I assisted with proofreading and writing the copy for this parish profile. Months prior, I provided art direction that ultimately produced the logo and masthead as shown on this piece.
3. Who we are
St. Thomas is an Episcopal church
serving Christ for 134 years
in the Cincinnati suburb of Terrace Park.
We are looking for our 12th Rector.
Currently we have a full-time staff of five,
membership of approximately 700,
182 pledging families,
an annual budget of $885,000,
and average Sunday attendance of 222.
4. Our Strengths
We are a “loving, caring, friendly” parish with strong traditions that we value. A significant
proportion of us have been members of St Thomas for 30 years or longer. In our parish-
wide focus groups, parishioners describe us as having a “long tradition of spirituality” and a
How We See “willingness to be transformed.”
Ourselves Worship: We offer two Rite 1 and two Rite II services each week, and our music program,
with six choirs, offers “wonderful” traditional Anglican music at these services, as well as
several special events each year with outside singers and instrumentalists.
“We are educated, smart
people who give their Education: Starting in 2007, we have an adult education hour between Sunday services.
talents to the church.”
We also have four new church school programs for children 3-16 which parishioners feel
give our children a “solid foundation” in the elements of our faith.
“Our ‘plant’ is lovely, Physical Plant: We have a beautiful worship space and a six year old, 10.5 million dol-
though not utilized fully lar building (debt-free) that houses our Parish Hall, Church School, Nursery School, a
and reflects the honor
commercial-grade kitchen, and several sitting rooms and offices.
which is felt by the con-
gregation for the Lord.”
Congregation: As a congregation, we see ourselves as being “resilient, welcoming, and
friendly.” The words we use to describe our church and ourselves are “authentic, comfort-
able and well intentioned.”
“The group is active in
various ministries of Outreach: We have several significant, long-term outreach programs: In 1964 we and two
service to the larger other churches founded the Interparish Ministry, a local food pantry and social service
community.”
provider. In 1990, we conceived and financed the building of one hundred town homes
for low income families in a nearby rural community. And for 30 years, St. Thomas youth
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
and accompanying adult volunteers have participated in Mt. TOP, our annual
mission trip to rural Tennessee.
How we describe ourselves in one word
For a fuller list of outreach
Wounded
and ministries please see Waiting/passive 5%
5% Traditional
our expanded Parish Profile In transition 21%
5%
on our website
Episcopalian
www.stthomasepiscopal.org. 5%
Well-intentioned
6%
Friendly
12%
Home
7%
Caring Loving
7% 11%
The Rev’d. Darby Everhard,
our Sr. Associate Rector, Authentic
7% Conservative
leading worship. 9%
PAGE 2
5. Photo by Lynn Siegfried
Our Challenges
There is, however, a sense that we have lost energy and momentum at St. Thomas. Since
2004 when our rector of 9 years left, we have had one rector and three interim rectors.
Our attendance has diminished annually since 1999. The maintenance of our new build-
ing has been a significant drain on our resources as well as a source of controversy among
parishioners. Our previous rector was asked to resign. And at this time, we are a parish Tom Long of “Friends of the
Groom”.
with challenging financial issues. We seek a new rector who will provide invigorating
leadership to the parish and bring much needed stability and direction.
Worship: Our worship experience is described by some as “one dimensional, and dull.”
Others say, “the pews are empty because we offer too many services and they are all alike.” “Too many services–
There are significant numbers of us who feel that the music, while beautiful, is too nothing for the high
difficult to sing. schoolers and young
college age.”
Education: Our congregation wants challenging, relevant, adult educa-
tion opportunities focusing on “things that pertain to my life.” We
want more Bible and prayer study in small-groups. Our program for
high school students is widely seen as needing improvement, and there
“It is discouraging to see a
are many requests for a youth minister. Photo by Lynn Siegfried
Another interesting half-full church.”
adult education hour.
Physical Plant: Our new building is underused and very expensive.
We need to use our splendid facility more fully for recruiting new members and to make
our presence and our welcome more strongly felt in our surrounding communities.
