Dean Search
The Search for our Next Rector and Dean is Live
The Search Committee “went live” on August 15th, 2025, by opening the application process for our next rector and dean. Current clerical demographics of the church reveal a clergy shortage which we anticipate will affect the size of our candidate pool. Gone are the days when a parish could simply publish a compelling parish profile and expect a flood of applicants.
We need your help!
What we are asking is for you to think about who you know in the church (or who you know who knows people) and discern if there is a clergy person you believe would be an excellent candidate for our rector and dean search process. If you have a priest (or more than one priest) in mind, please send their name and contact information (email and phone number) the Search Committee Co-Chairs, Rick Smith and Melonese Clarke. We will then reach out to them, invite them into the discernment process, and send them our parish profile and application materials. Be sure to say why you think this person would be an excellent candidate (meaning, gifts or experience you believe they have that would suggest a fit at the cathedral).
Time is of the essence.
The application period will be open for six weeks (August 15-September 30). The sooner we can contact potential applicants the more time they will have to consider our profile and complete the application materials.
It takes a village to find the cathedral’s next great dean, and that village is YOU. Thank you for supporting the search process in this critical way.
We have assembled some answers below to questions we anticipated people will have. If you have other questions, please email Jack Dowling and he will find an answer and add below.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section will evolve as more information is known. Please check back from time to time.
What is the timeline for calling a new Dean?
A search committee has been appointed by the vestry. Melonese Clarke and Dr. Rick Smith are the co-chairs of the search committee, and the members are Gayle Corley, Jack Harvey, Ben Hussman, Christoph Keller, Michael McNeely, Frances Mitchell, Lara Schock, Anna Squire, Clarke Tucker, Allison Tuite, Grant Wallace, Alex Wayland, and Scott Whitfield.
Several very public aspects of the search/recruitment process will be taking place within Trinity in the near future. The committee will be commissioned at the 10:30 service on Pentecost, Sunday, June 8th.
During the month of June, the committee needs to hear from you regarding how our life as a congregation is working for you and your family. As such, we will be fielding a parish-wide survey that we need EVERONE to complete during the month of June.
Finally, we urge you to begin to pray for this process, pray for the candidates that the right people will be interested and stirred to follow Christ to Trinity, and that the committee and ultimately the Vestry will issue a successful call to the right person. Your prayers are essential to this search and recruitment.
Who is in charge during the search process?
Beginning February 3, 2025, The Right Reverend John Harmon assumed the role of Dean Pro Tempore (Dean for the Time Being) at the Cathedral. Rather than search for an Interim Dean, the Bishop will carry that role until a new Dean is called. Specifically, this means he will greet the Vestry at their meetings; and lead worship at the Cathedral on occasion.
The Rev. Danny Schieffler is with us as Interim Vicar, and leads and supports the Parish and staff in the day-to-day operations of the Cathedral.
How can I give my input on who should be called as our next Dean?
As an important piece of our search for a new Dean and Rector, parish members are invited you to complete the Church Assessment Tool (CAT), an on-line instrument that will help leaders gauge the strength, vitality, and trends in our church. The information gained from this assessment will be valuable in helping the leaders of our church as they make decisions about the future of Trinity Cathedral and Parish. Email Jack Dowling for a link to the CAT.