PARISH PROFILE - The changeless faith engaging a changing world - 213N.MainSt.,Sumter,SC29150 www.holycomfortersc.org - Holy Comforter
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The changeless faith engaging a changing world.
213 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150 www.holycomfortersc.org
PARISH PROFILE
Table of Contents
Who We Are……...………………………………………………. 3
Our Vision………………………………………………………….. 5
Core Values……………………………………………………….. 5
What We Believe……………………………………………….. 6
Church of the Holy Comforter History………………… 8
Rector List………………………………………………………….. 10
What We’re Looking For…………………………………….. 11
Rector Characteristics…......................................... 12
Conclusion…………………………………………………………. 14
Attachment A:
Church of the Holy Comforter Ministries……………. 15
Attachment B:
Financial Information Overview…………………………. 16
2 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile
Who We Are The Church of the Holy Comforter Church stands for the unchanging truth of the Gospel as centered in the grace of Jesus Christ; we stand under the trustworthiness of biblical revelation, lived out in the historic Anglican tradition; as such we adhere to the Thirty-Nine Articles, the Creeds, the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, and the historic Prayer Books. We seek to glorify Jesus Christ, to be a place where His love and power transform lives, making disciples who make new disciples. It is our unceasing calling to know that in Jesus Christ no life is too far gone, that God’s love is generous, far-reaching, and forgiving. In Christ, hell has been vanquished and we can dwell in Him forever. We there- fore seek to bring every man, woman, and child to know Christ and enjoy a saving relationship with Him. This makes Holy Comforter a missionary minded parish, “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you” (John 20:21). In humble gratitude, in unending praise for our redemption, we offer our lives to Christ – our time, talents, and treasure – that the Name of Jesus would be glorified through our witness. We are a corporation originally established by an Act of the South Carolina Legislature in 1857; and we are currently a parish within the fellowship of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, so long as the Diocese shall remain faithful to the truth of biblical revelation and our Anglican heritage. Church of the Holy Comforter Church has an advantage of being visible and centrally located in the vibrant, family- oriented town of Sumter. A charming community of more than 100,000 people conveniently located in the center of South Carolina. Within driving distance of Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC. Sumter is an affordable community with a multitude of year-long outdoor activities, state parks, festivals, outdoor markets and quality dining. Sumter is home to Shaw Air Force Base and as such is known as a military community. We at Holy Comforter are acutely aware of the sacrifices that military members, and their families, make in order to serve our nation. Many of our members are active duty–some single, some with families; many of our members are also retired military who have returned to Sumter. All understand the calling of duty, sacrifice, and family. Holy Comforter serves as a home–or a temporary home–for all of them while they are here. Our Congregation has a deep desire to continue to grow in faith and to reach others with the same gospel message that has changed our lives. Our prayerful hope is to find a new rector who will lead us, challenge us with the proclamation of God’s Word, and join us in living as a faithful community of believers. We believe our next rector will inherit a community of Christians seeking to live out the Gospel within our congregation and the world outside of our doors, all to the Glory of God. Pre-COVID, The Church of the Holy Comforter had an average Sunday attendance of 150 and a staff of eight. The facility sits on approximately five lots and the building consists of a main nave which seats approximately 250, a parish hall, an educational building including classrooms, a choir room, and a small chapel, a memorial garden, and a playground. The Parish also owns a rectory located in Sumter approximately two miles from the church. The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile 3
Who We Are 4 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile
Vision & Core Values
Our Vision
“The changeless faith engaging a changing world.”
Core Values
1. Dedication to Evangelism. “Welcome, Love, Strengthen, Send.” We must be a people
who seek the lost. Once we have found them, we must be prepared to welcome, to love,
to strengthen, and to send them back out to find and serve others. We believe God is
calling us into evangelism in ways we have yet to discover or even consider. A large part
of this must be a concerted effort to reach those who are most unlike most of us. The
future of Holy Comforter must show a congregation that is far more demographically
diverse, both in a socio-economic background and in age. Ours is a Gospel that trans-
cends race, background, and generation. We must be a church that transcends the same.
2. Primacy of Mission. “At Home, To all the World, In Every Heart.” We must be a church
committed to charity and mission work in our own community and throughout the
world. We must see every heart as a mission field waiting to know the love of Jesus
Christ. A central identity of a Gospel-centered church must be her concern for the very
least of these. We believe God is calling us to engage in mission work in Sumter, in this
nation, and overseas. Through acts of charity and mercy and through seeking every op-
portunity to serve the world, we must demonstrate that our love of Jesus Christ ignites in
us a fire of love for His beloved. We must demonstrate that through the power of the
Holy Spirit, we are to seek and serve Him in every corner of His creation.
