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Barnabas’ St. Barnabas’Episcopal Church Parish Profile - 2013 St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church 2800 Duncan Road Wilmington, DE 19808 www.stbarnabasde.org
Barnabas’
St. Barnabas’Episcopal Church
Parish Profile - 2013
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
2800 Duncan Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
www.stbarnabasde.org
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
2
Table of Contents
Where do we start? 3 Mission
Prayer for our congregation in transition
Who are we? 4 Challenges and opportunities
How we live our calling
Who were we? 14
Where do we live? 18
Who do we want to become? 22
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
3
Mission:
We are called by God to see Christ in all persons, grow in
faith and live in joyful fellowship with one another.
--as adopted by the St. Barnabas’ Vestry, December 2012
We seek:
• A leader whose faith journey inspires us to grow
into our mission
• A teacher who shares the tools to help us live
our Christian faith
• A counselor whose close relationship to God
guides our community in the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit
Where do
we start?
Parishioner Libby Green
designed our logo.
Prayer for our
congregation in
transition:
Eternal God, the
foundation of all wisdom
and the source of all
courage: enlighten with
your grace this
congregation in transition,
and so rule our minds, and
guide our counsel, that in
all things we may seek
your glory and promote
the mission of your
Church, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Our mission states: We are called by God to see Christ in all persons,
grow in faith and live in joyful fellowship with one another. With this
in mind we look ahead to our future with eagerness.
We have gathered information about our parish by several means,
including:
• “Holy Conversations,” comprising 7 listening sessions with a
total of 68 attendees, conducted January-June, 2012
• Mutual Ministry Review, with the vestry and the Rev. John
Pumphrey, conducted August 7, 2012
• Parish Statistical Report, 2001-2011, compiled 2012, by The
Church Report Company
• Parish survey, conducted December 1-9, 2012.
Our self-examination was an effort to assess where we are, what we
are doing well and where we can hope to grow in the future. We’ve
learned a lot about ourselves and found resilience within our
community. Common themes that emerged from our study were:
• The importance of belonging, connection and fellowship
among members
• The desire to minister and serve within the church and
through outreach
• The need for spiritual nurture and guidance
The past few years have brought change to our parish, some
favorable and some unsettling. This turbulent time has caused the
people of St. Barnabas’ to pause and regroup as a community that is
seeking to thrive. Our congregation has a history of digging deep to
“get the job done” with hard work and elbow grease, from recruiting
over 100 parishioners in 1977 to help build an addition to the
church, to painting the interior of our newest addition several years
ago. On any given day volunteers are working outside in our gardens,
maintaining the building or volunteering in the office.
Over the past three years St. Barnabas’ has faced a difficult time
financially. Pledging units have dropped but, with a giving spirit, the
average pledge has increased. With a tighter budget and a decrease
Challenges
and
Opportunities
Who are we?
Steeple of St. Barnabas’ Episcopal
Church
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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The Parish Picnic marks the end of the school year in June
in numbers as a whole, the parish continued to look for ways to
serve efficiently and prayerfully. The vestry has demonstrated fiscal
responsibility and we have worked within our means. Our outreach
fundraisers—Harvest Fest and the Christmas Bazaar—continue to
donate all the proceeds to community needs, demonstrating the will
to serve those around us. Learn more about these activities
beginning on pages 16-17.
Our parish attendance has increased by 15% over 2011, and in 2012,
St. Barnabas’ had 465 parishioners. Our Sunday school has
approximately 25 registered students spread over classes from
preschool to junior high. These children are typically also members
of the two youth choirs and bless us with their musical talents each
month and at the spring musical. We see this as an opportunity for
growth in the next few years. The addition of new families with
children to the congregation would give a much needed boost to
these valued youth ministries.
Together, the parish has
talked, prayed and
regrouped to determine
what is valued among us. It
became clear that St.
Barnabas’ strength is in its
people and our desire to
serve Christ. Our pastoral
care ministries have not
only survived but thrived.
Sister Cassandra
Norsworthy has provided
much support throughout
this period and remains
active in this ongoing effort.
