It’s Time!
Hello Church, my dear church family since April 1st, 1998. Let me share a verse of centering scripture with us. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” I’m into my 27th year of being your pastor. I am coming to you today from the Copeland House that you honored me in naming to commemorate my 20th year as your pastor. It took me the longest time to be able to call the house anything but “You know, the little gray house across the way”. “Copeland House” just wouldn’t come out of my mouth. I have now come to a time when I can say, Copeland House without blushing much, and with a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving for you. What an honor!
Timing is everything, and today I come to you with a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving, to announce that the time has come for me to retire. My target date is July 1, 2025. There will be time for me to work through with you, my offboarding as your pastor with the fondest of memories and experiences we can celebrate. I am firmly committed to doing my part in onboarding the new pastor whom we will warmly welcome, with the anticipation that our best time as a church is coming.
Just like Tammy, Zachary, who was 12-years old, and Emily, who was 6-years old were welcomed by you to Dallas and this great church years ago, we will welcome our new pastor. We came here even before I was a grandfather, you do know I have two granddaughters don’t you–Claire Bear and Lily Grace…….. Enough of that.
I have not come to the retirement decision lightly but with wonderful counsel.
- For the last 8-months I have had a Transition Team of confidants–members meeting with me and helping me to decide what I do in the next chapter of my ministry.
- I met and informed Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. and our District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Edlen Cowley before the formation of this Transition Team.
- I went on a sabbatical to sort through things like the state of our parents' health, and what I will do next, both professionally and personally, which I will discuss soon.
- I started meeting with a professional counselor to help me navigate things, which has been incredibly helpful.
- I met a few days ago to inform our Bishop and DS that it was time for me to retire and gain permission to secure the company Church Difference Makers to help us with this transition and search for a new pastor.
- I met last Sunday with our Staff Parish Relations Committee who is so capably led by Chris Brandle that it was time.
- I met Tuesday with our wonderful staff that is so healthy and like a family it was an emotional, but good time
Here is the process that will make this time of success highly successful:
- On Sunday, November 3rd, at our Charge Conference as 3:00 p.m. we will vote to enter a collaborative agreement with three entities:
- Lovers Lane United Methodist Church represented by the Chairman of our Executive Committee of the Church Council, Scott Williams and Chris Brandle on the part of our SPRC,
- The Horizon Texas Conference and our Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. and
- Church Difference Makers LLC and Jim Ozier, the company CEO and now our consultant in the succession process.
At this meeting we will also approve the Nominations Committee report which will include a Succession Team of 15 members who will navigate the succession process involving a nationwide search for a new Sr. Pastor.
Together these, representing our church and conference, will work with Jim Ozier to present our church to highly qualified candidates for the Sr. Pastor position as we search far and wide, including in our own newly formed Horizon Texas Conference. We will find the perfect match for our church and work the Church Difference Makers process to pave the way for a healthy passing of the baton to my successor
What about the time? I am planning to retire on July 1st of next year. I will be with you until then or a few weeks less or more depending on what the process demands. This will give us plenty of time to get this succession right.
Though I will pass the baton, I will assure you that I will finish my race strong as your pastor, by God’s grace, until I successfully run through the finish line tape. I will be your pastor and will continue to cast vision and encourage you. This is a great time to start my encouragement concerning what you can do, or we can commit to do together. We want to be at our very best as candidates come our way. Let’s all commit to:
- Intentionally include time for worship as much as we can, and get our worship attendance to a good number in all of our eight worship venues. This will show a would be candidate that we are a strong worshiping church, both in person as well as having a very large virtual worshiping community.
- Make time to fill out your “estimate of giving” card, or go online and get it done. And give accordingly. Together we can meet our budget commitments and be a church with our financial house in order.
- Take time to encourage one another as we enter this season together, to reduce any anxiety and to keep us assured that great days are ahead. Say to one another “God is good all the time….. and a good day is coming.”
- Have prayer time to ask God to direct our steps as a church in this good race before us and seek what you can do to make this move a great one.
You know I love you and I am your pastor for several more months. There will be a time for good-byes that will be full of peace and presence. To God goes all honor, glory and praise. Thank you for the high privilege to be your pastor.
