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The Church of St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
www.stlukeinthefields.org

Description of Site

The Church of St. Luke in the Fields has is committed to a four-fold mission of worship, witness, hospitality and formation which has been evident throughout its history to the present day. On October 22, 1820, a small group of residents of the riverfront village of Greenwich gathered to organize an Episcopal church for their growing community. They named the church after St. Luke, the physician evangelist, in recognition of the village's role as a refuge from the yellow fever epidemics that plagued New York City during the summers.

In 1821, the cornerstone to the church was laid on a site on Hudson Street donated by Trinity Church. The new church was consecrated on Ascension Day, May 16, 1822. In 1845, St. Luke's became a leading proponent of Anglo-Catholic worship in the United States, offering daily services of the Divine Office as well as weekly Sunday Eucharist. In 1891, St. Luke's became a chapel of Trinity Church. In the following years, the number of neighborhood ministries increased, including extensive outreach to neighborhood children. In 1927, a new gymnasium was added to the block. In 1956, a school building, playground and garden were constructed. St. Luke's School is now a coeducational Episcopal day school serving approximately 200 children of all faiths in Pre-K to Grade 8.

In 1976, Trinity Parish decided to divest itself of its chapels, and St. Luke's once again became an independent parish of the Episcopal Church. In 1979, St. Luke's was among the first churches in the Anglican Communion to appoint a woman as an assistant priest. On March 6, 1981, a fire destroyed much of the church, the second such fire since the church's founding. In 1985, after four years of fundraising and rebuilding, St. Luke's was reconsecrated. St. Luke's has maintained strong community ties; in particular the public garden at St. Luke's is seen as integral to the quality of life for the neighborhood.

Since the 1980s, St. Luke's has been deeply affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The AIDS Project of St. Luke's has served Saturday dinner and weekend teas to over 35,000 persons with AIDS since its founding in 1987. During the last decade, St. Luke's has hosted a festive gay pride evensong celebration, and in recent years it has participated with a sizeable parish contingent in the annual New York City lesbian and gay pride parade.

In 1994, The Rev. Dr. Roger A. Ferlo became rector of the church. Since then, St. Luke's has seen a great expansion in terms of its membership as well as its ministries. It continues to identify as an Anglo-Catholic parish with a commitment to intellectual and spiritual formation; there are a number of former Roman Catholics. In 2004, The Rev. Caroline Stacey was called as rector; she has implemented a strategic planning process with the lay leadership in order to sustain the ministries in the midst of the needs of aging buildings in need of major repair and to align resources across St. Luke's city block for mission and ministry for the next generation. The membership is predominantly white, middle-class, and has more men than women; it is approximately 50% gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender with an increasing population of children and families (both gay and straight). There is not a significant population of people with visible disabilities, and the Parish House/Offices are not wheelchair accessible, though the Church is.

The Internship

St. Luke's commitment to formation includes formation for ordained ministry. Seminary interns are regularly part of the community and have significant roles in the preaching, education, and outreach life of the congregation; this year four seminarians are serving in a variety of roles for their Field Education requirements. There is great support and opportunity for interns in this community.

Goals for the Internship

1. To continue our mission commitment to formation by providing learning
   opportunities for those discerning a call to ministry, including ordained ministry.
2. To maintain in the summer the parish role of mentoring young people for
   leadership in the church and society.
3. To receive the "outside perspective" interns offer during a more reflective time of
   the church year.
4. To support the various ministries at St. Luke's with the intern's time and energy.

Tasks

The intern would work a 30-40 hour week during which he or she would choose a primary ministry focus for the entire internship, see attached page of opportunities (e.g. Street Youth Workshop, spending up to10 hours a week on this project). The remaining time would be spent in worship leadership/assistance, rotating through other ministries, staff meeting, and supervision.

