Trinity Episcopal Church “Waterloo”

Elkridge, Maryland

Parish Profile

Trinity Episcopal Church 7474 Washington Blvd

Elkridge, MD 21075 410-220-3628

Email: info@trinityelkridge.org”In your relationships with each other have the same as Christ Jesus”

--Phillipians 2:5 (NIV)

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Greeting .................................................................................................................................................... 3

Mission, Goals, Core Values, “The Big Idea” ............................................................................................. 3

Mission .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Goals ..................................................................................................................................................... 3

Core Values ............................................................................................................................................ 3

“The Big Idea” ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Who We Are…What We Do Well…What We Need To Do Better… ............................................................ 4

We Are... ................................................................................................................................................ 4

What We Do Well .................................................................................................................................. 5 Sunday School ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Outreach ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 DreamBuilders .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Volunteers......................................................................................................................................................... 6

What We Need To Do Better ................................................................................................................. 6 Shifting Landscape ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Challenges ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

History ....................................................................................................................................................... 7

Current Parish Life ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Laity leadership - Vestry, Chalicists, Acolytes, Committee chairs .......................................................... 8 Lay Leadership .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Committees ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Ushers: .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Chalicists, Acolytes and Readers ....................................................................................................................... 9 Altar Guild ....................................................................................................................................................... 10

Parish life – Worship, Music, Education and Attendance patterns ......................................................... 10

Worship: .............................................................................................................................................. 10

Music ................................................................................................................................................... 11

Education: ........................................................................................................................................... 12

Mission .................................................................................................................................................... 12

Service Local ........................................................................................................................................ 12

Service National .................................................................................................................................. 13

Service International ........................................................................................................................... 13

Finances .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Our New Rector ....................................................................................................................................... 15

The Discernment Process ........................................................................................................................ 16

Application Requirements ................................................................................................................... 17 Questions: ....................................................................................................................................................... 17

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Greeting

Greetings! Trinity Episcopal Church in Elkridge, Maryland welcomes all who seek to serve God

in His Church. This is an exciting time for us at Trinity, a time of transitions and new

opportunities. We are enthusiastic about the changes and fellowship a new rector will bring to

our friendly, little parish. Although we do not know the path upon which we are about to embark,

we are genuinely excited that you are considering traveling this road with us. Through this

Profile, and perhaps, subsequent meetings, we will learn much about each other. One thing we

already know is that God is with us and, no matter what our destiny, God's path is the right path.

Mission, Goals, Core Values, “The Big Idea”

Mission

Our mission at Trinity is a calling by God to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with all

people through liturgy, preaching, study, outreach and stewardship. To accomplish our mission,

we wish to enact and share our presence within our community, increase youth participation and

welcome new members into the life of the church.

Goals

Trinity's immediate goals are to:

(1) Find a new rector who can share, physically and spiritually, the ministry of our parish while

working within a two-thirds to three-quarters time position. While we work under a constrained

budget, we are open to creative solutions and hope that you will bring us your faith and ideas.

Within the diocesan guidelines, everything is negotiable.

(2) Develop a plan to increase Trinity’s ministries using our varied resources, particularly our

buildings and land.

Core Values

Love Our God and Love Our Neighbor

“The Big Idea”

“In your relationships with each other have the same as Christ Jesus.” --Phillipians 2:5 (NIV)

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What is our “big idea”? It is a concept that will drive our ministry into the future. For months we

have prayed, discussed, and pondered this concept of a “Big Idea,” and ultimately have decided

that for Trinity our “Big Idea” is our Relationships. We see it at the passing of the peace each

Sunday; we see it at parish functions, both formal and informal. We see it in the hospitals, when

one of us is ill; we see it in small actions, one to another and in larger actions embracing those in

the surrounding community. We have built solid relationships with each other and we are

prepared to build relationships with those who join us in the future. It is in these relationships

that we foster a love of god and neighbor, driving us to build new ministries, and bridge the gap

between Trinity today and Trinity in the future.

Who We Are…What We Do Well…What We Need To Do Better…

We Are...