“We need to have more
Congregation: Many parishioners feel that “lingering resentment over old wounds,
parishioners active.”
focusing inward, not outward, and insularity” keep us from moving forward.
Outreach: We have many outreach options, but suffer from “volunteer fatigue” because
too few people carry the heavy load of volunteering.
Overall, our congregation is eager for:
• Stable, inspired, leadership and direction.
• Our worship to be more joyful, spirit-filled, vital and happy.
• New parishioners and the return of those who have left.
• Challenging and relevant adult and youth education.
• Fuller and more creative use of our new building, especially to make us a more
recognized and welcoming presence in the community.
PAGE 3
6. Skills and Characteristics We Seek in Our Next Rector
• e seek a rector who is, according to our parish-wide survey, a leader (12%), a builder
W
of congregations (11%), a good preacher (10%), spirit-driven (9%), a youth leader,
(9%), and warm (7%).
Our Next Rector • We need a inspirational rector who both respects tradition and has experience with
multiple liturgies and forms of worship. There is strong feeling that we need more
variety, relevance, joy, and energy in our sermons, music and liturgy. However, we have
“I would like a rector
interested in the care and little experience with alternate liturgies, and so we need a rector who is able to gently
growth of this parish– lead the congregation to appreciate a range of worship rituals and structures.
not as a stepping stone.”
• ith so much change in the last five to seven years, we need an experienced leader
W
who can help us create a focused, energetic, fiscally-responsible organization.
• ecause we have been drifting, we need a person with vision, tact, imagination, and
B
“A spiritual scholar who warmth who can align our many well-established groups to fulfill our collaborative
can work with and vision for a more vital community at St. Thomas.
inspire people, especially
young families.” • e need a person with spiritual wisdom and empathy to help us resolve issues that
W
keep us looking backward rather than forward.
• e need a spirit-filled person who can help bring relevance, variety, energy and
W
fellowship to our adult and youth education programs.
“Compassionate,
thoughtful, approachable, • e need a person who can lead us as we reach out to the surrounding communities,
W
with good counseling and can inspire and lead our emerging
skills.” evangelizing ministry. Top Rector Qualities
Finance
Manager Adult Education
Outreach Fund-raiser
Leader
Building
Lay Leaders
Listener
Building
Congregation
Building
Fellowship
Warmth
Orator
Collaborative
Leader
Pastoral
Youth Education
Spirit-driven
The information in this Parish Profile was gathered in March 2009 by means of focus group discussions and a survey.
One hundred and forty-one parishioners attended focus groups and 125 parishioners filled out surveys.
PAGE 4
7. Our Past and Present
St. Thomas is located in the Village of Terrace Park, fifteen miles east of Cincinnati.
“We need this parish to
Our church was founded in 1876, in a small wooden structure on the banks of the Little
establish viable programs
Miami River, serving the residents of Terrace Park, Milford, Indian Hill and Miamiville. that integrate with the
Photo by Lynn Siegfried community.”
In 1901 the congregation built a new church in Terrace Park. The
church is located on the very spot that was once Covalt’s Station, a
pioneer fort built to defend the first settlers from attack. The nave
of the new building was dedicated as a memorial to the daughter
of John Robinson, a local landowner who wintered his circus in
Terrace Park. We are told that Mr. Robinson’s original proposal
called for a frieze of elephants, trunk to tail, all the way around the
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
interior of the nave. While this never happened, old-
The welcoming red doors.
timers do remember elephants pulling snow plows on
the tree-lined roads of Terrace Park.
The church flourished with the growing area population, and the size of the
building was increased with additions in 1950 and 1960. A Columbarium
was added in 1983, ramps in 1992, and elevators connected all floors in our
2004 addition.
By 2002 the church buildings were strained trying to contain a growing num-
ber of programs and activities. Ground was broken for a major new structure:
a 55,000 square foot, four-storied Parish Building, which opened in 2004.
Now, we are grappling with the challenge of maintaining this new facility.
