Clergy/Lay Deployment and Parish Openings

Welcome to this resource of the Diocese of East Tennessee Deployment Office.

An important and challenging venture in the life of a church is the calling of a new rector. A primary service of the Diocesan Deployment Office is to assist vestries in their process to call a rector. We also strive to provide information and assistance to clergy and lay professionals interested in serving the People of God in the Diocese of East Tennessee. Toward that end, we have created this page to provide easy access to information for you.

The Diocese of East Tennessee strongly supports the ordination and deployment of women and minorities. Diocesan policy supports sabbatical leave and continuing education for clergy. Vestries are expected to prepare Letters of Agreement with the clergy they call and are encouraged to conduct annual Mutual Ministry Reviews. Clergy making a transition into and within the diocese are expected to participate in the Fresh Start program.

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer is the liturgical customary for the diocese, and the Hymnal of 1982 and its supplemental hymnals are used. The Diocese of East Tennessee supports congregations in their outreach through social ministry grants awarded from the Opportunity Fund.

In the Diocese of East Tennessee, we ask that all vestries use the guidance of a trained search process consultant. The consultant guides the search committee through the period of self study, the screening of candidates, the interview process and the discernment process. All candidates are screened by the Bishop and Deployment Officer at the beginning of the search process. Therefore, all inquiries for consideration in any search process come to this office rather than directly to the parish.

The vision statement of the Diocese of East Tennessee, written by Bishop Charles vonRosenberg, outlines our goals as a diocese as we look forward to the future with great faith and hope:

The Diocese of East Tennessee is one church.
We are called to love in the name of Jesus Christ
    and to grow in people and in resources
    for ministry and for mission.
We anticipate miracles, as God works through us!