1. Mission Statement

The mission of Christ Church, as the body of Christ, is to celebrate God's love in the world and to share it through the gift of his son, Jesus Christ. We therefore commit ourselves to prayer, to worship, to being a nurturing community, to accepting diversity, to evangelism, and to ministry beyond ourselves. We will encourage and empower all in our community to discover and use their spiritual gifts. We will discern God's direction through His spirit, word, and sacraments.

Christ Church, Valdosta, Georgia, is seeking a godly, energetic rector with a shepherd's heart, who is exercising a call to serve Christ proclaiming the gospel through preaching, teaching, and healing. The rector must be someone able to minister to a diverse congregation and to discover and use the spiritual gifts of the laity. Previous parish experience is necessary. Program size church experience is desired.

Valdosta is a city of some 50,000 in a county of nearly 100,000. It is 25 miles north of the Florida line on Interstate 75, with a university of approximately 10,000 students, Moody Air Force Base, shopping malls, and a variety of small industries. The city offers a number of cultural opportunities, including the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, the Cultural Arts Center, and university sponsored theatrical and musical performances and art exhibits.

Valdosta has numerous recreational opportunities, including several nearby unpolluted rivers, easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and a theme park. Graduates of Georgia high schools with at least a B average are eligible for HOPE scholarships, which will pay full tuition in any state college or university in Georgia as long as the student maintains a B average.

First services were held in the 1860's in the county courthouse, and property was bought at 309 Central Avenue before 1871. The first vicar, the Rev. H.B. Stuart-Martin, came in 1885, and the cornerstone was laid in that year. Bishop Weed of Florida consecrated the church in 1887. In 1901, the first Vestry was formed, the first choir was organized; a reed organ was purchased, and electric lights were installed. The first recorded baptisms took place in 1895. In 1945 a communicant, Mr. Clifton White, trained locally and was ordained priest and our vicar. After years of cramped space, property on Patterson Street was purchased in 1945.

Ground for our current church was broken on May 3, 1948. The cornerstone from the old church was recarved and laid at the new site. During construction, services were held across the street at Georgia State College for Women (now VSU). On February 20, 1949, the church was dedicated. In 1953, the Rev. Michael Kippenbrock became vicar. Debt-free, the church added a classroom wing and named it for Bishop Barnwell. After 70 years as a mission, Christ Church was admitted to the Diocese as a self-supporting parish on May 11, 1954. In 1959 adjoining property on College Street was purchased and named for Bishop Stuart. In 1960 our weekday pre-school opened there. In 1967 the Rev. Henry I. Louttit, Jr., was called to be rector. Stuart Hall was rebuilt to provide adequate pre-school facilities and parish offices in 1968. In 1976 adjoining property on College Street was purchased. In 1979 two adjoining lots on Patterson Street were bought to provide parking and Sunday School space. Bray House was made available for the ministry of A.A. In 1982 we obtained ten acres in northeast Valdosta to begin a mission church; fifty members of Christ Church transferred to begin St. Barnabas Church. In 1989 we welcomed Church of the King (now Christ the King), formerly an independent pentecostal congregation, into the Episcopal family. Our priests celebrated with this new Episcopal church during its first year. Also, in 1989 property at the south end of our Patterson Street block was purchased. The house has been refurbished for use as a rectory.

In 1993 two members were ordained to the priesthood, another in 1994, and another in 1998. Two of our members have been ordained deacons and we presently have another member pursuing the deaconate. In 1994 our rector, Fr. Louttit, was elected Bishop of Georgia. In February 1999 we celebrated fifty years at our present location with a special service, luncheon, and the burial of a time capsule.

The Christ Church community is seeking to strengthen its ministry to children, young people, and adults (115 children/young people and 291 adults) through various forms of Christian education. Christ Church takes a traditional approach to children's Christian education with Sunday School at 10:30 a.m., the curriculum following the lectionary. Classes are offered for children ages 3 to 18. Adult Christian education options include an ongoing Bible study class which follows the lectionary and a variety of topic-related short study series which may include book reviews, exploration of ministries, and issues related to the national church.

Vacation Bible School is an ecumenical experience with several local churches. Program selection and leadership is shared among the participating churches, and the location of the Bible school rotates among the churches yearly.

Suppers and programs are held on Wednesday nights during Lent. These programs are offered for school age children as well as for adults.

The wealth of diversity and strength can be defined in the liturgy at Christ Church. We appreciate the many forms of worship offered in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The three Sunday morning services include a Rite I service without music, a traditional Rite I service with vested choir, and a Rite II service with a blend of traditional and praise music. Other weekly services include Holy Communion offered at various times and locations, vespers led by laity, and Wednesday night Holy Communion which includes the laying on of hands.

