Location: Harrisburg, Ilinois

Position: Part-time vicar/priest-in-charge

Parish Profile

St. Stephen’s is a small, tight community of faith that has seen changes through the years. Started in 1978 by five couples who met in each other’s homes, it was sanctioned by the diocese in 1980. 

Our congregation comes from many different communities, representing five counties surrounding Harrisburg. Most of the counties in Southern Illinois are sparsely populated and many of the lower sixteen counties have very low population because of the Shawnee National Forest. However, The Shawnee National Forest draws many tourists and offers many outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and ATV riding. Due to its proximity, the city of Harrisburg uses the tagline, “Harrisburg, Gateway to the Shawnee National Forest.” Another area of interest near Harrisburg is Southern Illinois University. Harrisburg is only twenty- five miles from Marion, IL and forty-one miles from Carbondale, IL, which is home to the Southern Illinois University. SIU offers many cultural and sporting events, like most major universities which is another enhancement to St. Stephens.

Location: Decatur, Illinois

Position: Rector

Parish Profile

OTM

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Decatur, Illinois has a rich and vibrant history that is intermingled with the Decatur community since 1855. Our 165-year-old church has stories to tell and these stories tell who we were and who we are today.

Our worship service is formal, Eucharistic-centered, and based on The Book of Common Prayer. Our Interim Rector leads the parish in our Sunday 8AM spoken Rite I Mass and our 10AM Rite II Choral Mass. Wednesday evenings at 5:30PM the Mass is also offered in our Chapel. A High-Church liturgical style can be experienced at all services, which may include the use of full vestments, traditional hymns on our beautiful pipe organ, choir, Anglican Chant, and the use of occasional incense. Acolytes of all ages assist our clergy in ushering the parish into worship by serving as Crucifer, Gospel bearer, and Eucharistic Ministers. During the Lenten Season, parishioners come together for Stations of the Cross and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament led by our Interim Rector. Services such as Tenebrae and Lessons and Carols are also scheduled throughout the Liturgical Calendar.

We recognize that we are a small parish (in terms of church membership) in a large structure (a more beautiful facility dedicated to God you will never find) in need of a priest who is interested in entering into a relationship with us. We desire a priest who is interested in shepherding our existing flock with a desire to see our flock increased by answering two simple questions: 1) Why the Episcopal Church; and 2) Why St. John’s?

Location: Mt. Carmel, IL

Position: Rector

Profile

Website

St. John the Baptist in Mount Carmel, Illinois, is a financially stable congregation of generous, caring, and welcoming people. Mount Carmel is centrally located between several major cultural centers. The town is two hours from St. Louis, Missouri, two hours from Louisville, Kentucky, two-and-a-half hours from Indianapolis, Indiana, four hours from Nashville, Tennessee, and four-and-a-half hours from Chicago, Illinois.

The majority of our members are involved in the ministry of our church, sharing their time, treasures, and talents with our community. Our parish is looking for a priest who is a visionary—someone who is capable of dreaming big, making a plan to achieve that dream, and then following through. We are looking for a priest who is business-capable and well-versed in finance and the administration of endowments. We’re looking for a priest who is knowledgeable in the Scripture and pastoral in his care of our congregation. Lastly, we are looking for a priest who is an evangelist and is dedicated to the growth and vibrancy of our church.