What does an old, established parish do when it is without a rector for two years, into its second search after a failed first attempt?

It grows, it learns, it discovers and raises up new lay leadership and reinvigorates the old, said the Rev. James Coleman, interim since August at Christ Church, New Bern, N.C. An interim period is the best time for this, but even so, he said, the growth and the increased stewardship has been unusual.

Christ Church dates back to 1710. The first rector, the Rev. James Reed, arrived from England in 1753, a year after King George II gave the parish a five-piece silver communion service and a Book of Common Prayer. Between the initials G and R on the silver pieces is a crown and an inscription: Honi soit qui mal y pense (Evil be to him who evil thinks). The organization of the original Diocese of North Carolina in 1817, and the Diocese of East Carolina in 1883, took place at Christ Church. The present congregation is some 1,300 strong, in the center of the state's first capital.

The church has grown, said Deacon Frances Britt, with "new members mainly from 'up north' - that's anything above Virginia." She was ordained deacon in October, 1991, having been a parish secretary and administrator and raising three children. After coming to Christ Church in 1996, she said, "for six months, all went well." Then they "went elsewhere, all three wonderful priests." Now she participates in three services every Sunday. She is hoping for a new rector so that she can take the second and fifth Sundays off. "But we have great lay leadership," she said.

"I'm from New Bern originally, so I know how hard it is to break the ice. Now we have active newcomers, happy they don't have to shovel snow."

Organist/choirmaster Steve Anderson said he's learned to be independent and self-sufficient "without a permanent boss. It's exciting with no rector to bail you out." Without clerical feedback, he said, he considers, "If I were a congregation member, would I like this hymn?" or "Are there too many new hymns in this service?" He directs youth choirs, and a 25-singer adult choir, and commands the 1,397 pipes of the Zimmer Baroque organ. The 1997 parish profile describes the 8:45 service as "an abbreviated contemporary Eucharist, using Rite II and music found in the Parish Family Songbook. This service attracts newcomers to Episcopal liturgy, young families, and others interested in a less formal service." To what are basically lead sheets for the congregation, the musician is free to add his own chords, guided by "What would jazz, gospel, light R&R musicians do with this?" At 10:45, Morning Prayer is used on the 2nd and 5th Sundays, with a Rite I or Rite II Eucharist and one of the choirs with mostly traditional music. A healing service follows. Mr. Anderson lauded the "great cooperation between musicians and teachers on time for services and Christian education." The new rector "will have to decide about renewal music."

Ann Bell had something rather unusual to say about meetings. She is the vestry liaison to the outreach commission, composed of "15 strong members." (Each vestry member is chair or co-chair of one of the church commissions.) These commission meetings, she said, are "uplifting. It is mostly retired people who have outreach at heart. My spirit is fed in those meetings." And the spirit of Christ Church seems to live in outreach. The parish is active in prison ministry, middle school mentoring; Merci Medical Clinic for employed workers without medical insurance, many of whose volunteer doctors and nurses are parishioners; with other churches, a soup kitchen and shelters, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, the CROP Walk.

Dr. Hal Cameron is an ophthalmologist who, in November, 1997, joined a Presbyterian orthopedic surgeon, Methodist nurse anesthetist and other medical specialists for a week at a Haitian hospital. "I did 20 cataract surgeries in four days, and then helped in the main operating room, with Haitian nurses and others from New Bern," he said. "Everybody wants to go back. We really accomplished something." The group took equipment to leave at the hospital. One benefit for the Americans that anyone in a medical field can appreciate: "I didn't have to fill out a single Medicare form the whole week. So what if I didn't get paid? — in money, anyway."

Another banner program for Christ Church is refugee resettlement. Rosemary Stark had worked with the national church program, and when she relocated from "up north" in Connecticut to North Carolina, "Bishop (Sidney) Sanders called me. I was rather shy; I didn't know him." Discovering her background, he said, "Why don't you start that here?" He appointed a committee, she said, and designated Christ Church for the pilot program.

Ms. Stark explained the process. "People apply to the INS [Immigration and Naturalization Service] for safety, from horrible situations. They can't go back, or stay where they are. 'Refugee' is a political designation — the government decides. It's not [the applicants'] decision." The INS turns cases over to agencies such as Episcopal Migration Ministries, which assigns a family or an individual to a local group. After the church receives the referral, "Then we wait." Any number of personal and governmental problems can prolong the process, but finally, "We meet them at the airport. We treat them like family. It's so thrilling, people want to go with us, even from other churches."

Before and after the arrival, however, housing must be found, and furniture, housing supplies of all sorts. Jobs, transportation — "There is no public transportation in New Bern" — tutoring in English, and medical and dental care must be secured. "Every refugee must have a medical exam within 30 days. They often arrive with illnesses and injuries, enormous dental problems. And we don't know much about the medical conditions beforehand."

There are risks involved for the sponsoring church: unknown medical and emotional problems to deal with, landlords who insist the church sign a lease before the new tenants arrive. But Ms. Stark speaks with a deep joy: "It's a fun process. They tell about their life — jobs, vacations, experiences — some can't talk about things [they endured]." She described a victim of torture who had vivid flashbacks. "It was just like being there. [The young man] had prayed to be in the group that was shot because he didn't think he could stand torture.

"These are survivors! Courage and faith have carried them."

Most of Christ Church's 195 refugees are Bosnian, and most are Moslem. "We're careful to respect that faith. We can't be seen to want to 'turn them into Christians'," she said. "We are caring, not proselytizing. We take the oppressed, all sides."

This period of time without clergy leadership has been perhaps a crucible of sorts. Ann Bustard, director of children's ministries, said the vestry went on retreat to heal feelings, and Fr. Coleman spoke of working through the grief and anxiety following the first search. The staff, Ms. Bustard said, assumed some of the duties of an associate rector, and Deacon Britt doubled as administrator. Fr. Coleman said, "It was a time to rise up and share, and they have been doing that. It's a great opportunity to step up with treasure, time and talent, and they do. We keep the fires lit." Ann Bell summed up: "We've managed wonderfully without a rector. We've had interims who were good for us. We've strengthened what we had and searched out what we want to do. Lay people stepped up; that's where it's supposed to be to keep ministry thriving.

"Sometimes it takes not having a rector, a crisis, to make you go down on your knees.

"Whoever comes will be welcomed."