28November 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, Christ Church Cathedral has taken the step to restructure the Cathedral staff to meet the reality of our financial and operational needs and position us for continued success in the future. 

During the past four years, we have grown and evolved, becoming more complex, and our needs for staffing and structures have changed. Ministry for today and tomorrow requires an organizational structure that better addresses this reality. We have also long carried a structural deficit covered by our endowment funds which is no longer sustainable. To be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted us with, we must do things differently. 

The restructuring of the Cathedral involves layoffs, organizational changes and refocusing of resources. This includes the layoffs of:

  • Alicia Ambrosio, Director of Communications; 
  • Lauren Odile-Pinkney, Children Youth and Families Minister; and 
  • Carlos Feirrera, Director of Administration.   

These will be effective on January 31, 2024.

With the return of the Vicar, The Rev. Areeta Bridgemohan, from maternity leave, we will not engage in a new contract with the Rev. Melanie Calabrigo in 2024. Certain non-employee contracts will be reduced and/or redirected to better fit the needs of the Cathedral’s mission.  

These decisions were not made easily and are designed to take into account the best interests of the Cathedral while providing maximum support for those being affected by the layoffs.

Our restructuring will also include refocusing the third full-time clergy position, currently held by the Rev. Clare Morgan, from Pastor to St. Brigids to Associate for Digital and Innovative Ministries to reflect the reality of the importance of digital and online communities and the need for creative and innovative ministries.

Our commitment to intergenerational, family and children’s ministries will be met by creating a new 20-hour position: Coordinator of Intergenerational, Children and Families Ministries that replaces the 30-hour position of Children and Families Minister.  This program-intensive position will reflect the reality of the Vicar serving as primary pastoral care for families and children and a need for children’s and intergenerational programming and support.

To serve the needs of the Cathedral today and into the future, a Director of Operations will be recruited to oversee the internal operations, including Human Resources, of the Cathedral. This position will be supported by an Administrative Assistant who will be present full-time in the front office.  Additionally, the Director of Stewardship and Development position will be made redundant and a Director of Engagement will be created at a later date to focus on our external relationships, new members, and hospitality. 

Transparency is our commitment to you as we navigate this challenging period together. A layoff is an organization's workforce reduction strategy to manage financial constraints while aligning resources with operational needs. A layoff is unrelated to a person’s workplace performance. This financial and operational decision is necessary for the long-term sustainability of Christ Church Cathedral and our mission.

Our mission is steadfast and our commitment to Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds remains at our core. We continue to be a place that … 

  • Feeds the hungry and build community through the Maundy Cafe
  • Provides excellence in worship and music through liturgies and events
  • Offers exceptional formation, lectures and workshops
  • Provides pastoral care to the wider community
  • Serves as the Cathedral for the City

As we navigate these changes, we look forward to the season of expectation where our hearts and minds are turned towards seeing God incarnate in Jesus laying wrapped in a manager. Jesus is our hope. He is our expectation, and it is in his name that in the coming weeks, we shall once again open our doors to the city and all of God’s people to worship His Incarnation through the Season of Advent and into Christmas.

Let us embrace the promise of tomorrow with hope in our hearts and a shared commitment to our mission in Jesus Christ. As we navigate the path ahead, may our collective efforts sow seeds of understanding, kindness, and positive change in the world. Together, we can shape a future where love prevails, and reconciliation unfolds for all. 

Blessings to you for a future filled with hope, love, and boundless possibilities,

Chris+