3. Imperative of Legacy. “Building upon a faithful foundation for generations to come.” We
must be a people dedicated to leaving a legacy of faith for the generations that come
after us. Building upon the faithful dedication of those who came before us, we must
seek ways to create a ministry to and for those who come after. We believe God is call-
ing us to demonstrate concern for those that come after us, even at the expense of our
own preferences. Each of us who have called upon Jesus as Lord has done so because
someone cared enough about us to mentor us and speak to us where we are. In scrip-
ture, we see the beautiful relationship between St. Paul and St. Timothy. Paul was a spir-
itual father to Timothy. As each Christian has at least one man or woman who was to
them a Paul, so must each Christian have another who is to them a Timothy. Moreover,
as a church we must be dedicated to leaving a financially sustainable church to the next
generation. We must honor the faithfulness of our oldest members while intentionally
shepherding our youngest.
The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile 5
What We Believe A belief in a Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons co-equal in glory and co-eternal in majesty and of one substantial Godhead, such that there are not three gods but one God. A belief in the Holy Scriptures as divine revelation, trustworthy, carrying the full measure of His authority, containing all things necessary to salvation, and to be submitted to in all matters of faith and practice of life. A belief in the One Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ, who in His person is both fully God and fully man; of one substance with the Father as regards to His Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards His manhood. A belief in the perfect obedience of Christ; His true and actual suffering, His substitutionary and atoning death on the cross, and His bodily resurrection and ascension as the only means given for our salvation and reconciliation with God. A belief in faith alone as the grounds for the merits of Christ being imputed to us for our justification before God (justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone), leading to good works empowered by the Holy Spirit. A belief in the consummate return of Jesus Christ in glory to judge the living and the dead, and a belief in the bodily resurrection of the dead and their entrance into either damnation or everlasting blessedness. A belief in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church as those souls that have been redeemed entirely by the work of Christ and called out of bondage into freedom, out of darkness into light, out of error into truth, out of death into eternal life. A belief that historic Anglican polity organizes the visible Church under the offices of Bishop, Presbyter, and Deacon. Furthermore, the Church exists to worship the Triune God and to lift up the Savior Jesus Christ before all people through the faithful preaching and teaching of the Gospel, through prayer, and through the faithful administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. A belief in the Nicene and Apostles’ creeds as accurate representations of the essence of the Christian faith, and affirmation of the (39) Articles of Religion as a coherent and concise expression of Anglican doctrine. Further, we believe Christians are called beyond membership to the lifelong journey of discipleship, learning to faithfully live what God has revealed about us. (Matthew 7:24-29, Mark 8:34-36, Galatians 5:22). 6 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile
What We Believe Further, we believe Christians are called beyond membership to the lifelong journey of discipleship, learning to faithfully live what God has revealed about us. (Matthew 7:24-29, Mark 8:34-36, Galatians 5:22). We believe all people are created in the image of God, who wonderfully and immutably creates each person as genetically male or female. These two distinct complementary genders reflect the image and nature of God ( Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is in conflict with this createdness and is inconsistent with our beliefs. In the Church, we believe marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in Holy Matrimony, a single, exclusive, lifelong union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25, Mark 10:1-9). This signifies the mystery of the union between Christ and His Church, reconciling and re-uniting two compliments. God’s good intention for us is that sexual intimacy is to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. )1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:2-5, Hebrews 13:4). For the blessing and protection of the bond of marriage, our families, and particularly our children, God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21, Romans 10:9-10, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Lastly, we believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity; (Mark 12:28-31, Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the Diocese. The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile 7
History
For the benefit of prospective rector candidates, this is a brief history of the Church of the
Holy Comforter located in Sumter, South Carolina. An amplified version of the church’s
history is available upon request.
In 1845 the City of Sumterville, SC was incorporated, and in 1853 the name was shortened to Sumter. In the early
years Sumter had only a couple of churches, and no Episcopal church, though early on there were a few people inter-
ested in establishing one. In the mid-1840s, five or six former Episcopalians talked about establishing an Episcopal
church in Sumterville, and took steps in that direction when they started meeting in other church buildings. They also
met in the Court House and in businesses, such as the third floor over Mund’s Bookstore. Occasionally, a visiting Epis-
copal priest would lead worship services and surprisingly, the small congregation began to grow, receiving financial
help from nearby Episcopal churches. One church gave hundreds of dollars, and one gave $10.
