Reflecting on the Journey: All Saints Anglican Church, Springfield

When the parishioners of All Saints Anglican Church in Springfield, Missouri, began their search for a new Rector, they didn’t know exactly where the journey would lead, but they knew God’s hand was guiding it.

For Bruce Foltz, who chaired the Search Team, and Dr. Steve Akeson, Senior Warden, the process was sacred. From the outset, they were committed to doing it thoughtfully, prayerfully, and without rushing. “Take your time,” they said when reflecting on the experience. “Pray as a search team. Pray as a vestry. Remember, this is not just a hiring process – it’s a mutual discernment process.”

One of the pivotal moments came during a retreat hosted by ADOTS, where the Vestry and Search Team gathered together. That time proved to be more than strategic; it was, as Steve described, healing. For the first time, it felt like everyone (Vestry, Search Team, and Clergy) was seeing clearly and pulling in the same direction. The retreat created space not only for logistical clarity but for unity between the groups.

Throughout the process, the team visited and revisited the profiles to ensure they remained on point. They sought wisdom widely, listening to the clergy, collaborating with the Vestry, and humbly receiving guidance from Canon Sean George, Archbishop Foley Beach, and Bishop Frank Lyons when the finalist stage arrived. Trust played a key role: the Vestry gave the Search Team the space to do its work without micromanagement.

Perhaps the greatest surprise of all was how the process itself unified the parish. “I was surprised by how this process brought us together, not just as a Search Team, but as a parish,” Bruce reflected.

Now on the other side of the process, they offer this encouragement to any parish just beginning a rector search: “You need to commit to doing the work for as long as it takes. It will not be on your timetable; it will be on God’s timetable. While this can be a time of anxiety in the parish, it can also be a very rewarding time for the Vestry and Search Team as they work together on this important task.”

Meet All Saints Anglican Church’s new rector, The Rev. Dr. Butch Frey.

We are always eager to share what God is doing through and among his people, and we encourage you to send stories, news, etc., with us so we may feature and share amongst the diocese.