Interim Clergy Staffing Plan

Dear Christ Church family,

Greetings in the Name of our merciful Lord!

We are excited to announce to you a long-term Interim Clergy Staffing Plan (two-year plan) that we believe will be a huge blessing to all at Christ Church Anglican. This wouldn’t have happened without the full support of our Bishop, Keith Andrews, and our Christ Church Vestry.

Starting January 1, The Rt. Rev. Mark Zimmerman has accepted a call to be with us as Bishop in Residence/Interim Rector. Bishop Mark is the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of the Southwest in Albuquerque, where he and his wife, Cindy, live. He has been in ordained ministry for thirty-five years, mostly serving as rector of several churches that have grown and thrived under his leadership. Bishop Mark will be with us roughly halftime, two weeks (and two Sundays) every month, to share in all aspects of liturgical and pastoral ministry.

And we are equally pleased to inform you that The Rev. Matt Rucker has accepted a call to be full-time Priest in Charge. Father Matt will oversee the day-to-day ministries of our life together and work closely with Bishop Mark to care for our church staff and congregation. Bishop Mark and Father Matt have spent a good bit of time together discussing this arrangement and they are excited to be working together.

In addition, there is money in our 2020 church budget for another part-time assisting clergy for pastoral care (8-10 hours per week).

The specific responsibilities of our clergy staff are spelled out in general terms, thanks to the hard work of Bishop Keith and a group of Vestry members, and the specifics will become even better defined as our clergy work together. The long-term plan was unanimously approved at a specially called Vestry meeting last Sunday with gratitude to both clergymen for their availability to serve in our midst.

This Sunday Bishop Mark and Cindy Zimmerman will be with us to experience our regular worship service and will be presented during the service. Please keep him in your prayers as he disengages from some of his diocesan responsibilities in both New Mexico and Mexico in order to be with us in Phoenix.

Gracious Father, we do not deserve such favor and goodness as you freely give, but we are grateful for the loving heart of our God. Please continue to pour out your blessings on your people at Christ Church Anglican. Please especially bless Mark and Matt as they begin their new ministries among us. Please continue to bless us and use this congregation to bring glory to your name, that many will come to know and believe in your love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Chuck Collins                Shawn Carson                   Jack Smelser
Interim Rector                Senior Warden                  Junior Warden