Rector Transition

Our Parish is in Transition

We are currently in a time of transition, as we discern the calling of our next Rector. Our vestry has called Fr. Earl Mahan as Interim Rector, and tasked the Discernment Team with leading Holy Communion in finding our next Rector.

We have been blessed to find a wonderful fit for our Rector’s position!

Please welcome Reverend Brenda Sol to our team, beginning March of 2026!

A little about Reverend Brenda Sol . . .

My ministry has always been grounded in God’s call to love everyone—no exceptions—so I’m thrilled to be joining in the ministries of Holy Communion, where it’s clear that you’re not only talking about diversity and inclusivity, you’re living it! 

My roots are in rural NE Montana, where I grew up next door to my grandmother’s tavern. As a young adult, I studied architecture at the University of Oregon, then earned a degree in Elementary Education from Montana State-Billings. Later, I completed a Master’s in Spiritual Psychology at Antioch University-Seattle. Before the priesthood, I worked in roles ranging from education to accounting to marketing to counseling.

I began my divinity studies in an ecumenical program at Seattle University, then gratudated from Virginia Seminary. As part of my discernment process, I spent a year volunteering at an Episcopal-based home for abandoned, neglected and abused girls in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

After ordination, I served as an associate priest for two years in Dallas at Saint Michael and all Angels (one of the largest Episcopal churches). Then, before answering the call to serve as Holy Communion’s rector, I spent almost a dozen years in the San Diego area, serving as rector at St. Andrew’s-Encinitas.  

Besides the fulfillment I find in parish ministry, I enjoy serving on diocesan committees, engaging in interfaith dialogues, and participating in community service projects with groups such as Rotary International. To keep myself balanced, I practice yoga, take walks, read novels, snuggle with my kitty-girls, Daisy and Clementine, and never look at work emails on my day of sabbath.

Shared Principals and Core Values:

  • We promise to commit our time, talent, and attention fully and consistently to the work of the Discernment Team. We, individually and collectively, commit to working in a timely, thorough manner, always mindful of our sacred task. 

  • We believe that Jesus Christ must be at the center of this process. We will prayerfully listen for God’s will as we engage with our fellow parishioners and each other about our shared hopes, dreams, and vision for the future. We commit to being resilient and optimistic if we encounter any setbacks during this process. 

  • We promise to be honest, humble, and ethical in carrying out this sacred task. We will assume good intentions when working with each other, our fellow parishioners, and all candidates during this discernment process. We commit to holding the committee’s work in confidence, while keeping the Vestry and the congregation informed about our progress throughout the process. 

  • We will listen to the people of Holy Communion carefully and with civility, and strive to accurately reflect the church’s history, present life, and dreams for the future. We promise to operate in a spirit of grace, with flexibility and inclusivity, always being mindful to treat each other, our church community, and all candidates with the dignity, kindness, and respect they deserve. 

  • We will remain open, curious, and deliberate throughout the discernment process. It will only be after quiet, careful, and Christ-centered contemplation that we as a Discernment Team will act in the calling of Holy Communion’s next Rector. 

Introducing our Interim Rector, Fr. Mahan

January 8, 2024 — This week we welcome The Rev. Earl Mahan as our Interim Rector.

A Prayer for Times of Transition

God of Love,
You are with us in every transition and change.
As we enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety,
we recall your deep compassion, presence, and abounding love.
We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us.
We thank you for the experiences that have brought us to this moment.
We thank you for the work of others that gives breadth and depth to our own work.
Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another.
We ask this in your Holy Name.
- Joseph P. Shadle

The Vestry’s Charge to the Discernment Team:

The Discernment Committee is tasked with the following sacred duties:

  • Seek God’s guidance with individual and corporate prayer, staying attuned to the movement of the

    Holy Spirit throughout the discernment process.

  • Continue to participate in worship at Holy Communion. You have the prayers and support of your

    fellow parishioners as well as the staff and vestry, all of whom have a vested interest in your

    work.

  • Be committed to the work involved. Be present at all meetings either in person or online.

  • Allow plenty of time to listen deeply. Have an open mind and a willingness to sit in the tension of

    diverse opinions. Aim to work in harmony, navigating all differences with civil discourse, dignity,

    and respect.

  • Have a discerning mind and a loving heart. Make decisions by keeping in mind what is best for

    the future of Holy Communion.

  • Hold the committee’s work and discussions in strictest confidence.

  • Keep the vestry informed on a regular basis through the vestry liaison.

  • Gather information to describe Holy Communion including strengths, weaknesses, vision and

    mission honestly and accurately as reflected in its history, present life and our dreams for the future.

  • Include the entire congregation, clergy and staff through surveys, meetings, small group discussions

    and one-on-one conversations.

  • Reach out to neighbors and nearby institutions for their input.

  • Develop a congregational profile to present the information you have gathered and detail our

    needs and ministry goals.

  • Request assistance and support from the Diocese as needed.

  • Based on your work discerning and creating the congregational portfolio, seek out candidates

    likely to be a good fit for Holy Communion.

  • With support from the diocesan transition officer, identify qualified candidates eligible for consideration.

  • Work together as a team to learn about the candidates and get to know them well. Using the tools

    and support available, discuss and contemplate the qualities of each candidate, what gifts they

    would bring and how they might contribute to God’s call to Holy Communion.

  • Select the best candidate and present that person to the Vestry for approval.

On behalf of the congregation, the vestry commits our prayers, support and any participation you request

for the holy task you are about to undertake.