We are a community of approximately 75 families worshipping together in Elkridge, Maryland,

off of MD Route 1 between MD Route 100 and MD Route 175. Our approximately six acre

consists of a church, a rectory, office, classroom additions, and a fellowship hall. The parish also

maintains small 1 acre cemeteries at separate offsite locations.

Trinity’s mission is a calling by God to enable and share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

with all people through liturgy, preaching, study, outreach, and stewardship. There are two

traditional Rite II Holy Eucharist based Sunday services at 8:00 and 10:15. The earlier service is

spoken and our choir sings at the second service. Sunday school and adult education occur

between the two services and fellowship gatherings take place after each service. Our

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parishioners represent diverse groups of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. All are welcome

to worship and grow spiritually at Trinity.

Our parishioners live in established communities from within Howard County and the

surrounding counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Prince Georges. Many new developments

are also under construction in the immediate area surrounding Trinity. We are always reaching

out to the communities in the parish area through flyers, announcements, signage and invitations

to parish activities and events. Trinity parishioners also provide outreach programs to our local

communities, supporting the local food bank, nursing home, and homeless shelters.

As the communities around us grow, Trinity hopes to expand our presence within the community,

increase youth participation, and welcome new members into the life of our church.

What We Do Well

Sunday School

Our Sunday school program is well organized and run by caring and supportive volunteers using

an Episcopal Church curriculum that includes interactive and engaging projects and activities.

With the support of an educational grant from the diocese, we are currently working to expand

our program to include more educational opportunities for all ages.

Outreach

Trinity’s Outreach program includes support for both local and global organizations. Consistent

with our mission, The Trinity Thrift Shop is a source of income for the church while helping

people in need in our own community and across the state. Clothing and household items are

available for sale and remaining donations are made to missions in Maryland and overseas.

Support is also provided to the patients at Springfield State Hospital.

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DreamBuilders

Trinity actively participates in DreamBuilders, a multi-denominational organization building and

renovating homes in Maryland, across the United States and around the world. Trinity also

supports the local county food bank, accepting canned and dry goods donations at Sunday

services and delivering collections on a monthly basis.

Volunteers

Trinity is a community of dedicated volunteers devoting their time and treasure to the care and

keeping of our community, programs and church. Our volunteers are essential to the life of our

church and our mission.

What We Need To Do Better

Shifting Landscape

As the area around Trinity changed over the years, growing our parish became more challenging;

as more businesses moved into the area and families moved further out, the landscape shifted.

However, recent changes in the lay out of military bases across the United States have led to an

influx of new individuals in the area. Route 1 is now changing again with more housing being

developed and families moving back into the area. As the community grows, Trinity hopes to

grow with it. We have begun implementing some ideas already, including new church signage, a

strong web presence and interaction on popular social media outlets such as Facebook. We are

working diligently to reach beyond the walls and property of Trinity.

Challenges

While we strive to grow and build our community we also recognize the challenges we face,

including maintaining our historical buildings and property within considerable financial

restraints and handling differences and conflicts within our small community; most significantly

regarding the use of our property and additional lands.

Communication struggles also challenge the varying age groups of our community with some

wanting to dive head first into new technologies and others preferring traditional methods of

communication. Trinity works hard to reach every parishioner so all are involved.

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History

Founded in 1856, our church has a considerable presence and history in the area. A detailed

history is provided here.

The founding of our congregation is credited to Adaminna Faber Birckhead, a Danish immigrant.

On a rural piece of land provided by the Birckhead and Ridgely families, the work to erect a

building began in July of 1856. On March 26, 1857, Bishop William R. Whittingham

consecrated “Trinity Chapel,” a modest wooden structure fronting Washington Boulevard (more

commonly known today as Route 1).

Trinity Chapel first served as a "chapel of ease” for Christ Church, Guilford (known today as

Christ Church, Columbia). The Reverend Alexander X. Berger (1857-1865), serving in the dual

role as the Rector of Christ Church and of Trinity Chapel, is considered our first Rector. With

Berger’s 1865 resignation, Trinity’s congregation petitioned the Maryland Diocesan Convention

for admission as an independent parish with the right to call its own rector. It was successful

when in 1866, the Convention granted Trinity Chapel permission to separate from Christ Church.