Holy Day celebrations are a very important part of the worship at Christ Church. The celebrations vary in form from high church services with pageantry and incense to simple services emphasizing the children's talents. Celebrations we annually observe include the birth of St. Nicholas, Christmas (a Children's service as well as Midnight Mass), Epiphany (Children's Nativity Pageant), Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter celebrated with the Great Easter Vigil, Ascension Day, Pentecost, and All Saints Day. The Christ Church family is dedicated to actively supporting our common life in Christ through participation in weddings, funerals, baptisms, and confirmations.

Christ Church programming is emerging. After several years of dormancy the Episcopal Youth Commission, the Men's Group, Episcopal Church Women (ECW), and Daughters of the King (DOK) are experiencing a renewed spirit and hope to continue to strengthen with new leadership. The evidence of this renewal is apparent in the participation of over forty youth in our Junior EYC and EYC. These groups, including children in fourth grade through senior high, under the direction of several dedicated adults, meet every Wednesday evening during the school year for "food, fellowship and formation."

The Men's Group, which consists of all the men of the church, meets primarily for fellowship. This group gets together semi-annually for barbecues, fish fries, and fishing trips.

The ECW is made up of all the women of the church. An effort to re-establish this group proved successful when in 1998 the ECW put together and sponsored a Christmas bazaar netting the group over $4,000.00. Proceeds went to support our deacon's efforts in flood ravaged Honduras.

DOK is an order of women whose primary function is intercessory prayer. This group meets monthly and each member is part of a prayer chain that passes along and updates the prayer list. Members also serve with others as a crisis team, providing meals, support, and prayer for those in need.

The Canterbury Club is a group for college students. Previously Christ Church had an assistant rector (1/2 salary paid for by the diocese) whose duties included college ministry. The Christ Church family has always supported the ministry of the assistant rector by providing any help needed in the form of leadership and by providing a hot meal to the group on Sunday evenings. Lay persons worked very hard in the 1998-1999 school year to continue this work but with little success. We wish to revive this ministry as we feel it is a very important part of the outreach of Christ Church.

Historically members of the Christ Church family have been instrumental in the inception and development of community-wide ministries. The church supports these ministries by providing office space and/or meeting space. Other involvement includes monetary support, manpower, and prayer support. Many members of Christ Church have served or are currently serving on boards of charitable organizations which include Habitat, The Haven, Second Harvest Food Bank, LAMP, Hospice, AIDS ministries, Hawthorne House, Brothers Two, Meals on Wheels, The Soup Kitchen, Red Cross, and Bridges of Hope. Other organizations we support include AA, TOPS, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Humane Society.

Christ Church and its members support the furthering of the Kingdom in the international community by the support of two Ethiopian orphans, medical ministries to Honduras and Haiti, Food for the Poor, Habitat for Humanity International, and support for international students.

Parish life is an integral part of the community building that Christ Church enthusiastically embraces. Each month a social event is planned coordinating with Church feasts and celebrations. In months with no specific feast in them, extracurricular events are planned such as a parish picnic or an ice cream social. In addition to these special monthly events, weekly Wednesday potluck suppers are part of "church night" at Christ Church. Every third Sunday of the month we have a light soup and sandwich lunch following the 11:30 a.m. service. Quarterly we have what has been coined "HEP parties" (Happy Episcopal People parties) and a Newcomers' Luncheon. We have many active Reunion groups and good Cursillista participation in Ultreyas. All of these activities help weave us together as a family in Christ.

The campus of Christ Episcopal Church is located on one city block across from the campus of Valdosta State University on Patterson Street. Our church seats approximately 175 and provides additional seating for large services. The other facilities include a multi-purpose parish hall which adjoins the church, a preschool building, a designated building for AA meetings, a Sunday School building, a rectory, and a building which houses the office, nursery, vesting room, choir room, and bathrooms. Office space is provided for Habitat for Humanity.

The Board of Regents/Valdosta State University has agreed to sell the property referred to as the Campbell House to Christ Episcopal Church. The transaction should be complete by January 31, 2000.

The 1999 pledge budget for Christ Church is $325,000.00. This represents 130 pledging units at an average of $2500.00 per unit. Other income (building use, diocesan programs) brings the total budget to $335,600.00. Fixed assets equal $2,129,938.00 (land, buildings, contents). Paid staff includes a priest, secretary, part-time lay assistant, organist, and a private contractor (with many duties of sexton). The church operates a self-supporting pre-school program. Our pledge to the diocese is $40,000.00. The church has no outstanding debt.

