Dear Friends,
We are pleased to introduce you to the Reverend Adam Spencer, the next Rector of St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church Glencoe. Adam and his wife Rose Sengenberger will join us on February 1st, 2021. Adam and Rose live in New York City where Adam has been the Associate Priest for Pastoral Care at Saint Thomas Church in Manhattan for two years.
Adam graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. He formally began discernment of a vocation to the priesthood while serving as the Youth and Adult Education Coordinator and Dean’s Assistant at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio from 2008-2012. He received his Master of Divinity degree at the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2016.
During his time at the Divinity School, Adam served as seminarian at the Church of the Atonement in Chicago and continued serving there after ordination as assisting clergy. He was ordained a transitional deacon in June of 2017 and a priest in June of 2018 at St. James Cathedral in Chicago. Before going to St. Thomas, Adam worked as Manager of Volunteer Services at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago. While living in Chicago, Adam and Rose were active at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, their neighborhood parish in Ravenswood. Their pet cat Fawkes enjoyed receiving his annual blessing at All Saints’ Pet Blessing Sunday.
Originally from Ohio, Adam and Rose are delighted to return to the midwest and move to Glencoe. They are looking forward to reconnecting with the many friends they have in Chicago. Rose is an actress and childcare professional. Adam and Rose enjoy travelling, hiking, and going to the movies and the theater together. Since they have been sidelined from those activities by the pandemic, Rose entertains them with the new guitar skills she has taught herself.
After many months of thoughtful discernment, the Search Committee selected Adam as our finalist from a field of 13 candidates. We were impressed by Adam’s abilities and interests, especially those related to preaching, pastoral care, and formation. Adam is deeply spiritual, and draws from the Ignatian prayer tradition. Adam’s experience will help us explore our own spirituality more deeply.
In our Ministry Portfolio, the Search Committee was asked to identify four words that describe the gifts and skills essential to the future leaders of St. Elisabeth’s. We chose the words Authentic, Caring, Flexible, and Transformative. The committee believes that Adam possesses these qualities, and shares our adventurous spirit and commitment to radiate God’s love within and beyond our red doors.
We are very grateful for the time, talent and thoughtful reflection that our search team members Carla Arnell, Tasker Generes, Hall Healy, Carrie Mygatt, Kay Rossiter and Adrienne Zimmerman shared with us. Who could have guessed we would conduct a rector search during a pandemic?! We appreciate the adaptability and creativity that our committee members have shown throughout this unpredictable, yet very moving spiritual journey. We look forward to welcoming Adam, Rose, and Fawkes to St. Elisabeth’s with all of you soon.
Faithfully,
Leslie Alter and Susan Newcomb
Search Committee Co-Chairs