Fellowship has remained
very important as we strive
to stay united and focused. This sense of community is where the
heart of our parish lies and what keeps us at St. Barnabas’. What we
seek is to find stability in the calling of a new rector—a leader who,
“St. Barnabas’ strength is
in its people and their
desire to serve Christ.”
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Parishioners prepare a potluck supper.
recognizing the strength of our members, will care for and guide us,
understand our values and participate fully in pastoral care and the
life of St. Barnabas’. We are open to explore new expressions of
caring for one another and our mission to the wider community.
Coffee hour is a weekly tradition after the 10:00 Sunday
service.
Flower Guild members create
floral arrangements for every
service.
Memorial Garden landscaping was
enhanced as part of a Boy Scout Eagle
project several years ago.
The Cherub Choir practices for their part in a monthly family
service.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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2012 statistics:
Year-end active members: 465
Number of families: 217
Average attendance (three
weekend services): 170
Sunday school enrollment: 25
Baptisms: 8
Confirmations: 7
Marriages: 1
Burials: 9
Saturday services are held in the chapel.
Youth perform a musical in the spring.
Worship
St. Barnabas’ celebrates three
weekly services (one Saturday
evening service at 5:30 and two
Sunday morning services at 7:30
and 10:00). The Chancel choir
sings at the 10:00 service, joined
once a month by the Renaissance
Quire. Lay leadership, including
lectors, communion assistants,
greeters, ushers and flower and
altar guild members support the
rector during services. Three youth acolytes, ranging in age from 11
to 18 years, assist at the 10:00 Sunday service. Parishioners help with
the audio and provide recordings for those unable to attend church.
On the first Sunday of each month, members celebrate a more
casual “Family Sunday” service where the Cherub and Seraphim
youth choirs sing, and the sermon is focused on the youth of the
parish. The church also hosts a parish breakfast on this first Sunday.
Other worship expressions include:
• Advent lessons and carols
• Christmas Eve youth pageant
• Easter Vigil
• Blessing of
the
animals
• Use of
Prayers of
the People
from such
resources
as
Enriching
Our
Worship,
Ormande Plater, A New Zealand Prayer Book
How we live
our calling
Orphrey group members created
banners for each season of the
church year.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Cherub and Seraphim Choirs sing on family Sundays.
Chancel Choir
• Alternative Eucharistic Prayers of Consecration from
Enriching Our Worship and other resources
• Prayer of Confession from Enriching Our Worship
• Variations appropriate to the above in the Post-Communion
prayer.
Music
Music ministry at St. Barnabas’ is vital in leading worship and
providing music to enhance worship experiences. Four choirs sing
over 60 anthems and lead worship
on Sundays throughout the
program year (September-May),
for weekday special services during
Lent, Easter Vigil, Christmas Eve,
for funerals and weddings and
during the summer. Every singer is
a volunteer. Instrumental music
occasionally enhances some
Sunday services and other special
services.
Organist/choir director Dr. Michael Larkin composes and publishes
some of the music performed by the Chancel Choir. Dr. Larkin has
led music ministry at St. Barnabas’ for the past 10 years. He is also
the founder and director of the New Ark Chorale, serves as a core
artist faculty member of the Music School of Delaware and chairs the
Eastern Division’s Music in Worship Committee for the American
Choral Directors Association. Dr. Larkin’s compositions have been
published by leading publishing houses.
Two youth choirs sing on family
Sundays and perform a lovely
musical in the spring. The youth
choirs are led by two
parishioners who volunteer
their leadership, conducting
rehearsals weekly during the
coffee hour, selecting anthems
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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and directing the annual musical.
Christian Education
In recent years, Sunday school has offered classes for children ages 3
years through 8th grade. Early years (through grade 4) use the Godly
Play curriculum; grades 5-8 use lectionary readings as the basis of
weekly lessons. Godly Play involves students and their teachers, as
well as other members of the parish who make some of the
materials, figures and props used in the curriculum.
