education program for the children and youth of our parish begins with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for young children through third grade and continues with a variety of classes for older children and youth. Confirmation classes for youth in grades 9-12 are generally held in the fall and culminate with confirmation during the bishop’s annual visit, generally in November of each year.
Parish Life Ministries One of Grace-St. Luke’s key ministry segments is parish life programming, which cultivates fellowship in Christ outside of formal Sunday worship. There are numerous fellowship groups, including Third Thursday Dinner Group (empty nesters), 20-30@GSL (young adults), First Friday Fellowship (newcomers and young families), 39ers (seniors), and the Bazaar Ladies (sewing group). Other parish life ministries include recreational sports (parish-sponsored teams for children that include t-ball, baseball, softball, basketball, football, and soccer with more than 350 current participants from the church, school, and community). The broad category of parish life ministries also includes our annual Exodus (Parish Retreat) Weekend, Women’s Retreat, Supper Clubs, and our scouting programs for boys and girls. GSL’s Boy Scout Troop 34 is the oldest continuously chartered troop in the city.
Every man of the parish is a member of the Grace-St. Luke’s Crossmen by denition, and the group holds an annual men’s retreat each year. The Crossmen nd additional spirited fellowship in the preparation of breakfast for the parish each Sunday morning between the 8 o’clock service and the Sunday school hour. Some of the best attended of Grace-St. Luke’s parish life programs are the frequent celebrations crafted by the Grace-St. Luke’s Fellowship Committee for the entire parish family, including the popular lunches and receptions held at various times throughout the year and special events like GSL Night at the Levitt Shell, an outdoor music venue in nearby Overton Park.
A FEW OF GRACE-ST. LUKE'S PARISH LIFE PROGRAMS: Crossmen • EYC • 20-30@GSL First Friday Fellowship • Supper Clubs Exodus Parish Retreat • Bazaar Ladies Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 39ers • Third Thursdays Welcomers/Greeters
Overall, Grace-St. Luke’s is a warm community and we enthusiastically embrace opportunities to gather together, nd connections with one another, and grow spiritually and intellectually.
Pastoral Care Ministries An important ministry of the parish is care of those in our midst in need of a pastoral care touch, whether it is a prayer, a visit, a meal, cards, altar flowers, communion, or a listening ear. Four teams of dedicated volunteers are committed to making confidential, compassionate, consistent, and caring touches to those who are grieving, suffering, or celebrating. The team concept replaces the traditional model of one-on-one caring relationships and expands Pastoral Care into a truly corporate ministry in which one feels cared for by the greater parish family.
Community Service and Outreach Ministries The mission of the Outreach Committee is to help develop, coordinate, and promote opportunities for Grace-St. Luke’s parishioners to continue the work of Christ through actively serving the world in God’s name. This means using every means available to help parishioners understand the Gospel imperative to feed the hungry, clothe and shelter the needy, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned, as well as the Christian call to be an instrument of healing in our broken world. Locally, Grace-St. Luke’s strives to live into this mission in many ways, including More Than A Meal (MTAM), a weekly ministry offering Christian hospitality and a hot meal. This ministry involves 40 or more regular volunteers from GSL and many others from neighboring faith-based communities. The GSL Food Pantry is an on-site, hands-on ministry where volunteers pick up food, unload food, pack bags, and assist in food distribution. Another significant outreach program is our Gracebuilders program, formed in 2014 to pursue meaningful building projects in furtherance of our outreach mission. Globally, GSL supports the West Tennessee Haiti Partnership (WTHP) and Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) in addressing the needs of our brothers and sisters abroad. GSL also supports many community agencies for local ministries, both financially and with hands-on experiences. Our many partners in ministry include Church Health, the Exchange Club Family Center, and Outreach, Housing & Community. A complete listing of our community partners can be found on our website.