Though it brings new opportunities to serve Jesus in our community, our re-
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
duced numbers and income make its maintenance
a burden, and the facility is far from fulfilling its
potential for outreach to the surrounding areas.
Our newly established Evangelism Ministry is
committed to finding ways in which this splendid Our beautiful Parish Hall.
facility can serve as a gateway into the St. Thomas church
community.
St. Thomas today is a deeply committed church with a strong
spiritual core, offering a wide range of opportunities for
worship, inspiration, instruction and renewal. We have 124
Decorating the tree at Christmas.
PAGE 5
8. children enrolled in four new church school programs: the Catechesis of the Good Shep-
herd for 3-6 year olds, Faith Explorers for 6-11 year olds, Rite 13 for 12-14 year olds, and
Journey to Adulthood for 15-16 year olds. We also offer a youth group for older teens,
but it is widely recognized that this program needs more focus and energy.
We have a weekly adult education hour from 10:00 to 11:00 between our Sunday morn-
ing services. Throughout the year, we also offer several four to six week Wednesday night
supper and discussion group series, small study and prayer groups, and special Lenten
programs.
“We are still here.
As St. Thomas has grown, so have the eastern suburbs
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
We have survived.
We have kept the faith.” of Cincinnati. Today, fewer than half our parishioners
live in Terrace Park, with growing numbers from Mil-
ford (just across the Little Miami River), Indian Hill,
Mariemont, Anderson Township, and more rural parts
of neighboring Clermont County. There are now four
“We need this parish new and growing evangelical churches within five miles
to diversify more of St. Thomas that have attracted many of our members,
(demographically).” especially our youth.
For more information on key aspects of our parish,
please see our expanded Parish Profile on our website
www.stthomasepiscopal.org.
The tunnel in Terrace Park.
Our Setting
With its tree-lined streets, late 19th century Victorian houses, and kids on bicycles, the
Village of Terrace Park has a distinctly Americana feel about it. The village green, grade
Photo by John Cascella
school, community building and church serve as centers of activity for all its residents.
Community activities are relaxed and family oriented, from the Memorial Day and Labor
Day parades with marching band, decorated bicycles and costumed pets, to the pumpkin
festival in the fall, and lighting of the Village Christmas tree and luminaria in December.
It is worth noting that while St. Thomas is not a community church, it is the only church
The front entrance of in the Terrace Park community. There is strong feeling among parishioners that St.
St. Thomas. Thomas should make a greater effort toward becoming a more central force and presence
for the Village of Terrace Park.
PAGE 6
9. Terrace Park is part of the Mariemont school district (the neighboring suburb to the
west). Mariemont High School has been designated a “National Exemplary School” by
the U.S. Department of Education and Terrace Park Elementary has been named both a
“National Exemplary” and “Blue Ribbon” school.
The Little Miami, a National Scenic River, forms the east-
ern and southern boundaries of Terrace Park, providing many
miles of fishing and canoeing. Cincinnati, “The Queen City
of the West,” has been lavishly praised in previous centuries
by Longfellow, Twain, and Dickens (among others) for its “We have a wonderful
natural beauty, culture and industry. More recently, it has been mix of church members,
and they come together in
designated among America’s most livable cities. Cincinnati’s
a time of need.”
principal feature is, of course, the Ohio River which has carved
out the steep hillsides that form the city’s seven hills. The city
planners have carefully preserved these tree covered hillsides to
create a lovely setting. Across the river is Northern Kentucky,
with the Bluegrass Country a short drive away. The Little Miami river.
Cincinnati is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. The Diocesan House
and Christ Church Cathedral are located in downtown Cincinnati, just 25 minutes away.
The proximity encourages clergy and lay involvement in the activities and business of
the diocese.
