Search Committee Update: Now We’re Checking References
Thursday, August 1, 2024

The Dean Search Committee was busy on the phone during July, doing reference checks on semifinal candidates.

“First there was the paperwork stage — the application forms and short essay questions we developed,” Co-Chair Ray McColgan said. “Then we did Zoom interviews. On the basis of all that information, in early July we made the decision to move ahead with some of our candidates and to let others know that they would not be continuing in the process. Reference checks were the next step.” The checks included conversations with current and former wardens, lay leaders, staff, and others who know the candidates well and have worked with them.

“In August we expect to decide which candidates will be invited for a visit to the Cathedral,” Co-Chair Judy Stark said. “I think we are all aware of the great responsibility that has been given us as the Search Committee and we don’t take it lightly. We are grateful for everyone’s prayers.”

At Long Last, We Have a Pool of Candidates to Consider
Tuesday, May 28, 2024

After months of meeting, thinking, planning, surveying, listening, writing, and praying, the search for our next dean now moves into the next phase: getting to know our candidates.

On May 15 Bishop Doug Scharf delivered to the Search Committee the applications from candidates who have discerned a call to the Cathedral. He and Canon Richard Norman have reviewed all the applications, have had conversations with candidates’ bishops, and have given to us the names of those they believe are a good fit for the Cathedral and the Diocese.

“We are in the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ stage,” co-chair Ray McColgan said. “Don’t ask us how many or where they’re from, and we won’t tell.” At his meeting with the committee Bishop Scharf emphasized the importance of confidentiality, both so that the committee is not subject to pressure or lobbying for or against any candidate, but also to avoid putting candidates in an awkward position, since their congregations do not know that they are involved in our search.

The next steps include asking candidates to respond to short written questions and to participate in Zoom interviews. We may visit the candidates in their home parishes and we’ll conduct reference checks. Eventually one or more semifinalists will be invited here to meet the Search Committee and the Chapter. Bishop Scharf will interview all the semifinalists and must give his approval to our final choice. The Search Committee will make a final recommendation to the Chapter, which formally elects the next dean.

“We don’t have a specific timetable for the search,” co-chair Judy Stark said. “We’ll be working diligently through the summer, and we are as eager as anyone to make a call. But we know it’s best to take our time, be thorough, and listen to the Holy Spirit. We want to find the right person to join us in ministry and apostleship.”

Cathedral Church of St. Peter Parish Profile
Monday, March 25, 2024

Cathedral Community,

We are thrilled to share that our parish profile is complete and we are seeking nominations for our seventh dean.

The profile, along with other information about the search process, is available for you to view through the link above and on the diocesan website. The publication of the profile marks the beginning of a nominating period during which candidates may submit their paperwork to the Bishop's office. The nominating period ends May 1.

The Cathedral is the bishop’s seat for the Diocese of Southwest Florida, where the Right Rev. Douglas F. Scharf is Bishop Diocesan.

The profile, prepared by the Search Committee, describes St. Peter's, reflects the thoughts and wishes of our congregation, and enumerates the gifts and experience we hope for in our next dean.

The Search Committee invites candidates who seek “an inclusive community that values joyful worship and meaningful fellowship” to discern with them.

Interested candidates should send:

• a letter of interest that highlights how you meet the needs of the Cathedral

• an updated OTM portfolio

• a resumé or C.V. to the Rev. Canon Richard H. Norman, Canon to the Ordinary, Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida (rnorman@episcopalswfl.org).

Questions should also be directed to Canon Norman.

Cathedral Calls Interim Dean
Monday, January 8, 2024

We are pleased to share that the Rev. Dr. David C. Cobb will join the Cathedral Church of St. Peter as its part-time interim dean on January 16.

"I'm delighted to welcome Father Cobb to the Cathedral," Senior Warden Lucas Fleming said. "We will be blessed by his deep experience as an interim, a rector, and a seminary teacher, and we look forward to a fruitful relationship as we move ahead to the call of a permanent dean."

“It is an honor to be called into the life of the Cathedral at this moment,” Father Cobb said. “As we work together over the months ahead, there will be the ongoing work of worship, the habits of discipleship, and the stewardship of community life and the particular opportunities of reflection and learning that a transition brings.” He added: “In all of it, there Christ will be present. Whatever challenges or new opportunities a transition brings, Christ’s presence remains the center of the Church’s life and provides the light by which we will walk forward.”

A graduate of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Father Cobb, 68, most recently served as interim assistant rector at St. James' Madison Avenue, New York City, and interim rector at Christ Church, Chattanooga.

At the School of Theology at the University of the South, where he earned his D.Min., he served as Director of Contextual Education, leading the Field Education Program and teaching classes on parish dynamics and clergy leadership.