Candidates for confirmation (7th through
12th graders and occasional adults)
participate in a series of 7-8 interactive
sessions over a 5-6 month period. The
current curriculum includes reading and
responding to the book of Luke,
reflections on “favorite Bible verses,”
discussion of the creed and key points in the catechism, discussion of
faith in action and an instructed Eucharist. One recent confirmand
commented that the class was “the most fun I’ve had at church.
Ever!” View the confirmation class website:
https://sites.google.com/site/stbconfirm/home .
The senior high program has been sporadic in recent years and
presents an opportunity for future growth.
Adult Christian Education is both lay-led and clergy-organized. Two
weekday Bible studies (Early Risers and Lady Julian) began several
years ago; they were initiated by clergy, but have been lay-led by
design for most of their existence. The Seekers prayer group is also
lay-led. Occasional discussion groups after Sunday services have
been facilitated by both clergy and lay leaders. Weekly Lenten
education has traditionally been organized by our clergy. It has been
a goal of many to resume regular weekly classes following the 10:00
service.
“…the most fun I’ve had
at church. Ever!”
Parishioner Lynda Harriss taught
a group to make Chrismon
ornaments to use for
decorations on the Christmas
trees.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Parish Life
St. Barnabas’ parishioners have long worked to offer an atmosphere
and platform to encourage fellowship among all members. At St.
Barnabas’, “people shar[e] in the Holy Eucharist with each other.”
We stand with each other in times of celebration and sorrow, and in
times of need. Several programs contribute to a welcoming and
supportive community. Weekly coffee hours after the 10:00 Sunday
service and Family Sunday breakfasts encourage families to spend
time together.
Other activities bring parishioners together, too, including a bowling
team, bridge group, monthly men’s and ladies’ luncheons at local
restaurants and gardening volunteers who maintain the planting
beds around the church and memorial garden.
Pastoral Care
Members of St. Barnabas’ see ourselves as a group bonded in love
and encourage each other to carry the love and light of Christ to
everyone in need. Parishioners care for each other in times of
sickness, grief and trouble. Several groups share in the ministry of
pastoral care.
• Eucharistic Visitors take the sacrament to those who are sick
or shut-in.
• Stephen Ministers offer one-on-one care to those who suffer
in the face of life’s difficulties.
• Prayer Shawl Ministry volunteers create warm shawls that
are blessed and delivered to those in and around the
congregation who are ill.
• Cards and flowers team members send cards and create
flower baskets for delivery each week to members of the
congregation in nursing homes, or those who are sick or
shut-in.
• Prayer and Praise Chain members pray daily for anyone who
requests prayer.
• Writers send comforting letters to those who have suffered
loss.
“I have been
visiting the same
person for almost
10 years—I get
more out of it than
that person does.”
The parish kitchen is used to
prepare many meals, some social
and some for outreach.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Lady Julian Bible study attendees and
youth collected gifts for Connections,
a local community agency.
• CD ministry team members record the 10:00 Sunday service
and create CDs for delivery to those who are homebound, or
have missed services, or those who just want a copy of the
sermon.
• Meal ministry volunteers provide meals for those who are ill
or have just returned from the hospital.
• Funeral reception volunteers help families organize and host
a reception for those attending the funeral of a loved one at
St. Barnabas’.
Outreach
The St. Barnabas’ community finds ways both collectively and
individually to care for neighbors, inspired by Jesus’ command to
“love your neighbor as yourself.” Two events (Harvest Fest in the fall
and the Christmas Bazaar in December) raise funds solely for
outreach. These funds are distributed locally to organizations such as
the Food Bank of Delaware, Connections (for disabled adults) and to
Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD).
St. Barnabas’ supports additional ministries with both funding and
volunteer support, including:
• Friendship House, Andrew’s Place: Parishioners prepare,
deliver and serve a meal to 15-20 men at a homeless shelter
one day a month.
• Emmanuel Dining Room: Parishioners prepare, deliver and
then serve a meal for up to 300 people at a downtown
Wilmington site one day a month.
• Food Bank of Delaware receives food collected seasonally at
St. Barnabas’ services.
• Meals on Wheels: A team of parishioners deliver meals one
week out of every six.
