March 9, 2025

Dear fellow Munsey congregation members,

As announced this morning in worship, we will receive a new senior pastor appointment in July of 2025. We appreciate Pastor Kip bringing this to us openly and directly, and giving us context about the ebb and flow of the appointment process. Pastor Kip has faithfully served and led our congregation since he was appointed in July of 2022.

Since joining Munsey, Pastor Kip has elevated the standard of pulpit presence to the highest level we have seen in decades. His breadth and depth of teaching on Sundays is exceeded only by his Wednesday night symposiums exploring the nooks and crannies of Christianity and beyond. We have all benefited from his gifts. We will all miss them as he moves forward.

Itinerancy is a central but sometimes difficult aspect of the United Methodist appointment system. In our congregation’s 150-year history, we have had the joy of welcoming many gifted ministers through our doors and into our hearts. The bittersweet counterpoint is saying goodbye when they move on to serve the larger church in different ways and in different places. We can trust that the same conference leadership who brought us Pastor Kip in 2022 will bring us the right person to succeed (but never replace) him in July.

Further information about 2025 appointments and specific schedules will follow from the church office as it becomes available. We would normally expect appointment information in late March or early April. Please feel free to reach out to SPRC if you have questions about the process.

During this time of transition, we will all look forward to surrounding Kip and Tami in love and support at every opportunity. They are part of our family now, and will remain so even as they move forward.

With appreciation,

James D. Culp                                                                            

Chair, Staff-Parish Relations Committee

Butch Fortune

Chair, Church Council