Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I am pleased to officially announce that we have called the Rev. Jonathan Huyck to be the next Rector of Grace Church. His time with us will begin August 1, 2010. Between now and then, he will be completing several commitments in his current ministry, including leadership of a youth group pilgrimage to Canterbury, England, and then moving himself, his wife, Ann, and three-month-old son Ben to the Providence area.

Let me begin by sharing a few facts about Jonathan, and then I'll explain why the Vestry and Search Committee believe he is such a good fit with this parish. As many of you know by now, Father Huyck, who will turn 41 April 26, currently serves as Canon Pastor at the American Cathedral in Paris, France. He is one of two clergy on staff there and reports to the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev. Zachary Fleetwood. He shares fully in the ministries and administrative duties that are part of that parish community.

Ann Huyck (you'll come to know her as Annie) teaches ballet and dance history, and she recently finished a term as co-chair of the Welcome Committee at the Cathedral. She also has helped the Dean coordinate the work of the Friends of the American Cathedral.

The Huycks went to Paris in 2004 after Jonathan spent time as the first Episcopal Chaplain at New York University and served as Director of Young Adult and Newcomer Ministries at Church of the Holy Trinity in New York City (where he and Annie met). He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Brown University, and he holds a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago and a Master of Sacred Theology in Anglican Studies from The General Theological Seminary. Prior to entering ordained ministry, he worked as a research assistant for a medical ethics firm and wrote comedy scripts for studios and networks such as Warner Brothers and PAXnet.

After multiple interviews and a site visit by Jonathan Rhee and me, the Search Committee voted unanimously to send his name forward to the Vestry. The committee members were enthusiastic about Jonathan's remarkable capabilities but even more encouraged by the way his skills and background fit with our vision at Grace Church. To explain that, let me review the six characteristics identified as most important for our next Rector.

Strong spiritual leader with a high-energy, collaborative style

A recurring theme we heard from everyone we interviewed was that "collaboration" describes Jonathan's work style. One particular example involved his leadership in gracefully ending a dysfunctional French-language service. As one participant told us, it was Jonathan's "gentle persuasion" that helped the leaders of this group move on and find a new solution.

Personal leadership of or experience with a growing church community

Thanks to intentional changes Jonathan helped put into place during the past five years, ministries at the Cathedral have begun to flourish, new fellowships have been started and are thriving, and overall attendance at worship services and the pledge base have doubled.

One of the new fellowships is the Cathedral's 20s/30s Group. Jonathan suggested this as a possible new area of focus for us at Grace Church, and the Search Committee and Vestry are excited about that possibility. Here's what he said: "While this area of parish life wasn't one that you lifted up as a priority in your parish profile, I'd like to raise it nonetheless, as someone who spent his college years just up the Hill from Grace Church: young adults. One of my goals upon arriving at the Cathedral five years ago was to revitalize ministry to teens and people in their 20s and 30s. Having just served as the Episcopal Chaplain at New York University, I drew upon that experience to found the Cathedral's 20s/30s Group, which meets monthly and draws an average of 50 people to its service, spiritual and social events. I don't know to what extent the College Hill community connects with Grace Church, but it would seem to be a natural fit. An open-minded, Christian community committed to outreach to those in need seems tailor-made for Brown students as well as others just up the Hill."

Motivational preacher, capable liturgist and supporter of our tradition of excellence in music

Based on observing Jonathan during his first interview here at Grace Church as well as during the site visit to Paris, the Search Committee believes parishioners will be very pleased by Jonathan's capabilities as a liturgist and preacher. Jonathan Rhee and I heard him preach two original sermons (9 a.m. Eucharist and 6 p.m. Evensong) at the Cathedral, and I can tell you that the second sermon brought us to tears. Here's what Jonathan says about his preaching: "I take preaching very seriously, spending time not just to think, pray, and write but also to edit. I believe preaching should bring the message of the Gospel to people in a focused way that connects with their own lives, and it is a joy for me to strive to meet this challenge when I am in the pulpit. I tend to write sermons that use references to history, literature and, occasionally, personal experiences and humor. I was once a comedy writer, so it's a hard habit to break!"

As noted above, Jonathan and the music director reinvented what's now the Cathedral's "Sundays at Six" service, which draws an average of 40 people for a different style of worship each week -Taizé, sung Evensong with Eucharist in French, a "Roots Mass" with a simple Eucharist and music from the American heartland (e.g., Shape Note singing, spirituals and Shaker hymnody), and a Youth Mass planned by the Cathedral's young people.

Strong supporter of outreach, especially to the downcity community

Jonathan serves as clergy liaison to a mission lunch at the Cathedral that serves a three-course meal to 60 hungry people from around the world each week. He recruited the leaders of the program and helped set policies that attempt to meet the needs of the homeless while also guaranteeing the safety of guests, volunteers and the Cathedral staff. Jonathan also told us, "I like to sit and join our guests for the meal as often as possible and have been blessed to get to know many wonderful people as they struggle to live their lives in this city. In my experience with this ministry, there is nothing like sharing a meal with others to see them as brothers or sisters in Christ. For many of our guests, it is the only time in their week when - thanks to our devoted volunteers - they are treated with respect, dignity and affection, and it is a joy to be a part of that."

And, although the Dean has official responsibility for the Cathedral's overall outreach program, Jonathan has led the youth group's annual participation in the "Love in a Box" program to donate 1000+ gift boxes each December to French and Bulgarian orphans, and he has traveled to Portugal for the Cathedral's annual Habitat for Humanity build.

Passion for communication, combined with organizational and managerial competence

Last year, Dean Fleetwood was on sabbatical for six months, and in his absence, Jonathan was in charge of the Cathedral. The Dean told us that during that time, he never had a call for help - only regular update calls - and when he returned, he had learned that "I wasn't needed as much as I thought." Jonathan supervises the work of the sexton and works with the Building and Grounds committee, so he's quite familiar with the challenges of an old building - like Grace Church! Many of the points already noted demonstrate Jonathan's commitment to and ability to communicate effectively.

Warm, caring pastor

Jonathan Rhee and I specifically sought out Cathedral parishioners to learn about Jonathan's pastoral involvement and learned about some wonderful work he (and Annie, as well) are doing in support of a seriously ill woman and her partner. We also heard from the Senior Warden about an exceptional connection Jonathan formed with a formerly active parishioner while preparing to officiate at the funeral service for that man's wife.

To me - as well as others on the Search Committee and Vestry - this paints a picture of an exciting future for us at Grace Church. Watch for more information about some special opportunities to meet the Huycks. If you have any questions about the search process or about our new Rector, don't hesitate to let me know. Finally, please keep Jonathan, Ann and Ben Huyck in your prayers as they prepare to finish their time in Paris and join us for the next steps in their journey with Christ.

Blessings and best regards,

David P. Seifert
Senior Warden
Grace Church in Providence