• Salvation Army Kettle Drive: Parishioners ring bells and staff
kettle collections outside a local store during the Christmas
season.
• Seaman’s Center (at the Port of Wilmington): Members of the
parish provide transportation to stores for foreign ship
Fr. John Pumphrey celebrated 40
years in the priesthood in January
2013.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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A 2,500 square foot addition in 2009 increased
office space.
workers and provide small gift boxes for the “Christmas at
Sea” program.
• St. Michael’s Day Nursery: Parishioners collect aluminum cans
for recycling. Profits help support a downtown Wilmington
school dedicated to providing affordable early education and
day care for children.
Stewardship
St. Barnabas’ is beginning its fourth year without a rector, following
the removal of Fr. Robert Broesler in 2009. As one might expect,
membership declined as a result of normal attrition, including the
death and relocation of older members, and as a result of some
leaving for parishes with a full-time rector. The parish enters 2013
with 139 pledging units, with the average annual pledge on the rise.
In 2009, St. Barnabas’ completed a major expansion and renovation
of its facilities. A capital fund campaign raised $500,000. However,
the total cost of the project amounted to $867,000, which resulted
in the church withdrawing $60,000 from its operating funds and
borrowing $300,000. Of this debt, $50,000 is due and payable in full
in 2014. The remaining $250,000 amortizes over the period ending in
2024-25. We consider our debt obligations manageable.
The market value of the church’s endowment fund, which was
initially funded in 1999 through a membership-wide campaign,
amounted to $386,330 at December 31, 2012. This fund has been
used occasionally to support our mission. Since its inception the fund
has contributed
$37,700 to church
operations and loaned
an additional $50,000
to defray the cost of
the recent expansion
of the facilities. The
fund may disburse
funds only from its
investment income.
2013 statistics:
Pledging units: 139
Average pledge: $1,893
Total amount pledged: $263,123
Diocesan acceptance: $45,000
Entrance to the new addition
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Statement of Operations for the years 2012 and 2013
Income 2012 2013 Proposed
Pledge and Plate Offerings $277,925 $279,000
Endowment Fund 0 -a-
Day Care Rental 66,892 68,230
Rectory Rental 22,100 20,400
Other 6,695 5,660
Total $373,612 $373,290
Expenses
Clergy & Staff Salaries, Benefits & Housing $193,346 $200,638
Diocesan Acceptance 48,000 45,000
Mortgage and Other Debt Service 40,765 40,269
Utilities and Reserve 33,659 38,301
Buildings, Grounds and HVAC reserve 17,134 20,874
Music 4,468 3,609
Otherb 41,485 53,628
Total $378,857 $402,319
Deficit ($5,245) ($29,029)
a. The vestry at its meeting on December 11, 2012, declared a distribution from the Endowment Fund to
the church of up to $20,000, to be disbursed as needed during 2013.
b. The category “Other” expenses is inflated by allotted search costs.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church, Newport, Delaware
St. Barnabas’ began as a church school of St. James’ Episcopal
Church, Newport, sometime before 1890. Parishioners first met in
each other’s homes under the lay leadership of William J. Robinson.
It was organized as a mission on December 17, 1890, with Rev.
Edward H. Eckel celebrating the first Eucharist.
On May 18, 1892, Warden Robinson was thrown from
a railroad car and hit by an engine. He died several
days later from his injuries. A week later a committee
was chosen to start raising funds for a chapel in
memory of Mr. Robinson. They raised $600 by June
and purchased a lot at Kiamensi and Newport Roads in
Marshallton. They laid the cornerstone October 29,
1892. On May 12, 1893, the church was dedicated by
Bishop Leighton Coleman and given the name St.
Barnabas’. This first church burned to the ground on
Christmas Eve 1898. It was rebuilt on the same site by
the parishioners and dedicated in 1899 by Bishop
Coleman. A bell tower was added in 1900.
In 1913, St. James’ Newport, St. James’ Stanton and St. Barnabas’
mission were all in the charge of Rev. John E. Parks of Seaford, DE.
