Dear Trinity Family,
Discerning call is not an exact science. It involves deep and prayerful listening for the guidance of the Spirit. Quaker mystic Thomas Kelly describes it as discovering the “particularization of God’s heart for the world that is
my
responsibility –
my share in the joyous burdens of love.”
For almost nine years, being your Senior Pastor has been
my share in the joyous burdens of love
. I feel about you like Saint Paul felt about the church at Thessalonica, “Because I love you so much, I have been delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but my very life as well.” We have shared so much life together as we have worked to Make God’s Love Visible.
While it is difficult to tell you this, I am nonetheless convinced, after careful thought and prayer, that I have accomplished all that I can among the people who are Trinity Church. Therefore, I will be resigning as your Senior Pastor effective August 10, and my last Sunday with you will be August 4.
As I depart, my prayer is that you will continue the work of being a covenant community called to serve God’s world. There are significant socio-cultural challenges facing all churches and specific challenges facing the Trinity family. You can meet those challenges! God has claimed you, called you, and equipped you to do just that! My hope is that you will work toward a unity of purpose as you move forward together.
The session has appointed your beloved and capable Richard Floyd to serve as Acting Senior Pastor while they discern next steps. You have dedicated and visionary elders serving on the session under the faithful leadership of Alex Erwin (clerk) and Brian Williams (assistant clerk). You have an amazing team of deeply caring pastors and inspiring preachers. Richard, Betsy, Andrew, George, and Tom each has unique gifts, and together they provide excellent missional leadership.
Most importantly, you have one another. YOU are the church! You are partners in mission and ministry, and now is the time to love one another genuinely, engage in the mission fully, give generously, and lead humbly as you continue Making God’s Love Visible. It is vitally important for
each and all of you to discern your share in the joyous burdens of love
and to take on a few central tasks in this community of faith as
your
emphatic responsibilities.
I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of serving alongside you for almost a decade and for the faith and friendship we have shared. I trust that the Spirit will use all the joys and the struggles, the celebrations, and the set-backs we have experienced together to prepare us all for what is next. I know that going forward my energies will be applied to some new, yet-to-be-discerned, particularization of God’s heart for the world.
A letter cannot possibly convey all that I hold in my heart for you. I look forward to being with you and thanking you personally this Sunday and/or sometime between July 28, when I return from study leave and vacation, and August 10.
With love and gratitude,
Pam
