At Reverend Anne’s request, members of the Personnel Committee conducted a 360º Review of her performance. The review involved surveying a cross section of Reverend Anne’s constituency on a number of topics. Responses could be made anonymously if the respondent wished. The completed review was shared with St. Clare’s Vestry at their meeting on Wednesday, June 18. The Vestry charged the Committee with sharing the summary with the congregation.
The people invited to take the survey were randomly selected within specific sub-constituencies. They included long-timers, newer congregants, young families, retirees, and staff, both St. Clare’s and Genesis. Of the 36 people who received invitations, 25 provided responses. The survey identified the following key strengths.
Pastoral Presence and Relational Skills
- Warmth, empathy, and deep pastoral care. Multiple congregants noted how supported they felt during times of personal hardship.
- Approachable, compassionate, and deeply kind, with an exceptional ability to listen, comfort, and connect with both individuals and groups.
- Fosters a church culture of love, acceptance, and joy, and she has helped the community flourish post-transition.
Preaching & Communication
- Sermons are engaging, thoughtful, and timely, blending real-life relevance with spiritual insight. Several noted they are the best they’ve ever heard.
- She communicates with clarity and sincerity, with a quiet strength and integrity that is deeply respected.
- Her ability to speak meaningfully to all age groups was noted repeatedly.
Leadership Style
- Collaborative and empowering, striking a balance between delegation and decisiveness.
- She has made children and youth central to church life, drawing in young families and empowering young members to participate fully in worship.
- She encourages innovation (e.g., Maundy Thursday service, Upside Down Sunday) and is open to feedback, nurturing others’ gifts within the parish.
- She is respected for her organizational skill and ability to adapt, showing strong capacity and a “quiet strength” in managing complexity and change.
Areas for Growth or Improvement
- Pacing and Audibility: A few respondents suggested that, during announcements, Reverend Anne speak more clearly or slowly – similar to her sermon style – for better accessibility.
- Sermon Length: A couple of respondents noted her sermons, while powerful, can be somewhat long at times.
- Strategic Clarity: One suggestion encouraged more visibility into long-term parish goals, to help align and inspire broader participation.
- Work-Life Balance: Two respondents expressed concern that Reverend Anne takes on too much and perhaps should delegate more to continue to protect her personal time and energy and avoid burnout.
Overall Sentiment
- The responses reflect overwhelming appreciation and admiration for Reverend Anne. She is described as an ideal fit for St. Clare’s, with several saying they feel lucky or blessed to have her.
- There is a strong desire to support her well-being and sustain her leadership, recognizing the demands of her role.
- Multiple people noted they plan to stay at St. Clare’s indefinitely due to her leadership and presence.