These parishes were the first in Delaware to realize the importance
of transportation in rural areas and got together to buy Rev. Parks a
small automobile. In 1932, the two churches and St. Barnabas’ were
being led by Rev. Millard W. Riker. He retired in 1940 and was
replaced by Rev. Kenneth Albright.
In February 1943, the Rev. Alexander W. Boyer became Rev.
Albright’s assistant. By 1947 the mission had 221 families, 147
communicants and 244 teachers and pupils in the Sunday school and
was admitted at the Annual Convention of the Diocese as a full
parish. In May of 1950, St. Barnabas’ mission officially became a
parish with the Rev. Jack Smith, Rector.
In 1957, the Rev. Cloud Rutter was called as second rector. By this
time it was apparent that membership was outgrowing the space of
the old church and the vestry felt it was time to build a bigger
church. St. Barnabas’ had been given a very generous gift by
Frederick Bringhurst. This gift included all of Mr. Bringhurst’s real
estate located in and about Marshalltown. It was suggested by a
parishioner that this land be sold and that St. Barnabas’ purchase
Who were
we?
Christus triumphans hangs in the
chapel. The chapel is dedicated
to the memory of the Rev. Cloud
Rutter.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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land in a growing residential area. The vestry agreed and all of the
Bringhurst property was sold for $250,000. This money was enough
to buy nine acres on Duncan Road and have money left to start
building the new church.
Ground was broken for the new church on October 9, 1960. Fr.
Rutter was very involved with the design of the new building. The
first service in the new church was a baptism on December 17, 1961.
The first Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated Christmas
Eve by Bishop J. Brooke Mosley. The church was dedicated
November 28, 1963 by Bishop Mosley.
Fr. Rutter continued as rector of St. Barnabas’ until 1983. The church
continued to grow, and lay leadership and participation was strong.
A new space for Christian education, offices and a lounge were
added to the building in 1977. The parishioners did much of the work
themselves.
After Fr. Rutter retired, Rev. Edward Ranck was called to be the new
rector. At this time it was decided to build a rectory on the grounds
of the church. Rev. Ranck lived in the rectory from 1987 until he left
suddenly in April 1989. His tenure officially ended May 31, 1989.
There were about 150 families when the Rev. George Karney came in
the fall of 1990. The Rev. Nicholas Knisely was added to the staff in
1991 and served as Deacon and Assistant Rector until he was called
to another parish in April 1994. A chapel was added in 1995 during
Fr. Karney’s tenure. An elevator with openings on four levels was
added at the same time. The Rev. Bruce Lomas joined our parish as
Assistant Rector soon after and shepherded us through Fr. Karney’s
retirement and the subsequent interim period.
The Rev. Robert Broesler was called to serve St. Barnabas’ on August
20, 2001. He was soon joined by the Rev. Russ Bohner as Assistant
Rector. Fr. Bohner served until he was called to another parish in
2008. Sister Cassandra Grace Norsworthy, an avowed member of the
Anamchara Fellowship monastic order, joined the church staff in
2009 as Pastoral Assistant. She does much of the pastoral care, is a
Stephen Minister and fills in where needed. While Fr. Broesler was
here, we managed a successful capital campaign that afforded a
major expansion project as well as several much needed
improvements to the buildings and grounds.
Baptismal font at the front
entrance to the church
The Blessing of the Animals
service was added during Fr.
Karney’s tenure.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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The present St. Barnabas’ was consecrated in 1961.
Fr. Broesler was removed as rector in 2012 following a lengthy
Ecclesiastical Trial and Provincial Review. During the trial and review
transition, the Rev. Peter Huiner served as Bishop’s Vicar until
returning to retirement. The Rev. John Pumphrey is now serving as
Interim Rector. Both have
helped mend relationships,
strengthen our spiritual
commitment and prepare us for
our future, both spiritually and
communally. We will be
comfortable with whatever form
of address our new rector
prefers.
St. Barnabas’ has been and
continues to be a parish with
strong lay leadership and
commitment. It is important to
us to share our time, talents and
facilities with the community.
