As a part of the 20th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, at the 10:00 AM Combined Service on Sunday, April 18, 2010, the Vestry made the following announcement:

First off, Mary Kay, the Vestry would like to thank you for the magnificent job you have done as our Interim Rector over the past year. Under your leadership, guidance and pastoral care, St. David’s is in a wonderful place today.

On March 7, the Vestry announced that it was entering into a period of intentional and Spirit-led discernment regarding the permanent Rector position here at St. David’s. We received countless thoughts and prayers from many parishioners which were overwhelmingly and passionately in favor of calling Mary Kay as our permanent Rector.

The result of our discernment was a unanimous desire among all Vestry members to call Mary Kay as our permanent priest. That desire was made known to Bishop Shannon Johnston, Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia.

Bishop Johnston has expressed his unconditional support for Mary Kay and St. David’s as a whole. Bishop Johnston has given us his blessing to call Mary Kay as the Priest-in-Charge of St. David’s Episcopal Church.

Canonically, the Priest-in-Charge is the same thing as a Rector, with the same authority and responsibilities as a Rector. Mary Kay would serve as the Priest-in-Charge at the pleasure and guidance of the Vestry and the Bishop for a period of one year to facilitate the transition of responsibilities.

Bishop Johnston has already given his blessing and it is the full intention of the Vestry that, after the one year period, for canonical purposes, we will vote to make the call to Mary Kay to become our Rector.

This morning, in a special meeting of the Vestry, the Vestry held a formal vote and unanimously approved the calling of Rev. Mary Kay Brown as the Priest-in-Charge of St. David’s Episcopal Church with the full intention of her becoming our third Rector in one year’s time.

The call was then made to Rev. Mary Kay as follows:

Rev. Mary Kay Brown, on behalf of the Vestry and the faithful parishioners of St. David’s, will you accept our call to be the Priest-in-Charge of St. David’s Episcopal Church with the intention, in one year from now, of becoming the third Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church?

Fr. Stephen, Fr. Johnson, the Vestry and the entire congregation surrounded and laid hands on Mary Kay while Fr. Johnson blessed her.

Congratulations to Rev. Mary Kay Brown, our new Priest-in-Charge! And thanks be to God!