Monday, May 22, 2006

Dear Friends in Christ,

At the Congregational meeting yesterday, I announced my intention to resign as Pastor of Atonement and to conclude my service among you prior to the end of the summer.  I was glad to have the opportunity at the meeting to share my reasons and describe the discernment process that has taken place, and I am writing now to share that with you as well.

There are two considerations that are at the center of this decision.  The first has to do with my energy level, and the second relates to my sense of the direction Jesus is calling me to go next in service to the Kingdom.

Energy.  My overall energy level is not high enough to provide the congregation with the kind of effective leadership that I believe Jesus wants for you, and that I believe is needed to support the hard and vital work you are doing: moving through transition and into the Mission and Vision.

At the January Congregational meeting, as the congregation was wrestling with the decision to reduce my hours from full time to 70%, I made this observation; “The fact is, even if you do pay me at 100%, I can’t give you 100%.”  I knew I was tired, but the clarity in that statement caught even my attention.  So I began to watch more closely and intentionally for signs that my effectiveness was decreasing.  I did see signs, so I called the Council together for conversation six weeks ago, shared my concerns with them, and asked them to join me in discerning whether we should look to a change in pastoral leadership in order to move forward more effectively into the Mission and Vision.  We met again last week and found that we were all in agreement that this would be best for the congregation.  At the same time, we recognized that this would also be best for me personally so that I could get the extended time I need for rest and renewal.

Direction.  I have a sense that the Lord is calling me into a new venture in the Kingdom, and I need to find out what it is.

Nearly twenty-five years ago, when I was beginning my graduate research in Biology, I encountered a book called A New Face for the Church.  One part of that book that talked about some very different kinds of congregational life made a big impression on me although I never followed up on it or heard more about it after that.  I now believe that a seed planted in me then, which has begun to sprout over the past year or so.  Conversations and contacts have begun to collect around me that have left me feeling pulled to go out to the “frontier” of the Church and see if I can help to build something new and different there.  It’s like the pull of a magnet that seems to be getting stronger.  But it’s also raised a concern for me, because the energy I’ve spent attending to that pull has further reduced the energy available to serve and lead at Atonement.  And conversely, my service among you has limited my ability to explore what God is up to in that part of my heart and life.  So again, both for the sake of Atonement’s Mission and Vision, and for the sake of my own journey with Jesus, I’ve concluded that I should step aside from leadership.  This will open the door for who’s next as your pastor and for what’s next for me – whatever that may turn out to be!  (I have to say, I feel very much like I imagine Abram felt when the Lord told him to leave his home and family and go to… “the land that I will show you!”  I don’t know what the destination is, but I guess I’ll find out when I get there!)

It was the alignment of these considerations of energy and direction which led the Council and me to share in this decision.  I want to publicly thank them for their courage and for their support in this important passage.

I will be meeting with the Council very soon to work out the details and timing for the formal resignation.  Bruce Jahnke, who is now the President of the Congregation, is already in conversation with Nancy Maeker, Bishop’s Associate of our Synod.  She will be providing support and guidance in dealing with the questions about interim pastors, call committees and so on.  I am sure you will hear from Bruce very quickly with an update.

It is certainly a gift for me to follow Jesus and go where he sends me.  But it is also a loss to step out of the community and relationships that have been so very important for me and my family, ever since the day after my wedding, when Kisten and I came to Sunday worship for the groundbreaking of the Sanctuary and the first day of her internship at Atonement… fifteen years ago.

I ask you to continue as you have been, supporting me and my family in your prayers.  And please also give your full support to the Council as they take on their important work for you at this time.

I believe that Jesus has great plans for your life and your work in the years to come.  So I invite you to look to your future with joy and eager anticipation!  I know that I do, and I expect to hear great stories of God’s power on display among you in the years to come.

Your Servant in Christ,

Pastor Tim