The first Boy Scout troop in Delaware was organized at St. Barnabas’
in 1922. It was the longest continuous scout troop in the country. It
was disbanded in 1998. Our parish hall hosts Narcotics Anonymous
groups several times a week. In 1978 a Senior Center operated by
the county was started with the use of St. Barnabas’ parish hall,
kitchen and rest rooms. When the Center outgrew the space, it was
relocated in 1981.
Since approximately 1990, we have leased space to Stepping Stones
Daycare and Preschool which uses the space Monday through Friday.
This agreement provides us with revenue and offers a service to
neighborhood families with small children.
St. Barnabas’ has been fortunate to have consistent strong
leadership in its Parish Administrator, Beth Winward, who has served
in that capacity since 2007. Her organizational skills are
complemented by contributions from dedicated volunteers. Some of
these volunteers have been active for over 10 years, contributing a
variety of clerical and organizational skills to keep the office running
smoothly.
The parish has had a history of keeping the facilities in good repair
using the labor and talent of our members. When the new education Baptismal font in the Memorial
Garden
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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The Christmas Bazaar (above) and
Harvest Fest (below) fund outreach.
wing was added in the 1970’s, 100 members of the parish
participated in the work. An article in the Wilmington News
Journal compared it to an old fashion barn-raising. Our current
“sweat equity” group did the same when our newest addition
was built. We have a dedicated group of gardeners who keep
our grounds looking beautiful in all seasons.
The annual Christmas Bazaar was begun in 1963 and was first
organized by Margaret Slocomb and Josephine Smith. This is a
large parish affair that gives everyone the opportunity to
contribute. Lunch is made and served by parishioners.
Handmade items, baked goods and used articles for the white
elephant sale are all donated. All funds raised go to outreach.
The Harvest Fest is a more recent annual event. One
parishioner, Barbara Taylor, inspired this event after seeing the
lovely straw crosses that decorated the Anglican church she
and her husband attended during a stay in England. During
Harvest Fest, St. Barnabas’ is decorated in beautiful banners
and straw crosses (all handmade by parishioners). A potluck
dinner is held after the Saturday evening service. Funds are
raised by auctioning off items made or donated by
parishioners. The money has traditionally been divided
between the Food Bank of Delaware and ERD.
Renovated church lounge (Parishioners contributed
“sweat equity,” including painting, for the 2009
expansion and renovation of the church addition.)
Christmas Eve candlelight service
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Labyrinth at the Delaware Art Museum (Photo by
spike55151 on Flickr)
Delaware’s beaches are two hours away. (Photo by Alan
Vernon. on Flickr)
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church serves the southwest suburbs of
Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware. This is a great place to
live, work, play and raise a family. Wilmington is the county seat of
New Castle County, and it is one of the major cities in the Delaware
Valley metropolitan area. Our parishioners come from New Castle
County, as well as nearby counties in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Located midway between New York City
and Washington, D.C., Wilmington is “in
the middle of it all.” The Wilmington Train
Station is Amtrak’s 12th busiest station,
offering 70 station stops daily to points
north and south. You can take Amtrak’s
Acela high-speed train and be in
Philadelphia in 20 minutes, Washington,
D.C. in 80 minutes and New York City in 90
minutes. There is also regional commuter
service to Philadelphia with four stops in
New Castle County.
Many of the Northeast’s largest highways
are easily accessed from Wilmington,
including I-95, I-495, I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike. The lovely
beach resort towns of Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey Beach are only 2
hours away, and the state capital, Dover, is less than an hour away.
Arts & Culture
The arts and culture scene in the Wilmington area is
alive and growing, particularly in the downtown business
district on Market Street. The Delaware Symphony
Orchestra, OperaDelaware and the First State Ballet
Theatre are all in residence at The Grand, an opulent and
historic opera house.
A few blocks north of The Grand in the luxurious Hotel
du Pont, is the DuPont Theatre, which presents a six-
show professional Broadway series as well as their
acclaimed Children’s Series. A few blocks south of The
Where do we
live?
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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Brandywine Springs Elementary School sits across the parking lot from St. Barnabas’. (Photo
by Nancy Crawford on Red Clay School District website)
Grand is The Queen, which was recently refurbished and reopened
in 2011, offering live music to the area residents.
