May 10, 2011
Dear Members of the St. Patrick’s
Community,
 |
| The Rev. Dr. Janet Zimmerman |
We are delighted to announce that
we have called the Rev. Dr. Janet Zimmerman to become St. Patrick’s Associate
Rector and Day School Chaplain. Janet succeeds the Rev. Dr. Marjorie Ann
Gerbracht-Stagnaro, who will depart at year’s end to become priest-in-charge at
Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester, New Hampshire.
For the past two years, Janet has
been a curate at All Saints Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. Among her
diverse duties as curate, Janet has been director of Christian formation for
adults and children, coordinated family and children ministries, and provided
pastoral care.
Janet earned her master in
divinity degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. Upon
graduation, she received the Ford Chair, an award to “a member of the
graduating class who exhibited a strong commitment to the community life and
mission of the seminary.” Janet also has master’s and doctoral degrees in
special education from the University of Texas and a bachelor’s degree in
elementary education and special education from the University of Texas.
Janet has been an educational
specialist and lecturer at the University of Texas, an assistant professor of
education at Johns Hopkins University, a research coordinator at the Center for
Multiply Handicapped Children in Houston, and a teacher in the Infant-Family
Program in Corpus Christi. Her experience also includes work as a youth and
children’s ministry sponsor and teacher at St. David’s Episcopal Church and
service as a member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Finance Committee
and Strategic Planning Committee at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, both in
Austin.
The call of Janet to the position
of Day School Chaplain comes close to concluding a process that was set in
motion with the announcement three months ago that Marjorie would be leaving
St. Patrick’s after 13 years of remarkable ministry here. According to the St.
Patrick’s bylaws, the Day School Chaplain is nominated by the Head of School,
called by the Rector, and ratified by the Day School Board of Trustees and the
Church Vestry, a highly collaborative process befitting the manner in which the
Chaplain bridges the Church and Day School communities. We will seek formal
ratification of Janet’s appointment by the Board and Vestry later this month.
In our search for a new Chaplain,
we benefited from the wise counsel of a committee that included Day School
parent and Trustee Carla Durney, Day School parent and past Senior Warden Ellen
Teplitz, Day School grandparent and Junior Warden for the Day School Charlie
Johnson, Head of Lower School Gretchen Spencer, and MacArthur Campus music
teacher and Music Team Leader Anne Tyler. We interviewed eight semi-finalists
for the position and had day-long visits from five finalists. We were blessed
by the number and quality of the applicants for the position.
In addition to planning,
organizing, and leading three Day School chapels each week—working closely with
Division Heads, the Music Department, and others to ensure their
effectiveness—the Chaplain serves on the Administrative Team and the joint
Church-Day School Spiritual Life Committee, chairs the Religion Department,
teaches religion classes, and provides pastoral care to students, parents, and faculty
and staff. The Chaplain also becomes active in the life of St. Patrick’s
Church, serves on the clergy staff, and regularly preaches and officiates at
the Holy Eucharist on Sundays during the school year.
We look forward to Janet’s
mid-summer arrival at St. Patrick’s to begin her service as Day School Chaplain
and know that you will join us in welcoming her with enthusiasm to this special
place. At the same time, we remain ever grateful for the years of service that
Marjorie has provided to the St. Patrick’s community. Please remember that we
will celebrate Marjorie’s many contributions at our traditional Chapel Honoring
Faculty and Staff on Friday, May 20, at 8:30 a.m. and at the 10:00 a.m. service
on Sunday, May 22. You are welcome to join us at either or both of those
services.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard Peter A. Barrett
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