Trinity became a parish in 1869.

The Reverend Theodore Gambrill (1866-1871) led the newly organized Trinity Church, a small,

diverse parish of laborers, farmers and small merchants. The early years of the parish were

characterized by evangelism focusing on nearby families and assisting travelers along Route 1,

the main road from Baltimore to Washington at that time. Sunday schools for both white and

African-American children were established and "missionary" work conducted in areas of

Howard County. The parish erected a chapel and a Sunday school building at Pfeiffer’s Corner in

1871. [This chapel was demolished in 1938, and the Sunday school building converted to a thrift

and gift shop in 1980.]

The year 1890 brought changes to Trinity Church, the main church building. The congregation

enhanced the church building by adding a fieldstone extension on the front, re-orienting the main

entrance, and adding additional seating. These revisions changed the appearance of the church

into the building that one sees today.

Financial resources apparently became constrained during the twentieth century. A series of

rectors served in a part-time capacity; some worked second jobs in the secular arena to

supplement their income. This was the case with two of our longest serving rectors; Charles

Fosbroke (1919-1938) operated a dairy farm and George Van Bibber Shriver (1945-1969)

worked in the insurance industry. Yet, despite limited funding, the parish continued to reach out

to the community with an emphasis on religious education. During Reverend Shriver’s tenure, a

small bus was purchased to facilitate the activities of the Sunday school.

The encroaching commercialization of the Route 1 corridor, however, presented a major

challenge for the parish during the 1960s. As early as 1962, the Reverend Noble Powell, Bishop

of the Diocese of Maryland, recommended that Trinity consider relocating elsewhere. Such a

move to a more residential area might have stimulated opportunities for growth. A

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congregational vote finally was held in March 1973, in which a majority of members present

voted to move the parish to the edge of a nearby, growing area—Columbia. The vote was

overturned later that same year by a coalition of members and influential non-members

interested in the preservation of the historic church building. Yet, the events surrounding these

opposing decisions sowed the seeds of continued discontent. The congregation witnessed a 40

percent turnover during the next ten years.

The communal spirit of the parish, however, regenerated with time. An infusion of cash

donations in 1974 allowed for the renovation of the main church as well as work on the rectory.

The money also helped to underwrite fund-raising activities, such as community-wide dinners

promoting fellowship opportunities among the members.

The ministry of Reverend John Steiner (1993-2013), our most recent rector, marked yet another

transitional period in our parish history; Parish demographics changed as an influx of new

members, many with no previous ties to the Episcopal Church and living beyond the proximate

area, were attracted to Steiner’s ministry. Father Skip, as he was more commonly known, was

noted for his brief, but pithy, sermons and his emphasis on outreach. Aided often by his wife

Carolyn, Skip led the congregation in social service projects focused largely on housing, both

locally and elsewhere. He shepherded the construction of a new building for the use of the

Sunday school and general community. With his approval, the church opened its parish hall as a

temporary winter shelter to the area’s homeless. His ministry to children and those with physical

limitations also highlighted Skip’s tenure at Trinity.

The Trinity Church congregation, for over one hundred and fifty years, has ministered

consistently to the needs of those in the greater community. Though always small in numbers, its

diverse members continue to reach outward to “Seek Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with

God.” (Micah - UCC Quotation.)

Current Parish Life

Laity leadership - Vestry, Chalicists, Acolytes, Committee chairs

Lay Leadership

Our lay leadership is dedicated and compassionate. At Trinity Episcopal Church, our Vestry of

nine elected parishioners works as one team for the well being of the parish. Each year, a third of

the vestry rotates off to allow a new slate of members to take its place. The parish community

nominates and elects new vestry members at our annual meeting in January. Our vestry reflects

the diversity of the parish and membership is open to all men and women of the congregation.

The Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, and Registrar are elected at the first vestry

meeting of the year as terms expire. The same individual holds these leadership roles for a period

of one year with a maximum of five years. At Trinity the Senior Warden is responsible for the

day-to-day business related functions of the church, with the Junior Warden responsible for the

buildings and maintenance.

