Ministry Description – Curate
The Rev. Ian Burch, Rector

Background
St. Mark’s is a healthy, growing parish blocks from Lake Michigan on the East Side of Milwaukee. St. Mark’s is a loving, joyful, and practical congregation, with a deep commitment to hospitality and participation. At the offertory every Sunday, we remind ourselves that everyone is welcome in this congregation regardless of where they are in their faith journey. St. Mark’s has experienced five years of strong growth and is ready to add to its clergy staff. This is a church of gifted and creative people who choose each other as friends, who hold difference together well, who ask thoughtful questions about God and faith, who have a deep commitment to the work of justice, who value transparency, who have a willingness to live with change, and who love this church.

The Person We Seek
We seek a faithful, gifted, and creative transitional deacon/priest who values this two-year curacy (with a possible third year extension as is agreeable to both parties) as a time of learning, growth and responsibility in preparation to become a rector or vicar. We seek a leader who is curious, hard-working, entrepreneurial, and innovative, who works well with others to bring ideas into reality. Our curate will share in liturgical, pastoral, formational and administrative ministry with the rector. We anticipate that this position will develop over time, shaped by the particular gifts of the curate and the needs of the parish, as well as the curate’s ministry development with the goal of future leadership as vicar or rector. Women and persons of color are particularly encouraged to apply. 

Primary Responsibilities
The next curate at St. Mark’s will have primary responsibilities for pre-K-12 formation as well as campus ministry leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University. Additionally, we seek a candidate who brings other ministry interests and energy to the position that we haven’t dreamed of yet. 

Skills, Gifts, and Passions for Ministry
We seek an ordained person with awareness of their gifts, and the desire to encourage and collaborate with parishioners in discerning, developing and employing their own gifts.

  • Preaching – demonstrated strength in faithfully interpreting scripture and helping people apply lessons of the good news of Jesus Christ to their lives
  • Teaching – demonstrated skill in helping people learn, across a diversity of ages
  • Pastoral Care – demonstrated skill in constructive care without owning the need
  • Interpersonal Teamwork Skills – demonstrated skills to work creatively, collaboratively and effectively with other leaders, both lay and ordained, to achieve the best results for this congregation and the wider church
  • Diversity – work to include a wide variety of people in ministry, and the awareness and willingness to ask questions about who is not represented
  • Conflict Management – ability and willingness to engage conflict in a healthy way and move toward restoration without rancor
  • Planning, Organizing and Versatility – skilled at planning and prioritizing, with the ability to move between multiple tasks without losing sight of order and deadline
  • Relationship Skills – success at building trusting relationships among a variety of people, recognizing that the strength of programs and congregations depends upon the strength of the relationships that make them possible

Responsibilities and Expectations
The curate is appointed by and accountable to the rector, extending ministry in partnership with the rector at St. Mark’s, in the community, and in the diocese. Under the rector’s supervision and authority, the curate shares responsibilities as pastor, priest, and teacher. The curate works with paid and volunteer staff, taking lead responsibility with tasks and in areas assigned by the rector.

  • Leadership in formation: support church school, and youth group leaders, helping to identify, recruit, equip, and schedule teachers and leaders; offering adult formation classes; offering bible study; working with the rector to offer confirmation and inquirers’ classes and other small group ministries as needed, some of which may then be taken on by lay leaders once established
  • Support excellent clergy/lay partnership in pastoral care
  • Share preaching and celebrant roles
  • Participate in diocesan Fresh Start program, with an assigned mentor per diocesan guidelines and expectations
  • Attend and participate in monthly vestry meetings, monthly staff meetings, weekly supervision meetings with the rector
  • Lead and inspire and ask good questions, with deep faith and ready humor
  • Maintain a pattern of life that sets a healthy Christian example
  • Communicate effectively, constructively, and invitationally
  • Participate in an annual ministry review in conversation with the rector, recognizing strengths and addressing areas for growth, in order to be as fully prepared for parish leadership as possible in the time available during this curacy
  • The curate will work full-time, and will be available for pastoral emergencies.

Compensation &  Benefits

  • Total Clergy Compensation per Diocese of Milwaukee guidelines.
  • Four weeks of paid vacation, including four Sundays
  • Ten weeks of paid parental leave in the event of birth or adoption of a child
  • Health insurance and dental plan, per Diocese of Milwaukee policies
  • Church Pension Group plan

Note: All compensation and benefits are offered according to relevant IRS, The Episcopal Church, Diocese of Milwaukee, and parish policies and procedures.

Interested parties, please send a cover letter and OTM materials to the Rev. Ian Burch. If you have questions about the position, feel free to send them along.