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: look favorably upon your whole church, but especially this Grace-St. Luke's family. Grant us perception, faithfulness, and joy, that we may hear your voice in all our deliberations. By the power of your Holy Spirit, stir up in us the desire and ability to truly hear each other and those whom we have entrusted with this process. Give us courage, we pray, to respond and act as you lead us in seeking a faithful pastor and teacher who will equip us for the work of ministry, that we may glorify your holy name, and by your mercy, obtain everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal School Sharing our corner is Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School, a vibrant, growing, age two-through-eighthgrade day school founded in 1947. It enjoys a reputation as a top-quality independent, coeducational school, providing a nurturing and childcentered environment. The headmaster, trustees, and faculty are committed to supporting in each child the love of learning, the awareness and appreciation of individual differences, the motivation toward personal achievement and success, and the knowledge and love of God that characterize an Episcopal education. The rector of Grace-St. Luke’s Church is a voting member of the school’s board of trustees (as is the senior warden) and has charge of worship services and the spiritual climate of the school. The rector serves as the school’s spiritual leader, providing direction, guidance, and a church presence within the school community. By bylaw, half of the school’s trustees are parishioners. The school’s headmaster, Thor Kvande, serves on the church’s executive committee. Of the families that comprise the 500+ student population, roughly 10% are also parishioners, and a total of 118 families self-identify as Episcopalian. Many others live in the surrounding neighborhood, and the sights and sounds of dozens of families walking their children to school each day adds to the “neighborhood” feel of the school. All students are actively involved in worship experiences at school. Children attend biweekly chapel services, and the presence of children adds to the lively, vibrant day-today atmosphere on the shared campus. All parents are invited to and included in special services, as Grace-St. Luke’s provides a kind of church home to even those families who are not ofcial members.
Grace-St. Luke’s is blessed with a church-school relationship that is positive, creative, and mutually enriching. The relationship between the rector and the headmaster is the single most powerful element in the evolution of this partnership. A 99-year agreement between the church and school was signed in 2007, setting forth in great detail the relationship between the two entities and assigning responsibility for various shared facilities.
The Diocese of West Tennessee The Episcopal Church was formally established in the State of Tennessee in 1834. In 1982 the western third of the state, between the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers, was separated from the Diocese of Tennessee to become the Diocese of West Tennessee. The diocese is small, both geographically and in terms of membership (about 12,500 baptized members). It includes 31 congregations, many of them located in the Memphis metropolitan area, and ranging in size from just a handful of parishioners to over 2,000 members. The diocese has a rich history of developing unique programs and facilities, including St. Columba Center (a diocesan conference and retreat center), Holy Currencies (a model for developing congregational new ministries created by the Kaleidoscope Institute (KI), part of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles), Special Friends Fellowship Club (a group comprised of several parishes to minister to the needs of adults with special needs) and The Haiti Partnership (an ecumenical ministry in service to St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Montrouis and St. Vincent’s Hospital and Orphanage in Port-au-Prince). Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Don E. Johnson, was consecrated in 2001, and is the third bishop of the Diocese of West Tennessee. Bishop Johnson is a native Tennessean and promotes missional and sustainable ministry development across the Diocese. On June, 15, 2017, Bishop Johnson announced he had contacted the Presiding Bishop asking him to set the date of the ordination of his successor. Bishop Johnson will continue to serve as Bishop Diocesan of West Tennessee into 2019. Additional information about the Bishop's transition can be found on the diocesan website at: http://episwtn.org/bishop-transition-and-searchcommittees-named/. Our parish of Grace-St. Luke’s participates actively in the programs of the diocese, with a number of our parishioners presently or having in the past served in important diocesan posts. Our youth are active in the Diocesan Youth Council and in programs for young people such as the Happening movement. Large nearby parishes include St. John’s, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Church of the Holy Communion, and Calvary.
A Classic Neighborhood in a Vibrant City Memphis is situated on the Mississippi River about halfway between St. Louis and New Orleans. The metropolitan statistical area encompasses three counties in the southwest corner of Tennessee, three counties in northern Mississippi, and one county in western Arkansas, and has a population of about 1.3 million. Our climate is best described as subtropical, but there are four distinct seasons, and Memphis is at her best in May and October. Memphis’ trees are numerous and glorious, and a view eastward from any tall downtown building reveals a green canopy stretching to the horizon. The city proper, with a population of about 660,000 (63% black, 32% white, 5% Latino) still retains many characteristics of an old southern town with a strong rural heritage and many thriving churches. Culturally, Memphis is a vibrant and diverse city with eclectic restaurants, a thriving arts scene, two ballet companies, a world-class zoo, more than 60 miles of running and cycling trails, and numerous galleries, shops, theaters, music venues, parks, libraries, shing spots, and golf courses. Sports fans enjoy cheering on our Memphis Grizzlies NBA team and our minor league Memphis Redbirds baseball team. Memphis is also home to a number of colleges and universities, including the University of Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and nationally recognized Rhodes College. With all of this to offer, it is not surprising that Forbes magazine recently included Memphis on its list of "Happiest Cities to Work in Right Now." Grace-St. Luke's is located in an old and gracious midtown Memphis neighborhood known as Central Gardens, which encompasses 83 city blocks, 511 acres, and about 1,500 houses. Central Gardens is designated a National Historic Preservation District, which protects the architectural integrity of the buildings and landscapes. Central Gardens' streets are lined with big trees and classic well-made houses, most dating from the late 1800s through the teens and twenties. Many of our parishioners live in Central Gardens or nearby neighborhoods, but many come from much farther.