A typical week might include:

• 8 hours on Street Youth (example), including 4 hours at the workshop itself (Saturday), 2 hours meeting with outreach workers, 1-2 hours calling volunteers or other preparation
• 4 hours+ assisting/leading worship, including Sunday morning service and at least one weekday Eucharist
• 10 hours on other ministries, for example 3 hours at the People With AIDS dinner and 3 hours at the GO Summer Program (tutoring/academic preparation), and 2 hours working in the Thrift Shop or going with one of the clergy for a hospital or home visit.
• 2 hours in Staff Meetings
• 2 hours in one-on-one meetings with staff, key lay leaders to learn about St. Luke's (1 hour to meet, 1 hour to record)
• 2 hours in Supervision: including 1 hour journal writing, 1 hour meeting with supervisor
  "extra time" can be thoughtfully structured in conversation between intern and supervisor.

Supervision and Theological/Vocational Reflection

The primary supervisor will be the Rev. Dr. Mary Foulke, the Senior Associate. Foulke has had extensive experience as a supervisor and teacher of a wide range of age groups, including supervising seminarians from Princeton Seminary (89-90), Union Theological Seminary (90-92), Fuller Seminary (01-02), and General Seminary (02-present); she served as the Program Director of the Field Education Office at Union Theological Seminary from 1992 to 93, and as a seminar leader for Field Education courses from 92-93, and 94-96. Finally, Foulke was the Protestant Chaplain at Wellesley College from 1996 to 98, and supervised a college intern in the Office of Religious Life during that time.
When Foulke is on vacation (to be determined), The Rev. Caroline Stacey will serve as supervisor. Rector at her previous church in East Lansing, Michigan for 8 years, Stacey has extensive experience in mentoring and in supporting college age ministries.

Vocational Questions

Because of the variety of opportunity at St. Luke's, an intern might be able to explore both mundane and exciting tasks associated with parish ministry, the complexity of any kind of social service work, and the blessings and challenges of working with volunteers. In addition, interviewing members of the parish will provide a wide lens with which to view the "inside workings" of a local church. St. Luke's is connected with the Diocese and there may be opportunities for Diocesan activities and a view of denominational dynamics. We are an urban community, and at the same time a very privileged congregation; interns will have the opportunity to work with both advantaged and disadvantaged populations. In short, a broad experience with the greatest possible exposure, as well as the challenge of working with one project intensively, should provide an experience rich for vocational discernment.

Intern's Gifts, Skills and Experience

We are seeking someone who is capable of working alone and has a cooperative spirit, likes meeting people, has the ability to follow through on a project, is open to Anglo-Catholic forms of worship, is supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion in religious communities, has adequate writing skills, and is interested in what we do. A commitment to social justice, and experience with Episcopalians are a plus.

Logistics

• The internship will begin on June 15, and end on August 8; flexibility is possible.
• No driving is required, public transportation is readily available.
• St. Luke's will assist in every way possible to help locate housing i in a very challenging housing market.

Opportunities for ministry include:

• Daily Eucharist - Assist at daily Eucharist, opportunities for preaching possible, if desired
• AIDS Ministries Saturday Dinner for people with HIV/AIDS - Cook, set-up, serve and enjoy dinner with our guests
• St. Vincent's Hospital Visiting Program (PLWA) - Volunteers bring tea to patients on Sunday afternoons at S. Vincent's Hospital, with particular attention to people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Saturday Arts Workshops for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Street Youth - Our program invites teens, ages 13-21, to join us for art, dance, writing and music instruction, followed by dinner, starting at 6:30 p.m. - Help out with the workshops, prepare dinner, offer St. Luke's hospitality!
• Thrift Shop - St. Luke's Thrift Shop is located in the basement of the Parish House. Proceeds support the school scholarship program. The shop is open Monday and Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Annual Gay Pride Celebrations Planning Committee - This committee begins its works in January/February, culminating in the great festivities of the Gay Pride Parade in New York City, the We Are Family Picnic and the Gay Pride Evensong, all at the end of June.
• Acolyte and Altar Guilds - Prepare for and /or participate in Holy Eucharist as acolyte, thurifer, subdeacon, or in preparing the church and sanctuary for the service.

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