Also located in Wilmington is the Delaware Art Museum which
houses more than 12,000 works of art, including pieces from
Winslow Homer, N.C. Wyeth, Edward Hopper and Howard Pyle.
Education
Wilmington has an excellent educational system, with abundant
offerings that include public, private and charter schools. State and
local support for education helped Delaware earn one of the first
Race to the Top grants from the federal Department of Education.
Schools have
benefitted from
increased focus on
teacher effectiveness,
STEM (science,
technology,
engineering and
mathematics)
education and
partnerships with
local businesses.
Students may attend any public school in New Castle County through
a school choice program, provided there is capacity. There are six
public school districts within New Castle County with extensive
program offerings.
St. Barnabas’ property is located in the Red Clay Consolidated School
District, the second largest in Delaware. Brandywine Springs
Elementary School is located next door to St Barnabas’, and the only
two schools from Delaware listed in the Newsweek’s 2012 ranking of
the Nation’s Top High Schools (Cab Calloway School of the Arts and
The Charter School of Wilmington) are operated or chartered by the
Red Clay Consolidated School District.
Broad opportunities for post-secondary education exist in New
Castle County with five colleges and three universities to choose
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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from. The University of Delaware (UD) has a student population of
20,500. The main campus is located 10 minutes away from St.
Barnabas’ and offers more than 100 academic majors. Other higher
education opportunities include Delaware College of Art and Design,
Delaware State University, Delaware Technical and Community
College, Goldey-Beacom College, Wilmington University and
Widener Law School.
Health Care
Some of the top health care institutions in the country are within a
15-minute drive of St. Barnabas’. Christiana Care Health System
(CCHS), headquartered in Wilmington, is a major teaching hospital
with two campuses and more than 240 medical-dental residents and
fellows. CCHS is known for their excellence in cardiology, cancer and
women’s health services. It is also home to Delaware’s only Level I
trauma center and Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit in the state.
Also located not far from St. Barnabas’ is the Nemours/Alfred I.
duPont Hospital for Children. The facility was named in the U.S.
News & World Report 2010-11 edition of “Best Children’s Hospitals”
as a leader in Orthopedics, Gastroenterology and Urology. The
facility provides more than 30 specialties of pediatric medicine,
surgery and dentistry in a patient- and family-centered environment.
Wilmington’s St. Francis Hospital has been providing general medical
services since 1924, including advanced surgical specialists, 24-hour
emergency services with fast-track minor emergency care, wound
care, a pain center, rehabilitation, imaging services and
comprehensive women’s services.
Recreation and Sports
New Castle County is a great place for people who love the outdoors.
There are 10,000 acres of parkland where one can enjoy hiking,
playing sports, swimming, fishing, camping or biking. Delcastle
Recreation Area is a 400-acre park located adjacent to the church
property, offering a 1.7 mile paved walking trail, tennis courts, ball
fields and a fenced street hockey rink. Delcastle also includes an 18-
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
21
For even more information:
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church:
http://www.stbarnabasde.org/
Parish Profile photos:
http://stbarnabaswilmingtondelaware.
shutterfly.com/
Episcopal Diocese of Delaware:
http://www.dioceseofdelaware.net/
Visit WilmingtonDE:
http://www.visitwilmingtonde.com/
New Castle County, Delaware:
http://www2.nccde.org/
Red Clay Consolidated School District:
http://www.redclay.k12.de.us/
State of Delaware:
http://www.delaware.gov/
hole public golf course and driving range. A series of bike paths
through local parks and along roads create a bike-friendly
community in northern Delaware.
Sports fans can follow intercollegiate athletics at the University of
Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center, Delaware Stadium and other
athletics buildings and fields. UD offers 22 varsity sports, which
compete in NCAA Division 1. Delaware is a member of the Colonial
Athletic Association in all sports. Wilmingon’s Frawley Stadium is
home to a Carolina League baseball team, the Wilmington Blue
Rocks, and the nearby PPL Park in Chester, PA, is home to the
Philadelphia Union (soccer). South Philadelphia Sports Complex is
home to Philadelphia’s professional teams: the Eagles (football), the
76ers (basketball), the Wings (lacrosse), the Phillies (baseball) and
the Flyers (hockey).