Baptisms and confirmations began to take place, and in 1857, the fledgling congregation decided it was time to con-
struct an Episcopal church in Sumter. A lot was purchased on the corner of Main and Bartlette Streets and Mr. Joseph
Long of Charleston was hired to build the church. It would seat 250 congregants and it would have the tallest steeple
in town - it was completed in 1858. Mr. Long not only fell in love with Sumter, but also with Miss Susan Darr, and they
were the first couple married in the new church.
Unfortunately, during the War Between the States, in
the battle of Dingle’s Mill on the edge of Sumter, Mr.
Long joined a group of civilians too young or too old to
be in the army, but who were determined to defeat a
Union army of 2,000 soldiers under the command of
General Edward Potter. On the way to the battlefield,
Mr. Long passed by “his” little church, and soon there-
after was killed - it was just a short time before the
end of the war.
The small church was a victim of the Union army as
well when it entered Sumter, because it was the first
place of its kind that could be used as a hospital for
the wounded. The altar was used as a druggists’ slab,
but the marble baptismal font was hidden away and
not harmed. In fact, it is still being used. That font is
very special since it was given to Holy Comforter in
1859 by the ladies of St. Philip’s Church in Charleston
to commemorate the consecration of the Church of
the Holy Comforter in the little town of Sumter.
8 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile
History (Continued)
The original wooden church was used for approximately 50 years, and then
moved to our current location. The tall steeple was removed, and the church was
placed on logs and slowly rolled to the north on Main Street, being pulled by
mules. The story goes that when the little church was about halfway to its
destination by midday on Saturday, the mules and workers were leaving the
scene and a store owner yelled at the foreman not to leave the church in front of
his store. The store owner said it prevented customers from shopping with
him. The wise foreman said, “Everyone is too tired to go any further and
tomorrow is Sunday. We heard that you don’t go to church, so we brought the
church to you. A service will be held here tomorrow morning and we hope you
will attend.” The next morning, the store owner was in the church, and later
became a member.
The original church building served the congregation in its new location until our
current church building was built, starting in 1908.
On Easter Day, April 11, 1909, the first service was held in the new church, with
the small church having been moved again, to be utilized as the Parish
House. When the current location was purchased, a home on the property faced
Main Street, and it was moved behind the new church, turned to face Calhoun St,
and served for many years as the Rectory. In 1957, the Rectory was removed and Walker Hall was built on that spot
and was named for the Rev. Mr. J. B. Walker, our Rector for 32 years.
As time marched on, Holy Comforter’s growth and other physical needs became increasingly obvious, but we were
landlocked, with no way to expand the property. The church also needed many improvements, such as more parking, a
safe, well-equipped playground, and similar needs. Would we have to move again?
In 1993, our next-door neighbor, a large bank, decided to move, and on December 18, 1998, we took possession of
their large building and parking lot. The bank headquarters building was totally renovated to become our Parish House
and office building.
From a spiritual perspective, The Church of the Holy Comforter went through a significant period of Christian renewal
during the 1990’s and into the 21st Century. Through various retreats, conferences, and other renewal gatherings, our
congregation grew in Christian faith and in their knowledge of, and reverence for, the Bible as the authoritative Word
of God. Thus, when our Diocese in 2012 withdrew its affiliation with the Episcopal Church, our church was one of the
large number of parishes which joined in that disaffiliation, and we are now the Church of the Holy Comforter, Angli-
can, resident in the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, a Diocese in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
From the beginning, the Church of the Holy Comforter has proved itself a welcoming, hospitable, and faithful Christian
congregation, and we pray that this profile will impress the reader that we are searching for a God-loving, wise, faith-
ful, and strong rector.
The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile 9
Rector List
1857 - 1859 The Rev T.F Davis 1900 - 1913 The Rev Henry H. Covington
1859 - 1861 The Rev Ezra K. Jones 1913 - 1915 The Rev Robert T. Phillips
1862 - 1869 The Rev Albert R. Walker 1916 - 1948 The Rev James B. Walker
1866 - 1867 1948 - 1955 The Rev Frank V.D. Fortune
& The Rev L.F. Guerry
1873 - 1875 1956 - 1964 The Rev W. Seddon Lee
1868 - 1873 The Rev F.B. Davis 1965 - 1969 The Rev Manney C. Reid
1875 - 1876 The Rev W.H. Johnson 1969 - 1974 The Rev George M. Maxwell
1876 - 1878 The Rev F. Clute 1975 - 1982 The Rev R. Michael Jones
1882 - 1885 The Rev Theodore F. Porter 1983 - 1984 The Rev Timothy H. Murphy
1885 - 1895 The Rev John Kershaw 1985 - 1994 The Rev Charles F. Walton
1896 - 1898 The Rev S.B. Hillock 1995 - 2014 The Rev Dr. John Barr III
1898 - 1899 The Rev B.M. Badin 2014 - 2020 The Rev Marcus Kaiser Sr.
