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).
A brief one-page overview.
Comments from our Holy Cow! consultant, Susan Czolgosz, explaining and interpreting the results.
Detailed results question by question. Some page numbers are skipped because we did not select those questions.
Additional questions that focus specifically on the Cathedral Church of St. Peter.
Over 200 comments!
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!
Betsy Adams with her husband, Michael
I have attended the Cathedral from 1976-1981 and 2006-present. I chair the Beloved Community Committee, I am planning a parish civil rights pilgrimage, and am a facilitator for Sacred Ground, among other things! I bring listening skills and an ability to pull together various threads to see an entire picture. One thing I love about St. Peter’s is that we are open and welcoming to all. No matter who you are, you are welcome to engage with God and God’s people here.
Sarah Albert with her daughter, Maggie
Our family has attended the Cathedral since 2011. I'm primarily involved by making sure our four children are engaged in children's and youth programming as often as possible in the midst of their busy schedules. I also chair the Endowment Committee. I'm known to be even-tempered. I'm able to listen to and appreciate perspectives and opinions different from my own. I absolutely love the warm and welcoming nature of St. Peter's as well as the traditional service and beautiful music.
Grace Lewis
Our family has attended the Cathedral since 2019. I sing in the choir and my girls are acolytes. My family joined St. Peter’s because we believe that instilling Christian values in our kids is a team effort. I love how inter-generational the family events are and how my daughter and foster children have been welcomed into the community. Before becoming a Montessori teacher I was a graphic designer. I enjoy synthesizing information and creating accessible visual explanations. I love the liturgy and the way music, art, and ritual bring us closer to God and each other.
Kate Munkittrick
I have been a member of the Cathedral since 1990. I am a regular member of the Cathedral Choir, sing in Evensong Choir, and my children participate in EYC and EYSeedlings. St. Peter's has been my church for most of my life. I have very fond memories of the people and experiences, and my service here has shaped my faith. I feel called to help shape the direction and focus of the Cathedral moving forward so that my children, in 30 years, may continue to find their faith community to be as fulfilling and supportive as I do. I'm biased, but our music program is wonderful!
Jonathan Miller with his wife Rebecca and children Olivia and Aiden
We have attended the Cathedral since 2017. I am a current Finance Committee member, and a former Chapter member. I also volunteer in children's ministry. In my current profession as a director of business operations I have been personally responsible for the hire and onboarding of multiple individuals, and I'll bring these skills to the process. I am a committed member of the church. I have a vested interest in the spiritual growth and leadership of the church personally, for my family, and all our congregation. St Peter's makes everyone feel welcome and part of a family from the moment you arrive.
Jake Browne with his son Clark
We have attended the Cathedral since 2022. We are involved with Family Pride, the 20s40s group, FAST, and family ministry. I believe in assessing candidates in a holistic way by allowing them to be their authentic selves, while also ensuring that they understand the strengths, opportunities, and challenges of the position. I feel called to serve so I can bring my experiences of someone who is a member of the LGBTQ community and as a parent raising their child in a faith community. The first time our family attended the Cathedral, a member of the clergy remembered our son's name. It was a simple, yet meaningful symbol of the special and personal community at St. Peter's.
Karen Torrisi
I have been a member of the Cathedral since 2014. I have several years of leadership experience in the Cathedral. During my time on Chapter as Senior Warden we developed the current Strategic Plan. I was also part of the subcommittee responsible for developing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement. I feel deeply connected to the Christian community at the Cathedral, and during this critical transition believe I can bring an perspective that cherishes the things what makes us a who we are and remain open to the needs of the community to improve and grow. Everyone is truly welcome at St. Peter's. I also love the sermons!
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."
Co-chairs Ray McColgan and Judy Stark
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.