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Trinity also employs a handful of individuals who support the activities of the parish,

specifically, a youth education coordinator, organist and parish administrator.

Committees

A core group of dedicated parishioners lead a wide array of committees at Trinity. Committees

are formed to support the needs and goals of our community. Committees include:

Communications – responsible for getting the word out via website updates, newsletter

articles and weekly emails.

Social committee – responsible for social events for the parish community, including

annual events such as the Annual Fall Picnic, Night at the ballpark, Game Nights and

more.

Grounds and Maintenance – responsible for maintaining and repairing the building and

grounds. Organizing a mow schedule each spring/summer and looking for ways to

improve efficiencies within the properties.

Education Committee – responsible for all aspects of Christian Education within the

parish. This includes the children, youth, and adult education programs. The Rector has

been actively involved with this committee.

Ushers

A team of ushers assists at the 8:00 and 10:15 worship services each Sunday; approximately ten

individuals regularly serve on a rotating basis. The Usher schedule is put together on a quarterly

basis and ushers are encouraged to find coverage or swap dates as needed. The 10:15 Ushers are

responsible for counting and recording plate donations for the Sunday Services. Ushers receive a

quarterly schedule and weekly email reminders go out to the Ushers on duty for the upcoming

week. All are welcome to join our team of ushers.

Chalicists, Acolytes and Readers

Our Parish Administrator sends out a schedule for Chalicists, Acolytes and Readers on a

quarterly basis. Reminders and a copy of the psalm and readings are sent out via email the week

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before the service. This is particularly helpful to our youth readers, who like to practice before

reading in front of the parish. We have children who serve as readers throughout the year and

truly enjoy the opportunity to participate. Children look forward to coming to church and being a

part of the service.

Altar Guild

This dedicated team of parishioners prepares the altar for services each Sunday. Their devotion to

this process is a treasured “behind the scenes” commitment to our parish. The Altar Guild is open

to all members of the parish community and new members are always welcome.

Parish life – Worship, Music, Education and Attendance patterns

Worship

Traditionally there are two Sunday worship times. The 8:00 worship is a quiet, spoken Eucharist

and the 10:15 worship is a choral Eucharist. Both services are held in the historic church and

follow the Rite II Eucharist from the 1982 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

The service is printed in its entirety in a bulletin specific to each service so it is as easy as

possible to follow. The bulletin includes the Rite II Eucharist, the psalm and scriptures for the

service. For the 10:15 service we also use the 1982 Hymnal with hymn numbers printed in the

bulletin.

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We believe that children are as much members of the body of Christ as adults. Children attend

and are welcomed at both services. Our children enjoy ringing the bells to start the service,

reading the psalm and scriptures, presenting the sacraments and collecting the offering. We are

comfortable with babies who sometimes cry and toddlers who sometimes wander during the

service. We believe in being a church that encourages children in the life of the church, learning

about the liturgy and the Eucharist by being an active part of the celebration.

The Vestments and altarware used have personal significance for many of our parish families.

Communion is distributed from the aisle in both services and prayers for birthdays and

anniversaries are offered each Sunday before the announcements.

We invite all to join us as we celebrate the life of the church through worship and the Eucharist.

Come hear familiar voices singing, share the peace with families and friends and learn the

history of our church from persons whose families have worshiped here for multiple generations.

Trinity is a lovely church where members shine forth, filled with God’s promise.

Music

Nina Stepniak, our organist and choir director, provides music on a 1930 Moller organ for the

10:15 service. Our organ may be old but it was completely restored in 2010, providing a deep

and resonant sound that modern organs cannot match. At our 10:15 Sunday service, the choir

leads the singing of hymns and service music and often sings anthems. The choir takes a short

summer break each year.

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Hearing the choir sing is a spiritual experience unto itself. With special pieces incorporated into

the service on a regular basis, there is always something new to share. The choir offers anyone

with a desire to sing, the opportunity to worship through music. The choir meets once a week to

practice on Wednesday evenings.