1899 - 1900 The Rev P.D. Hay
10 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish ProfileWhat We’re Looking For
The Church of the Holy Comforter desires to have a Rector who meets these prerequisites and embodies the following
prerequisites and characteristics:
Prerequisites:
Theologically aligned with our Core Values and What we Believe as stated in our 2021 Parish Profile, and accepts
fully and without reservation the doctrines of the Christian faith as set forth in Scripture, the historic creeds, the
ACNA 2019 Book of Common Prayer, and the doctrinal statements of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina.
Exhibits consistent adherence to Christian values, beliefs, and virtues in every aspect of life (marriage, parenting,
career, hobbies, peer relationships, public and private life, etc.)
Exhibits the characteristics of an overseer and deacon as set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-13.
Characteristics:
Consistently and regularly practices the spiritual
disciplines of prayer, Bible study, worship (public and
private), Christian mediation, giving, and serving. Exhibits
Godly humility: A deep understanding of his desperate
need for Christ in his own life and confident in his position
in Christ—that he is loved, redeemed, and forgiven by
God.
Approaches others from a position of equality before God,
equally undeserving of God’s mercy, but equally
redeemable only by God’s grace and the blood of Christ.
Seeks first to listen and understand; assumes the best
about others; attributes good motives to them; respects
their right to hold a different opinion on disputable
matters.
Loves the church and her people; love being defined as an
unwavering, unconditional, and permanent commitment
to the best interest of the church and her people; and
manifested as a deep and genuine concern for people.
Engages in servant leadership; that is, in working
collaboratively with others, and seeking to understand
those around him and, with the church leadership, to
discern together God’s best plan and path.
Exhibits other traditional traits of Christian character —
devoted to God, teachable, seeker of godly wisdom,
caring and compassionate, self-sacrificial, prudent,
modest, and diligent.
The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile 11Rector Characteristics Leadership: A leader who is an excellent preacher, and possesses a vibrant and articulate style of delivery. Ability, flowing out of a personal devotion to the Lord, to deliver relevant messages based upon sound biblical orthodoxy. Liturgically gifted and able to shape worship with grace and competence in the fullness of the Prayer Book tradition. A leader who will care for and facilitate the healing of our people. Some in our church body have been hurt by events surrounding our departure from the Episcopal church. We need a leader who will get to know us, listen to us, love us, and draw us together. Work to cultivate a spirit of community, spiritual health, and a willingness to volunteer. Experienced in managing a multi-staff church. An effective manager who has the skill and confidence to delegate duties, hold staff accountable with godly encouragement and reproof, and humbly work with various groups and communities. Possess a passionate desire to both train and equip Christ followers of all ages and to lead them to grow Christ’s Kingdom. Leadership skills in personal discipleship, evangelism, and mission work. A leader who is inspirational and motivational. Understand who we are, where we are, and where we need to go. Must cast a vision to lead us forward by both setting and effectively communicating priorities. Has a proven track record of working with teams and recruiting people to accomplish agreed upon plans and objectives. A leader who is fiscally responsible and can lead us to financial growth. Demonstrate competence in financial planning, oversight, and management, and the ability to teach biblical stewardship and raise necessary financial resources for God’s Church. 12 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile
Rector Characteristics
Character:
Honest, outgoing, approachable and humble
Demonstrate a robust personal faith, characterized by the daily study of scripture and devotion to prayer, outwardly
demonstrating fruit of one who is Spirit- filled, and wise in the character and ways of the Lord.
Should be “above reproach” in character and “able to teach.” (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6).
Exhibit a life of holiness and integrity and be a person of deep faith who is not only convinced of the need for
prayer—and of its power—but also one for whom prayer is a way of life.
Fulfill the characteristics of a Godly overseer as expressed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
Pastoral Qualities:
Energetic and passionate about their vocation in Christ; having a deep love and concern for Christ’s body, especially
for parishioners at The Church of the Holy Comforter.
