Recent Merger
March 25, 2007: The Rector and Senior Warden of St. James' Episcopal Church announced at the High Mass that the Vestry had voted to explore the possibility of a merger with St. Monica's Episcopal Church, its near neighbor on Capitol Hill. A Merger Exploratory Committee was established to begin conversation with members of the community as well as with members of the St. Monica's community regarding this opportunity.
April 19, 2007: The Merger Exploratory Committee issued the following Q&A to discuss several features of the proposed merger. Click here to download the Q&A.
April 25, 2007: The Vestry and Merger Exploratory Committee held the first of two Parish-wide informational meetings at St. James'. The Rev. Betty McWhorter was the facilitator and a panel composed of Fr. Downing, Ryan Terry, and Rick Mauery responded to the community's questions.
May 11, 2007: The Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Washington released a letter to the people of St. James' and St. Monica's. Click here to download that letter.
June 10, 2007: The Merger Team of St. Monica's and St. James' released a shared vision statement at the High Mass. Click here to download a copy of that statement.
June 18, 2007: The Rector and Wardens released a letter describing the purpose and possible outcomes of the July 1 meeting with the entire St. James' community. Click here to download that letter.
June 28, 2007: The Merger Exploratory Committee issued a second Q&A to discuss additional features of the proposed merger and the summer. Click here to download the Q&A.
July 1, 2007: The Vestry held a town meeting to discuss the possible next steps in the merger discussion and to gather feedback from the community. Click here to download a description of that meeting and of the decisions that Vestry reached later on the same day.
September 9, 2007: The Merger Team released the first full version of the merger vision statement to the people of St. Monica's and St. James'. Click here to download that statement.
September 18, 2007: Paul Cooney, Canon to the Ordinary, prepared the following document for the Diocesan Council. The Council will use this document to reflect on the merger process and will address various issues contained in the merger proposal on a formal basis at its meeting in October. This will include a decision about funding of the new community. Click here to download a copy of that that document.
September 28, 2007: The Vestries of St. James' and St. Monica's released a completed merger vision statement and voted unanimously to adopt the statement. This is the final version of the merger vision statement and would be used to develop a plan for living within the same community of faith. Click here to download a copy of this document.
October 9, 2007: The Diocesan Council passed a set of recommended resolutions that had been put forward by the Canon to the Ordinary on October 3. These resolutions indicated broad Diocesan support for the merger of the two Parishes. Click here to download a copy of the document with the resolutions outlined.
November 28, 2007: The Vestry of St. Monica's Episcopal Church and the Vestry of St. James' Episcopal Church each voted unanimously to reaffirm the merger vision statement and to authorize the merger of the two Parishes. Furthermore, the Vestries authorized the Wardens and Rectors to submit to the Diocese of Washington a Petition for Redesignation of the Boundaries of St. James' Parish and the Renaming of St. James' Parish, the result of which will be (1) to enlarge the geographical area of St. James' Parish to include the geographical area of St. Monica's Parish and (2) to change the name of St. James' Parish in the District of Columbia to the Parish of St. Monia and St. James. This petition will be considered by the Diocesan Convention in January 2008. Click here to download a copy of the Petition.
December 2, 2007: The two communities began permanent worship together in the space of the former St. James' Episcopal Church as the Parish of St. Monica and St. James.
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