Half time parish Incumbent

Christ Church by the Sea is a small congregation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with an extended number of visitors during ‘high season’.  We are seeking a bilingual (Spanish/English) priest to serve as incumbent on a part time basis and develop a Spanish language service.  We are a registered parish with the Diocese of the West, under the Episcopacy of Bp. Ricardo Gomez Osnaya, in the Anglican Church of Mexico.

Our parish began in the early 90’s as a seasonal gathering of visitors in a hotel meeting room.  We held services for several years at a location near the airport that was owned by a retired priest from the Diocese of San Diego. When his bishop ordered him to sell the property, he closed the church and we moved to our present location at Plaza Genovesa. That priest subsequently affiliated himself with ACNA. Fr. Michael Schirmacher provided pastoral oversight in the interim.  After Fr. Michael moved to Guadalajara in November 2018, Fr. Bob Webster continued services and was installed as rector in March. In March of 2024, Fr. Bob will have completed his five year commitment and we will install a new incumbent.

In 2020-22, due to Covid we provided Sunday Eucharist and daily morning prayer online with Facebook.  We have successfully continued to provide this service daily 6 days a week and continue for those unable to attend personally.  Even though we were unable to attend in person during Covid, our attendance actually increased and our financial support was maintained, including extra expenditure to support the Vallarta Food Bank program.  Currently, 35% of our budget is dedicated to service projects and the diocesan budget.  We have supported a school for children of migrant workers for four years now as well as the food bank, and a new ministry supporting women in the diocese.

In addition to continuing our present commitment to providing liturgical worship year round, we have two particular goals.  The first is to develop a Spanish language congregation and the second, to  continue growing our core expat membership.  To that end, we are looking for a priest who is fluently bilingual with strongly extroverted pastoral skills.  Given that we can only provide a housing allowance, we will need someone who is retired, or has an independent income.

For those interested, please send a résumé by email to:

[email protected]

and we will send further details about the parish and Puerto Vallarta as a place to live and work.