Be engaging and dynamic, relating well to parishioners of all ages and showing love for and interest in everyone.
Integrate discipleship and mission into all aspects of our congregational life by fostering development and expansion
of small groups, committing resources and talents to rebuild and revitalize the children’s and youth programs, and
seeking to grow membership in the 20-40 age group.
Be passionately committed to sharing the Gospel with a heart to bring others to Jesus Christ, shepherding them to
maturity, and “[equipping them] for the work of ministry” Eph. 4:12.
Model and ensure pastoral care for the clergy, staff, and people of the parish with a compassionate spirit.
Gladly working with and learning from leaders around him, taking advantage of their gifts and abilities, and knowing
that the parish will be healthier for their shared wisdom and collaboration. This will require a seasoned and mature
gift of administration.
Personal qualities:
Honesty and trustworthiness
Spiritual leadership
Integrity and authenticity
Humility and transparency
Excellent listener and communicator
Strength of character and conviction
Compassion and courage
Vision and strategic agility
Management and administrative wisdom
Core training & experience:
Minimum academic credentials of a M.Div. or equivalent
Prefer an ordained Anglican Priest in good standing with the ACNA.
Rooted in biblical theology and the principles of the Anglican
Reformation
Prefer experience pastoring in a multi-staff church, with the
demonstrated ability to lead others effectively
Demonstrated ability to balance work and rest, family and ministry
The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile 13Conclusion The Church of the Holy Comforter strives to be a church that not only believes the message of God’s saving Grace but also a church that takes the message of the Gospel to unreached people. We need a Rector who will faithfully proclaim the Gospel message, challenge us, and lead us to fulfill the Great Commission. We are prayerfully seeking a new Rector who will “feed his Sheep” through Gospel centered preaching and teaching. For further information, or to submit a cover letter and resume, email searchcom@holycomfortersc.org or call: (803) 236-1439: Sue McDuffie (Senior Warden) (803) 968-1477: Michael Carges (Search Committee Chairman) 14 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile
Attachment A
Ministries of Church of the Holy Comforter Church Overview
Weekly Worship:
The Church of the Holy Comforter currently offers two worship experiences each Sunday
morning at 8:30a and 11:00a. The 8:30a service had previously used the Rite 1 liturgy. The
11:00 am service is our traditional service accompanied by the pipe organ and choir. Both
services currently use the Ancient Renewed Text from the ACNA 2019 Prayer Book. Prior
to COVID we also offered a mid-week Healing Service in our chapel complete with Unction
and Eucharist.
Adult Discipleship:
There are a variety of small groups, as well as Bible studies specific to men and women
offered during the week. Sunday morning offerings include a Lectionary discussion class
and often a church-wide study.
Outreach:
The people of Church of the Holy Comforter are involved in multiple outreach ministries
both locally and abroad. As the hands and feet of Christ we provide food to school
children in need of weekend meals; assist with preparing bag lunches for the homeless;
provide shoes to children in need; reach out to the incarcerated through Kairos and a local
jail ministry; assist with bicycle collection, repair, and distribution at Christmas; provide
support to the local crisis pregnancy center baby shower program; promote intentional
Christian grandparenting in our church and community through our Grandparents at
Prayer group; and support our missionaries through SOMA, WIN-GS, and being a
Ropeholder.
Youth Discipleship:
Currently our Youth Group is volunteer led. However, our current budget allows for a full-
time youth minister. Most of our youth come from within our church. Every Sunday
evening the youth meet for fellowship, games, and a lesson to help them further their
spiritual journeys. They attend Diocesan and parish youth retreats throughout the school
year, and serve in the community by re-roofing a home each summer alongside other
youth with Sumter United Minitries. For the last six years, we have continuously had youth
serve as leaders on the Diocesean Youth Commission.
Member Care:
Member Care at Church of the Holy Comforter includes both clergy and lay people. They
visit shut-ins and hospitalized members. Additionally, we have trained Lay Eucharistic Ministers who administer the
Eucharist to those unable to attend services. We provide a bus ministry to local retirement homes which picks up
members and others who desire to attend services. Take Them a Meal and Loaves and Fishes are meal ministries which
provide food to families during illness and after funerals held at the Church of the Holy Comforter.
From Altar Guild to Buildings & Grounds, Worship Teams to Children’s Ministry Teams, parishioners are busy! The
people of the church are ready and willing to help when needs arise, both with their time and resources.
The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile 15Attachment B 16 The Church of the Holy Comforter Parish Profile
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