Transition Team Update

It is with thankful hearts that the Transition Team reflects on the recent appointment of Rev. Alastair Hunting to be the incumbent Rector for St John the Divine starting this November.

The members of the Transition Team have sought to discern in faith, who God is calling to shepherd and lead us. At the outset, we came together in agreement as one team, seeking consensus in our decisions trusting in God’s loving providence and guidance, and He has been faithful.

The team is thankful as well for the congregation, whose prayers throughout this past year have lifted up the Transition Team. We have certainly felt the Holy Spirit’s guidance and counsel throughout, and have appreciated your love and support. The team is especially grateful to those of you who took time to share with us personally why you attend St John the Divine and what witnessing love in action means to you as we endeavor to build community. It was from your sharing that we were able to put together a parish profile to send out as an invitation to come and serve as our incumbent. Alastair has 20 plus years of experience in pastoral and spiritual care settings and is known to many of us from the time he spent in our parish between 2012 and 2016 in preparation for his ordination. He is also well known in the wider community for his active participation in community outreach and social justice issues. In reading the parish profile this morning, it is amazing how perfectly Alastair’s gifts and ministry match the “Wordles” (below) which express in graphic form who we are and who we are becoming in Christ.

The Transition Team would also like offer up a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving for our two interim rectors Rev. Michael Deck and Rev. Alan Naylor for their ministry here with us through this time of change. It has been nearly two years since Rev. Anthony left to become a military chaplain, and you have held us, loved us, healed us, laughed with us, led us, taught us and, when necessary, challenged us during this time. We will always remember Michael’s “Thanks Hat” and Alan’s gentle parables for Charlie (and all of us) about the many reasons we come to church. In many ways, now that Alastair has been appointed, the real work of the transition team is only just beginning. Please pray for Alastair and Alison as they face the myriad decisions involved in moving their residence from Port Hardy to the Comox Valley. Alastair’s appointment, though a blessing for our parish, also leaves some big shoes to fill at St. Columba’s in Port Hardy. Alastair has been active in reconciliation and relationship building ministry in the Port Hardy area with the Gwa’sala-Nakwaxda’xw, Fort Rupert, and Quatsino First Nations. Please keep them in your prayers as well, as they adjust to his leaving and begin their process of discernment for calling a new incumbent.

The Transition Team will remain in place until November 2021 and continue to serve and offer support to Alastair as he assumes his new role. Please don’t hesitate to email us at transitionteam.sjtd@gmail.com if you have questions or suggestions as to how we can best support this next season of transition.

Eric Macdonald, Transition Team Lead
DeniseRopp (Bishop’s Warden)
Nancy Booth (Peoples Warden)
Peter Walker
Linda McAnsh
LynnPage
Chris Widner