PART THREE: A NEW CHAPTER “As we search for the beginning of the next chapter of Grace-St. Luke’s Church, we pray that God will grant us perception, faithfulness, and joy and that we may hear His voice in all our deliberations.” The search process that began in 2009 challenged us to be intentional and reflective. The end result led to growth in many ways. We are different today, but no less intentional in our search for a new rector. As part of our discernment process, we offered parishioners two opportunities to share their views – an online/written survey and in-depth conversations at one of two Rector Roundtable sessions. We received more than 160 responses. In each format, we invited input on the Sunday worship experience, church programming, and traits/characteristics desired in our next rector. Sunday Worship Experience Our beautiful and liturgically-focused worship is critical to who we are. Strengths • Liturgy, Eucharist, and adherence to the Book of Common Prayer • Music program • Welcoming environment – a feeling of community • Excellent sermons • Rector’s Forum programming that is varied, interesting, and insightful • A beautifully renovated worship space Challenges • Need for additional Bible Study/Adult Education opportunities on Sundays and/or other days • Desire to hear our rector/clergy more teaching in Rector’s Forum or other formats more frequently • Better opportunities to meet/greet newcomers on Sundays • More visibility of clergy immediately following services Programming We want a rector who can recognize and build upon our successes in: • Rector’s Forum classes that include speakers from diverse religious backgrounds speaking on a wide range of interesting topics • Outreach, especially our Food Pantry, More Than a Meal, Gracebuilders, and Recovery programming • Youth Ministry • Pastoral Care • Neighborhood programming, particularly Scouting We desire a rector who values these programs, either by taking a direct role in one or more or by delegating highlyskilled associates to continue the work. Further, we welcome creativity and insights on what programming we can offer that will encourage additional participation from existing parishioners and opportunities to invite new families to attend as well. Above all, we seek further engagement from clergy in all programming. Clergy is not expected or desired to be present at each and every activity, but a visible presence is important.
Rector Talents and Traits Parishioners were asked to list five important traits of a rector from a list of 14 choices identified by the Search Committee. The top five qualities identified were: sense of humor, dynamic preacher, spiritual leader, inclusive of all people, and administrator. Our roundtable discussions clarified that, in the minds of many parishioners, the "administrator" category encompasses many talents we listed specifically in the last search, including delegation skills, experience with a parish school, and fiscal knowledge and responsibility.
When asked which of two characteristics they would prefer in a rector, survey respondents showed a clear preference for thought-provoking, challenging interactions with a strong emphasis on spiritual development and contemporary issues. An overwhelming majority expressed a preference for a rector who helps people figure things out for themselves, rather than advising them what to do.
The 2017 Vestry Charge It is the expectation of the vestry that the next rector will be a priest committed to ensuring an engaging and nurturing Sunday worship experience, and that the next rector will possess experience with leadership and management at a program-sized parish. Recognizing that Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School is a primary mission of the parish, it is also the expectation of the vestry that the next rector will continue to support, sustain, and strengthen this Church/School relationship. The first charge recognizes that the Sunday spiritual experience is a top priority of our community. Worship, strong preaching, and inspiring, enriching programming are fundamental in bringing parishioners closer to Christ and to one another. Our warm community enjoys a robust sense of humor, values diversity, and welcomes all who seek spiritual growth. Second, our parish has an experienced staff, committed lay volunteers, and a solid financial position requiring an individual with strong organizational skills capable of managing and growing a program-sized parish. From this core position of strength, we hope that our parish will develop a role of greater relevance in the broader community. Finally, the parish recognizes that Grace-St. Luke’s School — while not under the authority of the rector — is a vital partner in our mission and a critical piece of our identity in the community. Our parish shares a campus with this coeducational day school with an enrollment of 500 students from age two through eighth grade. We pray God will send us a rector who will continue to nurture and support our current strong relationship.
Our church is vibrant and strong and we pray for patience and guidance as we look for our next rector to help fulfill God’s plan for us in the future.