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Dear Fourth Church Family,
For much of last year, and with greater intensity in recent months, the leadership of the church has been discerning how we embrace the ways of ministry identified in the church’s long-range plan, while at the same time responding to the financial demands of our current circumstance.
The discernment process resulted in a staff reorganization approved by the Personnel Council last fall and reflected in the 2025 budget approved by Session in December. That reorganization eliminated the position of Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry. As a result, Session brought to the Congregational Meeting this past Sunday the recommendation that Fourth Church dissolve the pastoral relationship with Reverend Nanette Sawyer, who currently serves in that role.
The wisdom of the congregation was to look for another way to achieve the goals of aligning with the long-range plan and also meeting our financial realities. Therefore, the congregation rejected the recommendation to dissolve this pastoral relationship.
What does that mean? It means that Reverend Nanette Sawyer, who has served us faithfully for nine years, will continue as part of the pastoral staff. It also means that the church leaders will need to revisit our staff plan to align with the long-range plan with benefit of six pastors rather than five.
This planning will take some time, but as Fourth Church always does, this work will be done faithfully and thoughtfully, and I am confident that it will bear good fruit for the church for years to come.
Some have asked, will the church have a deficit in 2025? The answer is yes, and keeping a six-pastor staff means it will obviously be a bit larger than having a smaller pastoral staff. However, the budget for 2025 will still reduce the budgeted deficit by about $1,250,000. That is a significant step in reaching our goal of sustainability (which is also part of the long-range plan). So there is much to celebrate in this season.
I look forward to sharing more with you at the Annual Meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, February 9 at 12:15 p.m. For now, keep on doing the good that is yours to do.
See you in church.
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