Pastoral Transition Process and Update
Pastor Ken Mills has been serving as our Lead Pastor since 2016. The district superintendent appointed him after serving for one year as an Interim Pastor.
Dr. David W. Bowser appointed Pastor Ken again in 2019 to serve through May of 2021. The district superintendent asked that we begin a process of transition. The church board appointed a pastoral transition team, and they met a few times, working on a profile of what we are looking for in the next pastor and giving some description of our present context and challenges.
Latest Update Regarding our Pastoral Transition:
Thank you to those who participated in the election of a Lead Pastor for our congregation this past weekend. As you know, Pastor Dale Detweiler was recommended by the Pastoral Transition Team as a candidate for consideration. The Church Board met with Pastor Dale and the district superintendent, and after an interview, the board voted to recommend Pastor Dale to the congregation as our next pastor.
This last weekend, the congregation voted either in-person or online, and the results are as follows:
Members Voted 89% approval of Pastor Dale serving as our next Lead Pastor.
Non-members Voted 100% approval of Pastor Dale serving as our next Lead Pastor.
Pastor Dale (pictured to the left) was informed of the congregation’s vote results by the district superintendent, and Pastor Dale asked that he and Jenn be given a day to pray about whether he would accept the official call of the congregation.
Pastor Ken was informed late Monday morning that Pastor Dale, in communication with the district superintendent, officially accepted the call to serve as the next Lead Pastor of our congregation. The actual timeline regarding the transition is still under discussion, and we will keep you informed as we proceed. Pastor Ken is scheduled to remain as pastor through May 31, but over the next six months, Pastor Dale and Pastor Ken will be working on a “scaled transition.”
The official Installation of Pastor Dale as Lead Pastor will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at 10:00 AM. You are invited to be present for this special service.
Please be in prayer for Pastor Dale and Jenn as they step into this new role.