Education

At Trinity, our Sunday school program is interactive and fun. Using the curriculum, Seasons of

the Spirit, our teachers bring God’s message of love to children of all ages using Bible stories

and hands-on projects. For our children the rich stories in the Bible help teach them about God’s

love and God’s expectations for us. Our activities are designed to help children grapple with

questions of right and wrong, social justice in the world, and how to live a Christian life, sharing

the love of Jesus with all. Our Youth (middle and high school students) also participate in

outreach projects including the 30 Hour Famine, Souper Bowl Sunday and other fellowship

activities.

Trinity’s Adult Education classes focus on rich discussions of books and current topics. Recent

discussion books have included: Walking Home by Margaret Guenther, Embracing the Prophets

by Walter Brueggemann, The Heart of Christianity by Marcus J. Borg, and A New Kind of

Christianity by Brian McLaren. These sessions provide us an opportunity to deepen our faith

through thoughtful reading, discernment and discussion.

Mission

Service Local

For Christ's love compels us to serve the homeless in Howard County by hosting the Cold

Winter Shelter, serving meals on Thanksgiving Day, and supplying clothing to the homeless from

our Thrift Shop. We are a presence in the prisons, volunteering in the prison for women in Jessup

and the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital. We support the causes that have touched our neighbors such

as Relay for Life, March of Dimes, donations for service and support dogs, the Walk to Cure

Encephalitis and Rebuilding Together. We work to rebuild or restore housing for those in need in

cooperation with Habitat for Humanity, DreamBuilders of Maryland, and ARC of Howard

County. We also join our brothers and sisters from parishes in the Patapsco Region donating to

American Rescue (Baltimore), which maintains a homeless shelter and a thrift shop, and giving

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clothing and gifts to the Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville. Our previous rector was

always responsive to the needs of the people in our community, making referrals for services or

offering small gifts of money or food to persons who expressed need.

Service National

Christ compels us to venture forth and feed the hungry through programs such as Souper Bowl

Sunday and the Howard County Food Bank. We strive to help people who have lost their homes

to weather, fire, or other calamity. As a founding member of DreamBuilders, a multifaith

organization dedicated to helping renovate, restore or construct homes, Trinity parishioners have

worked on building and renovating houses in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,

Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Vermont, and Missouri.

Service International

Christ compels us to reach further and serve people in need all over the world. The youth of the

parish lead the way with the 30 Hour Famine, a campaign to make us aware of worldwide

hunger. Our parishioners also volunteer to help our neighbors in Ghana through Ghanaian

Mothers Hope (GMH): Guatemala and Panama through DreamBuilders and Habitat for

Humanity; and Kenya through Kenya Connect Mission trips.

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Finances

Trinity's recent financial history is simplified in the chart below. This chart shows the number of

pledging members over the past few years. Due to the small size of the Trinity community, our

operating income is limited. However, unlike many parishes in recent years, Trinity has

consciously kept operating expenses within the operating income so that Trinity runs with a

surplus. (Note: This chart does not include Endowment income)

The earthquake in August 2011 left the exterior wall behind the altar with considerable damage.

Approximately $165,000 was needed to repair and restore the church. Thanks to the generosity

and financial support of 95 donors (family units), including Trinity members near and far and

friends of Trinity, the restoration of the sanctuary wall and the refinishing of the stained glass

windows were completed without any bank loans. Likewise, the 1930 Moeller pipe organ repair

and a new lawn mower were financed through the generosity of the members of Trinity in 2010

