Office of Transition Ministry Profile
The Search Committee has developed and completed the Narrative Questions for the St. Stephen’s Community that describe our Parish practices and programs to potential candidates.
St. Stephen’s Parish Profile
August 27, 2025
The Parish Search Committee has dedicated many hours to meticulously analyze and compile the invaluable data gathered from the Parish Survey and individual interviews. Their unwavering commitment and discerning spirit have culminated in the completion our parish profile. We are delighted to present this profile, recognizing its instrumental role in guiding us towards a leader who embodies the values of our faith community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Committee for their passion and dedication in creating this tool for our congregation’s future.
May 6, 2025 Update
From the Search Committee
The Search Committee and Vestry gathered for a retreat recently to review the input from the Parish Survey and Listening Sessions and to frame the next step in the search process, crafting a parish profile to attract potential dean candidates.
The Search Committee and Vestry spent significant time reviewing the results and information gathered from the parish survey and listening sessions. Over 70 parishioners submitted responses to the parish survey and a dozen listening sessions were conducted with various groups and ministries within and related to the Cathedral. The most important characteristics or personal gifts parishioners are looking for in our next dean are someone with strong pastoral skills, a strong preacher, and someone who is inclusive and respectful of diversity. Those characteristics and gifts were followed closely by someone who is also a good administrator, someone who is welcoming and approachable and someone who has the ability to help St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
achieve its mission.
The survey and sessions indicated the Cathedral is looking for a dean with the following desired knowledge, skills and abilities to:
- Help the Cathedral continue being a welcoming and loving community through its hospitality and inclusive nature and programs lead and support the spiritual growth and Christian formation of parishioners through our worship and current programs like youth and adult Christian formation, Bible and book studies, as well as expanding those efforts
- Strengthen our social justice and community connections through greater interfaith and community efforts as well as service to the greater community.
The next step in the search process is to complete the Parish Profile, a document which describes St, Stephens Episcopal Cathedral, our history, where we are today and where we hope our next dean can help take us. This document will be forwarded to the Diocese to be included in a packet which is sent out seeking candidates for whom St. Stephens is a good match.
Thank you to all who participated in the Parish Survey and the Listening Sessions. This input was critical to identifying our priorities moving forward in search for our next dean.
September 2024 Update
From the St. Stephen’s Cathedral Search Committee
It has been said that the story of the road to Emmaus is a metaphor for a congregation’s journey during a transition. The story addresses key themes such as loss, change, presence, invitation, communion, hope and mission.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral is in transition, and we are beginning our search for a new dean and rector. Our former dean served this congregation for more than seven years before retiring in October 2024. During the first phase of our search process, we will talk with each other and prayerfully consider our hopes and dreams for the future. We will also consider the characteristics we most need or desire in the next person to guide us in our parish life and in the broader Harrisburg, diocesan and Episcopal communities.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral offers many opportunities for ministry and mission for its parishioners to grow in their relationship with Christ. St. Stephen’s ministries include Community Connections which assists the broader community, Music, Flower Guild, Altar Guild, Christian Formation for all ages, Bible studies, book clubs, and other affinity groups for fellowship. The dean also served as an ex-officio member of the St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, a key mission which provides a superior education for students of all faiths and ethnic heritages from kindergarten to eighth grade in an Episcopal setting.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral also fully embraces the activities, joys and challenges of a traditional parish while also serving the needs of the broader diocese in its role as its Cathedral. The dean serves as the shepherd guiding us in our ministries and mission and nurturing us in our life together as a parish community.
We plan to conduct surveys, group meetings and other approaches to gather thoughts and input. The entire congregation will be invited to tell their story and share their experiences to help shape our future and find a dean aligned to our shared goals. The process is intended to help us all understand where God is calling us so we can share that with candidates who might feel called to join us in our faith journey.
We look forward to traveling on this road with all of us together in hope, grace and much promise.
Sincerely,
SSEC Search Committee