Cost of Living
Delaware is the home of tax-free shopping. The tax rates on
personal income in Delaware range from 2.2% to 5.5% for
incomes under $60,000. Incomes over $60,000 are taxed at
6.95%, but will be reduced to 5.95% by 2014.
This area offers great quality of life with an affordable cost of
living. Housing prices average $245,800, with the average
household paying $503 in County taxes annually. School taxes
depend on the district in which one resides, averaging around
$1,000 countywide. There are no state-assessed property
taxes. The median household income in New Castle County is
$62,051.
Business refers to Delaware as the “corporate capital of the
world” with more than 60 percent of the nation’s Fortune 500
companies incorporated here, including leading-edge
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and financial services
businesses. This area is the corporate home to the DuPont Co,
W.L. Gore and Associates, Astra-Zeneca, Bank of America and
Amazon.com.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
22
Youth of the parish present an
annual Christmas Eve pageant.
Celebration of Baptism
St. Barnabas’ is a parish ready to write the next page in its history.
After three years of transition and change, a strong core of
dedicated parishioners has emerged with the desire to welcome a
new rector. Together, as a congregation, we have worked to
maintain our service to each other, reach out to the community and
sustain our church. We are looking for a rector to join our walk and
help us grow in the knowledge of our faith.
In December 2012, a parish survey was completed
concerning what attributes and characteristics are desired
in our new rector. The results are consistent with the
outcome of the Holy Conversations conducted earlier in the
year. The three most valued attributes our new rector will
have:
1. He will counsel parishioners through difficult times
and share in fellowship.
2. She will support the youth of our parish in Christian
Education and Youth Ministries.
3. He will preach sermons that create a desire to grow
in the knowledge of the Gospels.
In addition, we value a priest as a teacher to help us know and
understand the Bible and Christian theology. She will join us in
extending our warm welcome to all who enter St. Barnabas’. We
seek a leader who respects our lay
ministry. We bring enthusiasm and
a readiness to meet new challenges.
We respect each other and honor
our common journey in faith.
We have ideas and energy for
ministry. Our next rector will lead
us in reestablishing the very
successful youth group program for
the young members of the parish.
Until about two years ago, the
Who do we
want to
become?
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
23
youth group held weekly meetings, participated in service projects,
was active in parish activities and served at work camp.
Other areas for growth include adding a service during the week,
addressing the needs of an aging parish, exploring a prison ministry
and expanding our music offerings.
St. Barnabas’ is located in a suburban area with easy access to
downtown Wilmington. Our outreach programs have contributed
financially and with volunteer service the Delaware Food Bank,
Emmanuel Dining Room, homeless shelters and ERD. Yet, in our
neighborhood, there is real need. Ideally, our new rector will help us
seek out those in real need of Christian charity and draw them into
our joyful fellowship.
We seek a rector whose close relationship to God and guidance of
the Holy Spirit inspires others. We seek a teacher who preaches
based in scripture yet makes the Gospel relevant to our daily lives.
We seek an educator for the youth of our parish to provide them
with the needed tools to grow in Christian faith. We seek a leader to
develop our congregation, hear our voices and help us grow into our
mission.
We are called by God to see Christ in all persons, grow in faith and live in joyful fellowship with one another.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
Wilmington, DE
January 2013
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St. Barnabas’ back patio
The St. Barnabas’ Transition Team
• Jeff Bowersox
• Anne Dixon
• Dave Greenwood
• Lori Kramer
• Lynn McIntosh
• Mary Leslie Tise, Co-Leader
• Leslie Walker
• John Warrington, Co-Leader
Vestry Liaisons:
• Terry Flanagan
• Marianne Pena
Consultants:
• Rev. Bud Holland
• Rev. Elizabeth Masterson
Standing Committee Representative:
• Rev. Ruth Kirk
St. Barnabas’ Parish Profile, January 2013
