The Diocese of Long Island has announced that the Rev. Michael T. Sniffen will begin serving Nov. 1 as dean of the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York.
The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island, and George Tietjen, chairman of the search committee, wrote in a letter to the cathedral community [PDF]:
In total, the Search Committee received 30 expressions of interest from all over the country. Each candidate was asked to provide written responses to three questions exploring the themes of faith, leadership and vision within their ministries. The committee read and evaluated these submissions, and discerned as a group 15 candidates to move forward to the telephone interview phase of the process. Eight candidates were then invited to the Cathedral to meet with the committee in person for the celebration of the Liturgy, sharing of a meal, and continued, in-depth mutual discernment. The top three candidates were officially presented to the bishop on Monday, July 13.
As part of his discernment of the call to become dean, Father Sniffen felt he had achieved the goals set for his work at St. Luke and St. Matthew, Brooklyn, where he served as rector since 2010.
At St. Luke and St. Matthew, he raised the profile of the parish with initiatives such as an artists-in-residence program and developing strategic partnerships within the community. He also led the parish in community outreach and advocacy, providing direct services to those in need, including a shelter for the homeless housed within the church building, assisting former prison inmates reentering the workforce, and working with HELP (Health Education and Learning Partnership) clinics and health screenings.