and 2011.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Budget

Number of Signed Pledge Cards 45 43 49 46 43

Amount Pledged 126,306 131,582 140,645 132,625 118,113

Revenue - All Sources

Pledge, Plate, and Regular Support 143,596 145,696 152,376 151,207 126,722

Other Operating Income 5,842 4,676 11,903 14,766 18,540

Total Operating Income 149,438 150,372 164,279 165,973 145,262

Capital Funds Contributions 19,332 18,311 150,871 27,411 0

Income for Outreach 14,499 16,012 12,300 16,843 15,000

Total Non-Operating Income 33,831 34,323 163,171 44,254 15,000

Total Revenues 183,269 184,695 327,450 210,227 160,262

Expenses - All Sources

Diocesan Assessment 15,784 16,853 17,026 17,919 17,920

All Other Operating Expenses 133,713 127,758 124,146 141,731 121,842

Total Operating Expenses 149,497 144,611 141,172 159,650 139,762

Capital Expenditures 7,514 13,024 151,575 28,452 0

Outreach Provided 13,013 16,787 16,946 12,606 15,000

Total Non-Operating Exp. 20,527 29,811 168,521 41,058 15,000

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Total Expenditures 170,024 174,422 309,693 200,708 154,762

Net Surplus 13,245 10,273 17,757 9,519 5,500

The following charts for 2013 show how our plate, pledge and general income have been able to

cover our operating expenses.

2013 Income 2013 Expenses

To date, Trinity remains debt free. As of December of 2013, the checking accounts have a

balance of $71,695, the Endowment account has a balance of $80,074, and the amount in

Trinity's Certificates of Deposit is $45,543.

Our New Rector

The call has gone out. We hope the Spirit has touched you and you will seek to be included as a

candidate for the next Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Elkridge Maryland. Given our size

and budget, this position will most likely be a two-thirds or three-fourths time role, however, we

are open to creative solutions for this challenge and hope that you will bring us your inspiration

and ideas. Within the diocesan guidelines, everything is negotiable.

Our parish seeks a new rector who can meet the following key goals:

1. Pastoral care of the congregation as a primary focus:

o Accept everyone as a child of God in this family size parish.

o Counsel for personal, spiritual and moral issues

o Personally share ministry to the sick, bereaved, hospitalized and homebound

o Work to retain current members and enhance their Christian formation

o Support adult education classes and /or workshops

Support youth education programs/child -centered worship

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o Talk with individuals about their spiritual beliefs

2. A leadership /management style that will:

o Train or mentor the parish in an evangelistic effort to build up the body of Christ

o Recruit capable members for lay leadership roles

o Work with the lay leaders to solve the long -standing issues of the parish

o Respect the traditions and current process at Trinity with the ability to gently lead

us to changes where needed

o Strengthen the stewardship of current and new members

o Engage with the communities and constituencies that surround the Trinity

campus.

3. A strong personal spiritual life that includes:

o Prayer, worship and devotion in the Episcopal tradition that will be shared with

the parish

o Encouragement of the spiritual life of all the parish members

4. Personal characteristics.

Approachable, open to all

Loves what he or she is doing

Ability to unite and lead the congregation towards change when necessary for

parish growth

Ability to inspire and challenge us to grow

Open minded, caring, compassionate, and excited about working with a family-

size parish.

We seek someone who is a faithful servant of God, diligent pastor to the people, creative,

innovative, and what Trinity needs in a new Rector!

The Discernment Process

The Search Committee began its work in January 2014, meeting with every parish group,

conducting a parish survey, and meeting with the congregation to determine the future of parish

resources and to work on our “Big Idea.” The Committee compiled all of this information for use

in the Ministry Portfolio and this Parish Profile.

The Committee will take applications until October 7, 2014. The committee will inform eligible

candidates about the remainder of the process. We pray that a new rector will join us in early

2015.

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Application Requirements

Applications should be emailed to and addressed to: swright@episcopalmaryland.org

Applications should include:

A cover letter expressing interest

Resume

A copy of an updated OTM profile

A copy of or link to a recent sermon.

Three references* including at least one person, preferably clergy, who can speak to your

ability to lead a small congregation.

A brief autobiographical statement of 500 or less words.

Responses to the questions provided below.

Questions:

What is your experience with evangelism?

Describe how you would structure the position of rector given that it may not be full time.

What is your experience with leading a parish with limited resources?

Your responses to these questions should be a maximum of 500 words each.

*Preferred References are (1) members of the clergy of the Episcopal Church; (2) lay members

of the Episcopal Church; (3) any other interested person who is not a member of your family or

someone you currently directly supervise.