God is doing something pretty remarkable at Saint John’s. In 2021, Saint John’s was named one of 13 signs of hope for the Episcopal Church. 650 people worshipped here this year on Easter morning. 70 of these, children. We are in a season of growth in many areas of parish life. Baptisms, confirmations, and many other vital signs show God has begun many good things here. We are looking for the next Associate Rector to join us in this exciting phase of growth.

Job description: The Associate Rector will fully share in the sacramental, pastoral, and priestly ministry and life of Saint John’s. They will work in close collaboration with the Rector, staff team, and parish family as a part of the Body of Christ in this neighborhood. The Associate Rector will report to and work in collaboration with the Rector. The Associate Rector will help plan and lead worship and Christian Formation. They will be responsible for recruitment, training, and ongoing development of broad lay leadership in numerous areas of parish life.

Who we are: We believe the practice of the faith asks us to do four things. Saint John’s expects every person to be involved in worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach. Saint John’s Episcopal Church is a cardinal parish in the Diocese of West Tennessee. If you look at a map of Memphis, we are almost directly in the center of the city. Many of us live and work in the heart of the city and want to reach out in love and concern to make it better place. We are a growing and energetic parish under the leadership of our Rector Father Jay Biedenharn.

Established in the late 19^th century, we recently celebrated our 70^th anniversary at the corner of Central Avenue and Greer Street. The high altar in the nave is the center of our common life. It probably sounds like we are boasting, but the nave, seating capacity of 500, is one of the most beautiful worship spaces in the Episcopal Church. The room is graced by a striking series of murals by noted artist John Henry De Rosen. It is a sacred space that creates the opportunity for religious experience and the Holy Spirit shows up here often. On the Saint John’s campus is the Parish Life Center, a welcoming space that provides care for the spiritual and physical well-being of parishioners and our neighborhood.

Who we’re looking for:  The ideal candidate works well on a team, believes in a spirit of transparency and communication, and has deep love for God and God’s church. They have a working knowledge of technology, is comfortable in a task-based team-based approach and loves to be with people. They are creative, innovative, and able to execute ideas. The Associate Rector is a highly relational person with initiative and a demonstrated ability to work well with people of all ages. We seek a priest who is comfortable being a generalist. Each day is a little different and the Associate Rector will be asked to use a wide variety of professional competencies every day.

Memphis Y’all: A city of 1.3 million known for its generous nature, its resilience, and down-home friendliness, with a deeply rooted appreciation for good food and good music. Memphis is a place. There aren’t chain restaurants and coffee shops. It is BBQ, basketball and the blues. This place will grow on you, and before you know it, it will feel like home. We’re all about heart, grit, and grind. We work hard and we love to have a good time. Memphis has world-class healthcare. From Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, you will be in great hands here. We are home to global headquarters of some of the best-known name in business, Fed Ex, International Paper, AutoZone, and others. It is a great time to move to Memphis, TN.

Job Responsibilities:

Work collaboratively to plan the liturgical life of the parish

Share in pastoral care responsibilities with the Rector

Welcome and engagement of new members into the life of the parish

Oversight of lay volunteers who assist in the liturgy – lay eucharistic ministers, lectors, vergers

Lead worship, preach, and administer the sacraments on a rotating schedule with the Rector

Plan, prepare and preside at funerals as needed

Prepare couples for marriage, plan services and preside at weddings as needed

Prepare families for baptism

Development and oversight of a pastoral care system that is sustainable and lay led

Oversight of bible study, confirmation and volunteer led formation gatherings

Share planning and teaching responsibilities of adult formation with the Rector

Work with the Rector, lay staff and vestry to respond to the changing needs of the parish

Attend diocesan clergy gatherings, annual retreats, ecumenical events and serve on committees

Undertaking other duties and special projects as directed by the Rector

What are your passions? What can you do to enhance life at saint John’s? We would love to hear about it.

Qualifications

Master of Divinity

Ordained in the Episcopal Church

Strong interpersonal and pastoral skills.

Proficiency in basic office software and technology used to livestream services

Salary and Benefits’ Package

$65,000 – $72,000 annual salary compensation (negotiable based upon experience)

Housing allowance

Health insurance subsidized by employer with vision insurance included

Dental insurance employee paid

Life Insurance provided

Short-term and long-term disability provided

Defined contribution Pension Plan

4 weeks annual vacation

10 paid holidays annually

Continuing education time and allowance

Saint John’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Saint John’s offers opportunities for employment based on merit, without regard to gender, race, marital status, color, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or other attributes that are not job- or performance-related.