Ch-ch-ch-changes

It's been a week now since I found out the news. My pastor and good friend David will be leaving Duck United Methodist Church at the end of June. This isn't one of those normal Methodist moves (as in, it wasn't originally requested), so the announcement came as a shock to our congregation. David has served Duck Church for 13 years and had planned on retiring here. Many in our congregation have never had another pastor (particularly some of the youth).

Of course, there are the normal questions: Why does the Methodist church use the appointment system? Was David forced to move? Who's coming to replace him? This week has been an awesome opportunity for me to explain the concepts of calling, church, and faith. When David received the phone call from the bishop, he prayed and realized God was in it. God has called him somewhere else, and David is being obedient. Our church is coming to understand that "church" is bigger than our local congregation. Church is all those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. By letting David go, we are sharing him with our brothers and sisters in Christ in another congregation who need a strong, capable leader. However, that sharing doesn't come without some sadness. I have been blessed to serve alongside David and his wife, Libby, for the past 7 months. They are both strong Christians, capable leaders, encouragers, and supporters. They will be deeply missed.

Our church began a discernment process at the beginning of Lent to determine God's will for our church. God has revealed that we will continue this process under new leadership. We continue to ask, "Lord, show us the way." Who will God bring to lead Duck Church? Who will Duck Church become? I believe God will provide the leader we need to move forward in God's will. And along the way, I think each of us are learning more about what it means have faith in God.