Two Key Updates From the Board
Two key announcements were made by the Grace Community Board yesterday morning at our Sunday service. We want to make sure everyone at Grace is aware of both of these updates. This post details this information in 3 parts:
- Interim Plan for Family Ministry
- Announcement from Dave
- Comments from Board
While this posting details what was communicated yesterday, we have also published an audio recording of yesterday’s update from the board:
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1. INTERIM PLAN FOR FAMILY MINISTRY
Below are interim plans for how we move forward with family ministry. These interim plans will be in place for 2-6 months as the board continues to figure out a long-term plan, likely to involve hiring new staff. The board has worked many hours together assessing how to continue to move forward right now. We want to provide the support needed for each area of family ministry to go forward in an excellent way this spring.
GRACE PLACE (Birth-Preschool) – Interim Plan
Becky McNaught has volunteered to be the Sunday morning coordinator to help solve problems, answer questions, and welcome visitors.
We are working to hire a part-time person to be sure curriculum is ready, prepare the bins, and other tasks necessary week by week. Karen Kennerly will do this temporarily. If you are interested in this position, please contact the Grace board.
UPSTREET 252 (K-5th Grade) – Interim Plan
Debbie Hensleigh has agreed to volunteer as the point person for UpStreet. She will serve the small group leaders and storytellers with week by week support.
UpStreet has gotten down to only one volunteer, Zac Mikalik, of the 4-8 people needed to make it thrive. There is an urgent need for small group leaders and storytellers for UpStreet to go forward. Anyone interested should contact Debbie (369.9857).
KIDSTUF – Interim Plan
KidStuf is a great program. There are currently several key positions vacant:
- Producer
- Director
- Host
- Comic Host
- 3 Actors
- 2 Story Tellers
- 2 Stage Hands
We have talked to several potential volunteers and have made the need known. The conclusion is that we have no choice but to put KidStuf on hold. This decision has not been taken lightly and the board welcomes any suggestions regarding KidStuf.
MIDDLE SCHOOL – Ongoing Plan
Anne Mikalik and Amy Dickman continue to push forward with this valuable new initiative. Their investment fills a key need in the lives of these kids at a critical age.
The board welcomes any suggestions that would allow the valuable aspects of our current programs to continue at this time.
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2. ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DAVE
Dear Grace Family,
I announced this last weekend at Grace that I am resigning as Pastor.
This is a decision that Debbie and I have made, and it has not been
caused by a problem at Grace or a disagreement. I see clearly that
Grace will be better suited to pursue our mission to experience and
extend God’s grace with someone else in my role.
It has been an honor to serve you all here and I look forward to what
God will do here in the days ahead. There is a palpable sense of faith
and optimism around this church, and you have a board and key
volunteers in place to see the mission go forward.
We have no plans, and I have told the Grace board that I am happy to
stay on for a time in order to help the transition be as smooth as
possible. Please feel free to call me (369.9897) if you have a
question. Also you may contact the board at board@findinggrace.com.
I am optimistic about the future for Grace and I fully expect this
church to go on strongly with the mission God has for us.
With you for the cause of Christ,
Dave
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3. COMMENTS FROM THE GRACE BOARD
We’re sure many of you are in a state of shock, as we were when Dave told us this news on Thursday.
As a board, we want to affirm Dave’s decision and support Dave and Debbie in this change. To be very clear, this is not a board decision. Dave made this decision on his own and we are sad to see him go.
We are trying to be very transparent and are not spinning this news. Dave just made this decision on Thursday morning and we wanted to communicate this as soon as possible.
We expect this raises lots of questions, but please realize this is new to all of us. Here is where we currently are:
- Dave is willing to stay for a few months to help us transition.
- This week the board will begin to figure out an interim plan for leadership, and then a long term staffing plan.
- Several staff from LifeChurch.tv have offered extra support for our board during this transition.
- We will develop a communication plan to help keep you informed regularly during this process.
If you have any questions about Dave’s resignation, please contact any of the board members individually or send us email at board@findinggrace.com. The board members are Mike Frogley, Becky McNaught, Bunny Beyers, Dave Hensleigh, and Bill Glick.
While we are very sad to have Dave resign, we believe this is a defining moment in Grace’s future. God is obviously moving like He never has before at Grace and we are seeing lives transformed in big ways right now.
We clearly want to say that Dave’s resignation doesn’t change where we are going as a church. Our mission to ‘extend and experience grace’ sets the direction for what we do. We remain true to our vision of being a place where people are finding God. Our current plans for family ministry are moving forward. Our strategic partnership with LifeChurch.tv remains strong and effective. This staffing change provides an opportunity for our church to partner together more strongly than ever to personalize our mission and go forward aggressively.
We ask for your prayers and support for Dave, Debbie, and the board as we each seek God’s leading at this key time.
Craig Groeschel’s message from Sunday, Unstoppable Partners, fits exactly with where we are as a church. He talked about how each of us are key partners in seeing our mission fulfilled. We encourage each of you to make a point of watching Craig’s message online. Even if you were there on Sunday, this is such a key and challenging message that we’d encourage you to give it another chance to soak in:
Again, if you have any questions about Dave’s resignation, our interim family ministry plans, or other strategic plans at Grace, please contact any of the board members individually or send us email.
Looking forward to where God is leading us…
Bill Glick
Bunny Beyers
Mike Frogley
Becky McNaught
Dave Hensleigh
January 7th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
About Dave’s announcement …
I was shocked because I had never pictured myself coming to Grace on Sundays without Dave also being there as our leader, aside from his much-needed breaks from time to time. From the day I first walked into Grace in June 2001, Dave’s messages had a way of getting right to the point of what I needed to hear at just the right time. That’s totally a God thing! And it didn’t hurt that Dave’s spiritual pathways are so much like my own.
I am confident Dave and Debbie did not make this decision lightly and that they have everyone at Grace’s best interests at heart. It’s going to be interesting to watch us all grow as we remember that the Leader we follow is not a specific pastor but Jesus Christ himself. I have felt truly blessed to have God use Dave (and Debbie too, in the classes I’ve taken from her and the small group discussions we had) to deliver so many important lessons directly to me. But I know and trust that God will provide someone not just like Dave, but an equally capable and effective vehicle, to continue teaching me … as long as I keep my mind open to the possibilities. And I also know and trust that God will use these changes at Grace to help us all discover the gifts and abilities that He tucked away inside each of us and guide us in using them to His glory. Amen!