Father Cobb and his wife, Ruth, live in Sarasota. Mrs. Cobb is the interim organist/choirmaster at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg.

Father Cobb will preach and celebrate at both the 8:00 am and 10:15 am services on Sunday, January 21. Please join us for worship and to meet our interim dean!

Search Committee Tentative Timeline
Thursday, December 14

January-February 2024: Search Committee creates profile. Search is publicized widely throughout the Church and applications are accepted.

Late winter-spring: Bishop Scharf and Canon to the Ordinary Richard Norman review applications, forward to Search Committee those who meet our qualifications. Search Committee interviews candidates, checks references, invites finalists here

Summer: Search Committee forwards one name to Chapter for election as our next dean

Early fall: New dean is in place

Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Survey Results and Executive Summary
Monday, December 4

Cathedral Community,

Again, thank you all so much for your participation and engagement in this critical part of our dean search. Our high rate of return on the survey gives us a solid foundation to assess our needs and desires moving forward. Below you’ll find links to several important documents, as well as a link to the full 2.5 hour Zoom presentation by our Holy Cow survey consultant. Please take your time to review the documents as you’re able. If you have any questions, contact Susan Darrow, Jr. Warden (sdarrow99@me.com).

Search Committee is Named
Holy Cow survey will be released October 16
Tuesday, October 3

We have taken a big step forward in the search for our next dean. The chapter has named a search committee to join co-chairs Ray McColgan and Judy Stark: Betsy Adams, Sarah Albert, Grace Lewis, Kate Munkittrick, Jonathan Miller, Jacob Browne Perry, and Karen Torrisi.

We’re delighted to have such a solid team. There is a good cross-section here of the various demographics in the Cathedral family — a diversity of ages, longtimers and newcomers, people with involvement in a variety of areas and ministries. We have a lot of hard work to do in a short time, and these faithful and devoted parishioners will bring their best to the holy tasks ahead of us.

Read the brief bios below so you can get to know them!

Nomination Form for Service on the Search Committee
Sunday, September 3

The Chapter invites parishioners to nominate themselves or someone else to serve on the Search Committee to seek our next dean.

Please read the requirements and study the list of gifts and skills we will need and then give prayerful consideration to whether you or someone else is a good candidate. No more than one member of a family may serve on the Search Committee.

The deadline for self-nominations is September 24. The deadline if you are nominating someone else is September 20 so we may contact the person you are nominating and have them fill in the application.

The Chapter expects to announce the names of committee members shortly after its September 27 meeting. Our goal is to create a committee that is rich, diverse, and representative of the Cathedral community.

Questions? Please contact Junior Warden Susan Darrow, sdarrow99@me.com.

The nomination period is closed.

Chapter Appoints Search Co-Chairs, Seeks Search Committee Members
August 29, 2023

In the next few weeks our search for a new dean will take a major step forward.

At its August meeting the Chapter named Ray McColgan and Judy Stark as co-chairs of the Search Committee. Ray is a past senior warden, current stewardship chair, member of the Friends of St. Aelred, usher, and coffee-hour host. Judy works as a consultant to dioceses that are seeking new bishops. She is also a past senior warden and current Chapter member, coffee hour host, and newsletter editor.

"I am honored that Chapter has asked me to co-chair the Search Committee for our new dean," Ray said.  "I love our Cathedral and want it to continue to thrive, grow, and be open and affirming to all. Along with Judy (with whom I am thrilled to co-chair), I will diligently work to find the best candidate possible."

In early September we will open a nominating period during which the Chapter will accept nominations and self-nominations to create a Search Committee. This is a group of seven additional people who will oversee a survey of the congregation and conduct listening sessions, then write a profile, evaluate candidates, and discern who it is God is calling to be our next dean. The application form will be posted at spcathedral.org/dean-search.

"This is an exciting time in our life as the Cathedral," Judy said. "I'm looking forward to working with a team representing the rich diversity of the congregation to envision our future.”

Under our tentative schedule, we will post our profile in December and candidates will submit their applications to the bishop's office, which will review them and pass on potential candidates to the Search Committee early in 2024. Then the committee will conduct interviews, do reference checks, and invite finalists to visit us. We expect to make a call in June 2024 and have our new dean in place by September.

Meanwhile, the Chapter continues in conversation with Bishop Scharf about appointing an interim dean.

At the request of the bishop, Chapter members agreed to extend their terms  for a year -- that is, all current members will serve an additional fourth year. We do this to provide stability and continuity during this time of transition. The Chapter did the same thing in 2008, at the request of then-Bishop Dabney Smith, when our former dean, Stephen Morris, was first called to St. Peter's. This means that there will be no Chapter elections at our Annual Meeting in January.