The largest employers in the area are Procter & Gamble, General Electric, and the
University of Cincinnati. There are eight colleges and universities within a twenty mile
radius. Hospital and medical care are second to none. Many feel that Cincinnati’s princi-
pal attraction is its remarkable selection of Fine Arts, with an internationally recognized
symphony, chamber orchestra, opera, ballet, and the College Conservatory of Music at the
University of Cincinnati. The Playhouse in the Park and the The Cincinnati Shakespeare
Company offer first-rate traditional theater, with the Ensemble Theater Company provid-
ing more contemporary drama. Then there are the Cincinnati Zoo, Art Museum, Natural
History Museum and Hamilton County Library – all recognized as among the country’s
very finest. And there are major league sports, with the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals!
Newcomers are often taken by surprise by the city’s ease of living, its Midwestern
openness and welcoming ways, its livable moderate size, easy accessibility, and its high
energy citizenry.
PAGE 7
10. Our Worship
Saturday 5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Prayers for Healing
Sunday 7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Prayers for Healing, Children’s Chapel and
hospitality hour
10:00 a.m. Sunday School, all ages
11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I with hospitality hour
“I want more joy and Summer Sundays
energy in worship.” Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Prayers for Healing
7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I
9:00 a.m. Summer Breakfast Hour
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Prayers for Healing
Other occasions, Holy days and seasons are celebrated with appropriate liturgies. Taize
liturgies are offered several times a year.
Sunday worship is central to the life of the parish. It is enriched and inspired by strong lay
participation. Ushers, greeters, lectors, acolytes, and chalice bearers serve at most services.
There are occasional Choral Evensongs, concerts, and the Festival of Lessons and Carols
is sung at Christmas season by the Men & Boys choir.
The congregation has expressed a strong desire for more varied worship opportunities;
however we do not know exactly what we want. Eighty-five percent of survey participants
feel that we should offer some version of a less traditional form of worship. Focus group
comments range from needing “a traditional service with new ideas,” “a contemporary
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
service, if needed,” “more relevant energetic sermons,” “relevant
music–not Latin or academic,” “upbeat music I can sing,” to “we
need respect for traditional liturgy and ritual,” and “no contem-
porary service, please.” We seek a rector who will work collabora-
tively with the parish to help us clarify and fulfill this vision.
The Nursery School
St. Thomas is the home of a well-established and vibrant
five day a week preschool program that is an extension of the
Church’s outreach ministry. Enrolling 190 children (with a
capacity of 205), ages two though five, in morning and after-
noon sessions, the school’s mission is to serve the Parish and
A special performance by some talented young angels.
PAGE 8
11. Photo by Lynn Siegfried
surrounding communities by providing excellent preschool education in a Christian
environment. There are 22 teachers and staff turn-over is very low. While some of these
students are the children of parishioners, others come from area families who are not
members of St. Thomas. We realize that our Nursery School is a draw for these
families, and we are interested in accepting more Nursery School families as members
of St. Thomas.
Current Parish Administration and Organization
We are blessed with a wonderful full-time staff of five and part-time staff of six. In Meditation room.
addition we have three full-time staff of semi-autonomous programs of St Thomas:
our Director of Services for Thomaston Woods and our Nursery School Director and her
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
assistant. We have a loyal and effective corps of volunteers who staff the church office and
edit our weekly online bulletin and monthly mailed newsletter, Tidings.
The Rev’d. Robert E. Reynolds–Interim Rector
The Rev’d. Darby Oliver Everhard–Senior Associate Rector
Michael Hrivnak–Director of Music
Dr. Connie Golden–Organist
Chrissy Hrivnak–Women’s Choir Director
Jill Fischer–Parish Administrator
Rose Loprest–Ministry Assistant
Connie Krebs–Bookkeeper Hospitality hour.
Hobert Roberts–Facilities Supervisor
Wiley Craft–Sexton
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
Tina Lytle–Director of Thomaston Meadows and Thomaston Woods
Emily Keiser–Nursery School Director
Alicia Stanula–Nursery School Assistant Director
Brenda Tolliver–Childcare Coordinator
Volunteer Staff
Two daily office receptionists (15-20 volunteers in total)
Alex and Bea Filimonov–Editors of our online and monthly mailed newsletter, Tidings
Church school.
