A Thriving Episcopal Parish
Seeking Our Next Rector
St. John’s Lynchburg seeks a full-time Rector who will help lead us into our next chapter and build on our current momentum.
St. John’s Lynchburg is a community of Christ-led civic leaders, blending tradition and modernity.
The Search Committee has been formed and has been given a Charge from the Vestry. We are excited to get started on this process and are already planning our path forward.
Parish Profile and At-a-Glance
Average Sunday Attendance (ASA): 171, reflecting steady and engaged worship participation
Pledging Households: 217, demonstrating strong stewardship and financial stability
Active Ministries & Guilds: 30, offering diverse opportunities for worship, service, and fellowship
Member Engagement: 40% involved in at least one ministry or parish activity
New Individuals (Past 12 Months): 24, indicating healthy growth and welcoming integration
Children & Youth Participation: 60 regularly engaged in formation and parish life
St. John’s is a vibrant, connected parish with a strong foundation and exciting opportunities for continued growth under new leadership.
Application Information
Send cover letter, resume, and Vocation Hub ministry portfolio to the Rev. Cn. Jonathan F. Harris, Transition Minister, Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, @ jharris@dioswva.org.
Questions, please email or text or call
Canon Harris.
The Heart of St. John’s
St. John’s is a parish where fellowship is woven into daily life. Our community is warm, engaged, and naturally draws people into connection through shared meals, intergenerational gatherings, and care for one another. Parish life is both vibrant and grounded, offering a strong sense of belonging. For a new rector, St. John’s is a congregation eager to build relationships, support one another, and grow in faith together.
Parish Life
Worship is grounded in the Book of Common Prayer and shaped by reverence and participation.
We offer two Rite II services each Sunday, including a later service with an exceptional choir and an expert organist. Music is central to parish identity and enriches worship across generations.
Worship and Music
Life at St. John’s offers a rich and inviting array of opportunities for connection, growth, and service. Our parish is deeply committed to mission and outreach, engaging both local and wider communities with compassion and purpose. Active guilds provide meaningful ways to serve in worship and parish life, while a strong culture of fellowship brings people together across generations. Formation is central to who we are, with opportunities for spiritual growth for all ages, and a particular emphasis on nurturing families and children through vibrant, welcoming programs. Whether one is seeking to serve, learn, or simply belong, St. John’s offers a place to engage fully in the life of the Church.
Programs and Ministries
At St. John’s, mission and outreach are a natural extension of our life together in Christ. We are actively engaged in serving the local community and supporting ministries beyond our walls through service, partnership, and generosity. Parishioners are encouraged to live out their faith in meaningful, tangible ways, making outreach a shared commitment woven into parish life.
Missions and Outreach
St. John’s Day School is a vibrant and nurturing ministry of the parish, serving young children and their families with a focus on early learning, faith, and community. Rooted in a spirit of care and curiosity, the school offers a warm, welcoming environment where children grow academically, socially, and spiritually, while also strengthening meaningful connections between the school and the wider life of the parish.
St. John's Day School
St. John’s is blessed with beautiful, historic facilities that reflect both our tradition and our vibrant parish life. Our campus offers sacred spaces for worship, welcoming areas for fellowship, and flexible spaces for ministry and community events. The Parish House serves as a hub for parish life and youth programming, and the playground provides a joyful space for children and families. These spaces are thoughtfully maintained and support the ongoing life and growth of the parish.
St. John's Facilities
Set in the heart of Lynchburg, St. John’s is part of a thriving and welcoming community known for its blend of historic charm and forward-looking energy. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg offers a high quality of life, vibrant arts and cultural opportunities, strong educational institutions, and a growing local economy. Residents enjoy a balance of scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, and a close-knit community spirit—making it an ideal place to live, serve, and build lasting relationships both within the parish and beyond.
The Lynchburg Community
SEARCH TIMELINE
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Interim Rector is appointed by the Bishop. The Bishop appoints a diocesan liaison who helps church leadership choose the Rector Search Committee Chair and Vice Chair. The parish is invited to self-nominate or submit nominations for the Search Committee. The Senior and Junior Wardens in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair discern the makeup of the Search Committee, ensuring a diverse group representing a wide range of St. John’s parishioners. The Vestry approves the complete Rector Search Committee.
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The Self-Study and Survey is the foundational, data-gathering phase in the Episcopal Church’s process of calling a new rector. It is a period of prayerful reflection where the parish examines its identity, history, financial health, and future goals, often facilitated by a Congregational Assessment Tool (like Holy Cow Consulting). This process is designed to prevent anxiety-driven hiring and instead ensure that the parish knows who it is and what it needs before beginning the search.
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The seeking portion of calling a new Episcopal rector is a formal, prayerful phase of the search process where the Search Committee actively evaluates candidates to discern who is best suited to lead their parish. It typically begins after the parish has completed a "self-study" and created a Parish Profile that defines its identity, goals, and desired characteristics for the next leader.
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In the Episcopal Church, the discernment portion of seeking a new rector is a prayerful, intentional process that focuses on listening for the Holy Spirit to identify the right leader for the specific, unique future of a congregation, rather than simply conducting a job search. It is a period of mutual discernment where the church, the candidates, and the Bishop (through their staff) seek to match the parish’s needs with a priest's gifts.
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The call portion of seeking a new Episcopal rector is the final, decisive phase of a spiritual discernment process where the parish vestry formally offers the position to a chosen candidate, culminating in a mutually agreed-upon Letter of Agreement. It is distinguished from a secular "hiring" process by its focus on prayer, consensus, and the active partnership of the bishop.