Christ Church has an active group of individuals who participate in Sunday and weekday services. These include four individuals who preach: Dr. Ed Berckman, an ordained Episcopal priest; Dr. John Curtis, an ordained Methodist minister who attends Christ Church and directs the music at the 11:30 a.m. service; Dr. Bill Frierson, an ordained Presbyterian minister who also attends Christ Church; and Dr. Willa Valencia, a diocesan licensed preacher and retired Professor of English from Valdosta State University. In addition, Stella Clark, deacon at Christ Church, regularly assumes major responsibilities at Sunday services and throughout each week. There are thirty-eight lay readers who read the lessons/prayers and seven licensed Lay Eucharistic Ministers who administer the chalice each Sunday. Kathy Armstrong, director of the St. Gregory Choir, donates her time as her ministry through Christ Church, and Sue Ellen Rumstay is the church organist for the 9:15 service. Maggie Roberts and a group of talented musicians provide contemporary music for the 11:30 service.

In addition to the laity who participate in Sunday and weekday services, Christ Church has an established committee structure which addresses the various activities of the church: Executive, Education, Finance, Worship, Hospitality, Newcomers, Property Management, Buildings & Grounds, Outreach, Communications, Memorials, and Pastoral Care. These committees rotate members throughout the congregation.

Finally, the Vestry of Christ Church is made up of fifteen members of the congregation. Elected for three-year, staggered terms, the Vestry meets monthly. Each year, the congregation elects new members of the Vestry from a ballot of individuals representing the demographics of the church as well as the three Sunday services. The Vestry is led by the Senior Warden, the Junior Warden, the Treasurer, and the Clerk.

We believe in supporting the programs and the goals of the Diocese of Georgia. Historically, Christ Church Valdosta has supported the mission of the diocese by striving to meet the diocesan asking, by strong participation, and by providing leadership for diocesan committees. At present Christ Church members have been elected or chosen to serve on the following diocesan committees: The Board of the Corporation, The Commission on Ministry, The Camp and Conference Center Commission, The Christian Education Commission, and The Youth Commission; we also have a deputy to the General Convention in the year 2000. Christ Church is represented or has recently been represented on the following diocesan committees and commissions: The Standing Committee, Addiction Prevention and Recovery Ministries, Agora (Diocesan E-mail Exchange Group), Christian Education Committee, The Camp and Conference Center Commission, Cursillo Steering Committee, Communications Committee, Happening Steering Committee, DOK, ECW, HIV/AIDS Ministry, Discernment of Young Vocations Committee, and UTO.

The youth of Christ Church are very active in the diocesan youth programs. They have participated in international mission trips, EYE, and Happening and New Beginnings Steering Committees. Many of our young people attend Happening, New Beginnings, and the summer camp programs as participants and staff.

The Diocese of Georgia is a constituent member of the Episcopal Church, U.S.A., and, therefore, of the Anglican Communion. The diocese was founded in 1823, having previously been served by the Bishop of South Georgia.

The diocese is comprised of the counties of the southern three-fifths of the state, amounting to about 33,000 square miles. Presently there are 69 congregations of which 40 percent are missions. The diocese, with offices in Savannah, Georgia, is served by 70 priests and 18 deacons. The present bishop, the Rt. Reverend Henry Louttit, the ninth in succession, is the chief pastor for over 16,000 persons.

The 1998 diocesan budget is $1.3 million which is derived from parish and mission pledges based on guidelines of an "Asking" formula.

There are a number of diocesan commissions which serve the congregations in areas of stewardship, outreach, evangelism, education, youth programs, and special ministries. A center of diocesan life is the diocesan Conference Center at Honey Creek-the site of numerous programs such as youth camps, retreats, conferences, and Cursillo.

The diocese has been an early supporter of the ministry of vocational deacons and has taught diligently the virtues of Christian stewardship and mission development. Outreach social ministries are a constant focus. The diocese has participated in the ecumenical Georgia Christian Council from the body's inauguration. Bishop Loutitt currently serves as President of the council.

The bishop is a full participant in the House of Bishops and Provincial Bishops as well as an active Trustee of the University of the South. The diocese is represented at Synod and other programs of the Episcopal Church along with individual activities of its clergy and laity on the provincial and national levels.

The renewal movements common in the church today (Cursillo, Kairos, Happening, New Beginnings, and ---Epiphany) are active and influential in the diocese, and it is said that a moderate position will most typify the Diocese of Georgia. The diocese is eucharistically centered, and the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the 1982 Hymnal are standard and encouraged.