Pat Matchette–Director of the Senior Singers
Karen Long and Vern Thomas–Co-chairs of the Search Committee
PAGE 9
12. Vestry
Senior Warden–Vern Thomas
Junior Warden–Jack Buchholz
Treasurer–Chris White
2010 2011 2012
Tim Fening Erinn Monette Zoe Hardy
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
Rose Marie Luking Carol Peterson Nathan Prather
Marvin Quin John Bowers Mary Lou Scott
Anna K. Carey Jamie Flerlage Christopher Willoughby
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
Fellowship before services.
Photo by John Cascella
A spring Sunday morning.
The Rev’d. Robert E. Reynolds, our Interim Rector.
PAGE 10
13. Financial
Attendance and Sacramental Acts
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Average Sunday Attendance 341 297 275 246 222
Number of Pledging Families 309 275 256 155 182
Total Dollar amount Pledged $758,482 $757,045 $768,715 $730,678 $608,414
Average Pledge $2,455 $2,753 $3,003 $4,714 $3,343
Weekend Eucharists 189 177 178 186 189
Weekday Eucharists 42 17 7 9 14 Photo by John Cascella
Private Eucharist Services 171 149 178 225 297
Church School Enrollment 212 201 197 140 124
Baptisms 14 9 13 13 2
Confirmations 23 9 15 5 20
Marriages 2 4 5 4 7
Funerals 9 11 13 14 17
On their way to Church
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Assets school.
Cash Basis - as of December 31st
2006 2007 2008*
ASSETS Photo by Lynn Siegfried
Cash & Short Term Money Market Funds $145,345 $173,437 $174,669
Long Term Investments $774,713 $723,713 $547,812
Property Improvements & Equipment - Net of $9,418,907 $9,174,865 $9,176,709
Accumulated Depreciation
Other Assets $407 $407 $407
Total Assets $10,339,372 $10,072,422 $9,899,597
LIABILITIES
Loans & Lines of Credit $1,337,422 $1,318,641 $1,336,980
Other Liabilities $2,354 $4,910 $156,750
Total Liabilities $1,339,776 $1,323,551 $1,493,730
NET ASSETS $8,999,596 $8,748,871 $8,405,867
Total Net Assets $8,999,596 $8,748,871 $8,405,867
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $10,339,372 $10,072,422 $9,899,597
Notes
* Diocesan share in 2008 was recorded as a liability and not yet expensed.
PAGE 11
14. Statement of Operating Revenue and Expenses
Cash Basis - Period Ending December 31st
2006 2007 2008*
OPERATING REVENUES
Pledges $697,915 $626,097 $562,371
Plate Offerings $40,162 $73,894 $60,243
Other $147,838 $115,033 $141,981
Total Revenue $885,914 $815,024 $764,595
EXPENSES
Photo by Lynn Siegfried Staff $539,799 $551,251 $440,594
Administrative $59,543 $66,855 $85,000
Building and Grounds $240,187 $243,234 $129,702
Programs $33,727 $43,871 $50,848
Outreach $255,137 $126,103 $109,743
Total Expenses $1,128,393 $1,031,314 $815,887
Surplus /(Deficit) ($242,479) ($216,289) ($51,292)
Notes
* Diocesan share in 2008 was recorded as a liability and not yet expensed. Included in Outreach in 2006 and 2007.
Small meeting room. 2008 Outreach
Youth Developmental Fund
Other Outreach
Photo by Lynn Siegfried
Moutain T.O.P.
Nursery School
Habitat for Humanity
Church school.
Friends of the Groom
Memorial Concert Inter Parish Ministry
PAGE 12
15. Photo by Lynn Siegfried
The Hearth Room with its beautiful stained glass window.
PAGE 13
16. The mission of St. Thomas Church
is to draw all people within our reach
into deeper communion with God
and each other
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We pursue our mission
through prayer and worship,
the proclamation and teaching of the Gospel,
and the promotion of justice, peace, and love.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church 100 Miami Avenue Terrace Park, OH 45174
Parish Office Phone: 513.831.2052