The Search for Our Next Priest
Where we are coming from
Our most recent Rector, the Rev. Whitney Smith, retired on May 24, 2026, concluding a ministry of seven years. At that time, our Senior Warden, Ms. Karen Smith, assumed the role of administering the Household, with our Deacon, the Rev. Karen Sullivan, responsible for all clerical and pastoral matters.
We are thankful for our partners at the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, from Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows on down, as they help us maintain our mission and guide us through this process.
A variety of guest priests and musicians are providing their gifts towards are ongoing worship, while members and friends of St. Thomas continue to practice their ministries as the parish remains vibrant as the Episcopal Church in Johnson County, Indiana.
Where we are now
CWe have just completed the Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) survey, to get an initial idea of how our Household sees itself and what are members want.
Our Vestry is reviewing the results of the survey and will soon share those findings with the larger congregation.
(Pictured here: St. Thomas Caterbury, the patron of our survey and also the search process.)
Where we are going
After reviewing the CAT survey, the next stop on our journey will be to have “Holy Conversations” between our members, where we will have in-depth reviews of what St. Thomas is as a parish, who we want to be going forward, and our next priest will fit into that vision.
(Pictured here: our “road map” of the search process, inspired by a design from our friends at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Indianapolis.)
