What happens now? When will we get a new pastor? What are Julie's duties now?

These any many other questions have been circulating around the church since Shannon announced that she accepted a call to Black Mountain, NC. Although, properly, the focus has been on saying goodbye, most Woodhavenites have cast one eye toward the future.

This is one of an occasional series of articles designed to provide information and answer questions about the time of transition.

Much has already happened.

First, Woodhaven's leadership is still in place. The Session, consisting of sixteen elders elected by the congregation, together with the pastors and the Clerk, continue to manage the programs of the church, as always. Whenever there is a vacancy at Pastor, Grace Presbytery appoints a temporary Moderator of Session. This is true even when there is an Associate Pastor in place. Rev. Ron Floyd, Pastor of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Irving, has been appointed temporary Moderator, and in fact has already presided over the regular meeting on September 20^th.

Grace Presbytery has also appointed two liaisons to work with Woodhaven until a new Pastor is called and installed. Elder Scott Curry and Rev. Harry Meissner are Woodhaven's liaisons and met with our Session in late August for a planning meeting. Session decided that the church should engage an Interim Pastor while we prepare for, and then work through, the pastor search process.

Session appointed an Interim Pastor Nominating Committee consisting of Tom Chasser, Moderator, Gwen Buhmann, Malcolm Reed and Janet Walker. By the time this article is published, this Committee will have been given the names of three possible candidates to serve as Interim Pastor. They will conduct interviews, check references, listen to preaching and within a fairly short time should be ready to make their recommendation to the Session. An Interim Pastor is hired by the Session and generally serves until the church is ready to call a new installed Pastor.

In the meantime, Julie Riley will preach on some Sundays and the Session will invite guest pastors to preach on other Sundays. The Worship Committee has lined up church members to serve as liturgists during worship.

Julie's duties will remain primarily the same as Associate Pastor; however, she will carry additional responsibilities until an Interim Pastor begins work. The congregation should seek ways to assist Julie as she does some double duty for perhaps a few weeks.

After the Interim Pastor is on board, the Congregation will elect a Pastor Nominating Committee to begin its work seeking Woodhaven's next pastor. More about that in another article.

Still have questions? Ask any Session member!

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