Parish Profile
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Parish Profile Trinity Episcopal Church 720 Ford Avenue Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 270-684-5326 Trinityec.org Table of Contents Welcome p. 2 Who We Are p. 3 Our Current Community p. 4 Our Diocese p. 6 Programs & Ministries p. 6 New Rector Qualities p. 13 Our Financial Picture p. 14 Sources p. 22 1 Welcome Dear Candidate, Trinity Episcopal Church welcomes you, and we thank you for your time spent reviewing our Parish Profile. It is our hope that you might consider making Trinity your future home with a prayerful and discerning heart. After the retirement of our long-time rector, this transition period is a time of change and great opportunity for our church. We are using this time to reflect on the values that have made Trinity a strong and vibrant community and to focus on moving our parish into the future. We look forward to beginning a new journey with you as we continue to build the Kingdom of God here on Earth. Yours in Christ, Trinity Episcopal Church Search Committee Wendy Wells Amy Beck Sarah Hulsey Beverly Johnson Jason Reddy Keith Sanders Brian Thomas Barbara Tipmore 2 Who We Are Trinity Church has a history that spans 166 years. It was in 1838 that The Right Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, Bishop of Kentucky, traveled down the Ohio River on a steamboat and visited the western part of the state. During the trip, in which he consecrated two churches, he stopped in Owensboro and noted it as a possible site for a mission. Fourteen years later, in 1852, Smith organized Trinity Episcopal Church. The congregation grew until the tumultuous years of the Civil War, which caused many to move out of the area. However, membership stabilized when the war ended, and in 1875 the congregation erected a church building on Fifth Street that was considered a “jewel” in the city and its home for 90 years. By the late 1950’s the parish had outgrown the building on Fifth Street and set sights on moving to, what was then known as the growing South part of the city. First used in 1957, the multi-purpose parish hall, was designed to hold church, classes, meetings, and meals until the construction of the new church was complete. Construction of the new church on Ford Avenue began in 1962, and the Cornerstone was set in 1963. Early in its history, Trinity Church developed a reputation for its commitment to outreach and its radical hospitality shown by loving one another. Members played roles in establishing the local Habitat for Humanity chapter and Hospice of Owensboro. For several years in the early 1980’s, the parish held a support group for gays and lesbians. In 1977, Trinity held the ordination of the first woman priest in Kentucky. Our previous rector, Father Pat Connell, lead Trinity Church for some 19 years, from 1998 to 2017. He will be remembered for his tireless work in reaching out to all people and ensuring that all were fully welcomed at Trinity. Father Pat was also instrumental in better organizing Trinity Church, and as a result, we have many lay volunteer positions and numerous committees serving both our parishioners and community. Trinity Vision Statement Trinity Episcopal Church is a Eucharistic and liturgical community in the Anglican tradition that values and encourages ongoing Christian education and spiritual formation, diversity of people and ideas, fellowship and radical hospitality, and works of justice and mercy as gospel imperatives. Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the “old” Trinity Episcopal Church is now the home of Theater Workshop of Owensboro. 3 Our Current Community Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. Owensboro is located on U.S. Route 60 about 32 miles (51 km) southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 57,265 at the 2010 U.S. Census, with a metropolitan population of 114,752. Owensboro is the second-largest city in the Tri-State region of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky after Evansville. Owensboro is situated 123 miles north of Nashville, TN; and 109 miles southwest of Louisville, KY and has direct access via highway, rail, river and air. The William H. Natcher Bridge provides a route to Interstate 64 in Indiana. Construction has commenced on the I-69 spur and I-64 / I-65 corridor linking Owensboro to the interstate system. The Owensboro–Daviess County Regional Airport serves access to the international air transportation system. Education The Owensboro Public Schools, Daviess County Public Schools, and the Diocese of Owensboro's Catholic School System oversee K-12 education in and around Owensboro. Owensboro is home to two private, four-year colleges, Brescia University and Kentucky Wesleyan College, one public community college, Owensboro Community and Technical College, and the Western Kentucky University