Announcement and Request for Prayer:
As we shared a few weeks ago, KingsWay has experienced a financial downturn over the last year or two due to the effects of the current economy as well as transitions within our own body. A year ago the pastors chose to reduce their compensation by 20% to meet our 2010 budget and since then we have continued to make additional budget cuts throughout this year to keep on track.
Early this summer as we were making further tweaks to the budget, we realized that any further reductions would need to again reduce pastoral salaries. At that time God gave me peace and faith to come off staff if another sizable cut was needed. I didn’t share that with the other guys at the time, but continued to pray that further cuts would not be necessary.
However a couple months ago, it became apparent that we would need to again readjust the budget significantly. At that time I let the other pastors know that God was giving me faith to step off of staff at least temporarily and work for my brother Andrew in his home improvement business.
In the midst of investigating such a transition, Colleen and I met with some friends last month at the Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors Conference, who challenged us regarding whether God might be using this season to consider other possible redirections that we otherwise would not entertain, such as relocating to another church in need of pastoral support.
Though I have been aware of needs in other cities, and even been approached once or twice about them, I had essentially dismissed them out of hand. We really like it here. We love this church that we’ve had the privilege to serve the last 11-½ years and our many friends here! Last year we moved next door to my brother. Our girls have significant time with their grandparents each week - a relationship they both enjoy immensely - and is also a very practical help to Colleen as she struggles with back pain daily.
All of this has left us in a very comfortable position - to the point of not really considering other things. So we were challenged when asked to consider if our personal transition might be planned by God for something different than just saving KingsWay some money. If nothing else we became aware at that conference that God was after something in our hearts. We had drawn boundaries around what we thought God would ask us to do.
We still don’t know where exactly God is leading us in all of this. What we do know right now is that the church finances don’t allow us to ask these questions while serving full time. So I will transition to part-time in January for a couple of months. Even that reduced salary will need to come from savings at this point, but the other pastors and I all felt it important that I remain on staff until at least March 1 to serve you and the team during the helpful process of the mediation we’ve been walking through as a church, and to transition roles and responsibilities.
God may then have us to relocate to another city to help pastor somewhere else or He may have me work with Andrew for an indefinite period with an eye to returning to staff at KingsWay when finances allow. We’d be most grateful for your prayers during this season. Our biggest request would be for clarity of God’s direction. We have much faith that He is using this season for His purposes, and like all of you we’re eager to see exactly what each of those purposes are.
Now, I want to speak very plainly to a couple of possible questions or speculations that I trust might not pop into heads given another season of church life. None of the other guys have initiated these discussions or asked me to step back. This is something I believe God placed in my heart for such a time as this. The response of the other men on staff was surprise and many questions.
This is not a statement against the other pastors in any way. If anything, it should be heard as a ringing endorsement of my support for them and willingness to submit myself to their leadership and care. I trust them. There have been times over past years where I have seen my particular role as one that was indispensable to this team and church. God in His mercy has helped me get over myself in these ways over the last couple of years.
To the best I know my own heart, this is no attempt to escape the current circumstances we face as a pastoral team. It has unquestioningly been a very challenging season for all of us. And as I mentioned a minute ago, I am grateful for the tremendous help Peacemakers has already been and I am committed to staying engaged with the mediation process and with you as a church body during this season. The biggest dynamic our current circumstances have factored into all this is that our finances have made staff changes necessary. I wish this decision could be totally removed from our current context so that it would not be confused with it - actually I prayed that we wouldn’t reach this level of need at all, but this is where we are at!
I doubt most of you will notice much change at all in these next couple of months as my participation on Sundays will be unchanged. (And to cut off any speculation about our family’s absence next weekend - we will be visiting Colleen’s family next week to celebrate Christmas with them in PA.)
We are not being forced out and we are not seeking to flee, but we are earnestly seeking what God would have us to do above all else. We’re entrusting ourselves and this church to the One who is at work far beyond our limited vision - and who is more jealous for His bride, the church, than any of us will ever be. The other pastors have let me know their preference for us to stay, but more than anything they desire us to hear God speak clearly and for us to follow wherever He leads. Whatever your preference might be, I ask you to pray the same thing for us. Thank you.