Owensboro extended campus. Medical Facilities The Owensboro area is fortunate to have an excellent hospital that is rated among the top five percent in the nation - Owensboro Health. This organization serves eleven counties in Kentucky and southern Indiana. The hospital completed construction of a new, $385 million state-of-the-art facility in 2013. Entertainment Owensboro offers a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. We have everything from fishing on a nearby lake to live performances of the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, one of the finest in the state. Municipal parks provide areas for picnicking, golf, tennis, softball, football and relaxing. Water sport activities may be enjoyed on the Ohio River. The Arts Cultural activities play a major role in the everyday lives of Owensboro residents. Owensboro RiverPark Center, a performing arts and civic center, boasts a 1,500 seat multi-purpose auditorium and experimental theatre, a riverfront plaza, an open-air courtyard, meeting/reception rooms, and the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Each year the RiverPark Center hosts over 150 performance events and 800 civic events. Many cultural agencies are funded in part by the City of Owensboro. The City is also home to the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art and the Owensboro Museum of Science and History. 4 Festivals Each festival is unique and designed for the whole family. The International Bar-B-Q Festival is held each year and sees tens of thousands of people visit the "Bar-B-Q Capital of the World". The Bar-B-Q Festival is packed with food, music, dance, and more food. Friday After 5 is a weekly, summer-long series of free outdoor music concerts at the RiverPark Center. The City, along with local sponsors, allows the concerts to be free to everyone. Friday After 5 has recently been named one of the “Top Ten Summer Festivals” in Kentucky. The concerts began in 1996 and have become the place to be Friday evenings during the summer. The season begins Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day weekend. Recreation Owensboro is host to the only municipal ice arena in Kentucky, Edge Ice Center. The year- round facility features a 42,600 square foot arena and is the home to the Owensboro Youth Hockey Association and the Owensboro Figure Skating Club. During the summer months, the City maintains two public swimming pools and three Sprayparks located at Legion, Kendall-Perkins and Smothers Parks. The Spraypark addition to Legion Park was an enhancement to a beautiful park located in the center of Owensboro that already features basketball courts, a walking trail, playground equipment, and covered shelters. Owensboro hosts many local, state, regional and national softball and baseball tournaments at our softball complex located at Jack C. Fisher Park. The new Smothers Park on the riverfront features an all-access Lazy-Dayz playground with a spraypark, concessions, music and signature fountains. 5 Our Diocese The Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky consists of 36 congregations including partnerships with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 3 campus ministries, 2 prison ministries, 2 partner community centers, All Saints Camp and Retreat Center, the School of Ministry, and many other ministries throughout 56 counties in the central and western part of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, from Carroll County to Clinton County and all the way west to Fulton County. The Right Reverend Terry A. White was ordained as the VIII Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky in September of 2010. We are one of two dioceses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including the Diocese of Lexington, and one of 110 dioceses that make up the Episcopal Church in the USA, a community of 2.4 million members in America and abroad. We are also part of the Anglican Communion, a global community of more than 80 million persons in 38 member provinces throughout the world. Programs and Ministries Worship At the core of our parish community are our Worship Services; there are many ways our congregation helps with this ministry. Altar Guild Trinity’s Altar Guild is dedicated to preparing the Eucharist for each service. Lectors Our lectors serve by reading the scripture during service. 6 Choir Led by choirmaster Martin Fendley, our devoted choir practices Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings to support the 10:00 AM Sunday Service (no need to be a trained singer, just a joy in musical service). Martin, who is only our 2nd choirmaster since the move to Ford Avenue— our first served for over 40 years, plays our gorgeous Holtkamp 13 rank organ that was installed in 1976. Acolytes These youths participate in worship, carrying the candles and crosses as well as assisting with the Eucharist.