Formal Statement of Resignation:
This week I submitted to the church board my
official resignation as the pastor of
Linwood Wesleyan Church. The church board
graciously supports this action.
There will be a new pastor. Even though we
don't know yet who he is, I endorse him and
believe that God will use him to accomplish
good things. I will do all I can to prepare
the way for his ministry. Our district
superintendent will be working with the
church board on the pastoral search process.
Now is the time for a new voice of
leadership for Linwood.
Donna, our kids and I love you all. By the
grace of God and your love we have enjoyed
17 wonderful years as part of this great
church. Because of this our kids have a home
town and a home church, which they love.
That means so very much to us.
For Donna and I, it is time for a new
season. We look forward with hope. I have
not accepted another position, but ask you
to join us in prayer as we wait on God's
open doors.
We will be here until July 12, which is the
denominational time for pastors to move.
Your new pastor will arrive at that time.
What does this mean for our staff? It is our
denominational protocol that when a senior
pastor resigns all the staff must resign to
allow the next pastor to build the staff
that he wants. He may, or may not, choose to
re-hire current staff members. Whoever the
new pastor would like to rehire, may or may
not chose to continue. So there are many
variables. I ask that you trust your next
pastor, the board, and the staff through
this process. Our staff understands and is
prepared, with open hearts, for God's will
to be done.
When there is a pastoral change, it is
appropriate to grieve. And along with the
grief, it is also appropriate to be filled
with hope and good anticipation. Donna and I
will be alright with your words of grief.
And we will be alright as you share your
hope and love for the new pastor.
Great and exciting days are ahead for
Linwood, and for me and my family. I'll
enjoy the journey with you over the next few
months. And I will celebrate all your future
successes.
God bless you,
Pastor Bill Kinnan
Interim Pastor to Start | Assessment Weekend Questionnaires | LBA Update on the Interim Pastor | Interim Staff | Congregational Meeting Held | Congregational Vote Results | June 6th Election Results & Congregational Meeting Meeting with Superintendent Smith | Search Committee Recommends Vote | Candidate Scheduled to Visit | Continued Prayer & Progress | Pastoral Search UpdatePastor Bill's Statement of Resignation | Board Members
__________________________________________________________________________ ASSESSMENT WEEKEND All regular attenders are encouraged to fill out each questionnaire. Your feedback is valued and appreciated! Click on each Questionnaire to participate: Please submit by September 12th. __________________________________________________________________________ Transitional Team 8.27.10 A Pastoral Transition Team has recently been assembled at Linwood. This leadership team is composed of the following individuals: Chet Whitney, Jeannine Mills, Mark Koll, Stephanie Koth, Mitch Pruett, Rob DeSaulniers, Lori Sternborg, Kelly Heath & Greg Myers. This "transitional team" will be an integral part of the TIPS program and will work closely with the new intentional interim pastor and LBA in the upcoming "search process" for Linwood's next Senior Pastor. Your continued prayers for the Linwood congregation, this important transition process and your lay leaders are much appreciated and of great value. Thank You!
Interim Pastor to start October 4, 2010 We are excited to announce that Dr. Richard "Dick" Emery will serve at our Interim pastor. Dr. Emery will be here and begin his interim by preaching on Sunday, October 4th during both worship services.
Questionnaire Problems 8.24.10 The problems with questionnaries have been fixed! Sorry for any inconvenience! Please email the office if you run into any other problems.
LBA Update on the Interim Pastor 7.26.10 The Linwood Board of Administration (LBA) is actively planning for Linwood’s future. During this time of transition Pastor Jeff, Pastor Mike, Penny and Russ will continue in their current roles. Pastor Jeff and Pastor Mike along with several guest pastors will be filling the pulpit during this interim time until a Transitional Interim Pastor will arrive at Linwood. Many of you have questions, so we will try and answer the most commonly asked below: Q: What is a Transitional Interim Pastor (TIP)? A: A Transitional Interim Pastor is an experienced senior pastor that has special training to help a church work through the difficult time of a pastoral transition. Q: What does Linwood’s future hold? A: The LBA is working to select a Transitional Interim Pastor as a short term senior pastor for Linwood. We hope to have this senior pastor in place by mid-September. Q: Will this pastor be our new senior pastor? A: This Transitional Interim Pastor will be the acting senior pastor for a period of time until a permanent senior pastor is identified and the church is ready to complete the transition. He/She will not become the next senior pastor of Linwood. More about the TIP process: The TIP process is an intentional program that Linwood will be embarking upon with the Transitional Interim Pastor. Whenever there is a pastoral change there is anxiety within the church. The TIP process is designed to help Linwood move from Anxiety to Anticipation. 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Psalm 5:3: “Morning by morning, O Lord you hear my voice... I lay my requests before you and wait in anticipation.” The steps of the TIP process are outlined below.
Join us for the journey from Anxiety to Anticipation. Please stay tuned for additional details in the coming days and weeks. The Local Board of Administration
6.17.10 Pastor Jeff Heron and Pastor Mike Hofer have accepted offers to remain at Linwood as “Interim Staff” during our ongoing search for our next senior pastor. At the discretion of the Local Board of Administration (LBA), the interim pastoral staff will serve you until a new senior pastor is called to Linwood. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! You are also encouraged to seek opportunities to be personally involved at Linwood during this important transition period.
6.15.10 A congregational meeting was held on Monday night, June 14th at 6:30. Linwood Board Vice-Chair Greg DeSautel and District Superintendent Isaac Smith recapped the work of the pastoral search committee over the last 5 months. Time was given for the congregation to ask questions and share their opinions with the search committee. Following this meeting the search committee met to discuss feedback from the meeting. The committee is exploring the option of retaining the remaining pastoral staff (Pastor Jeff and Pastor Mike) as Interim Staff until a full time Senior Pastor is selected and arrives.
6.14.10 A total of 170 votes were cast in the congregational vote on June 6th. Of this, 94 were "Yes" and 76 were "No" for a 55% positive response. Although a slight majority voted “Yes” for the Senior Pastoral candidate, the Search Committee does not believe that there was enough support for the candidate to be successful at Linwood and “did not issue a call”.
June 6th Election Results & Congregational Meeting 6.9.10 Pastoral Search Update The vote held on Sunday June 6th, while a majority "yes", was not a strong vote. The Board/Search Committee had a long and thoughtful meeting on Tuesday Evening, with District Superintendent Isaac Smith present. The committee took the following actions:
Results to Be Announced Following Meeting with Superintendent Smith 6.7.10 A member vote was conducted on Sunday morning, June 6th, to confirm or decline the Search Committee's recommendation for the next Senior Pastor. There will be a meeting with Isaac Smith on Tuesday evening, June 8th and more information will follow later in the week.
Search Committee Recommends Visiting Candidate for Vote 5.27.10 The search committee wishes to thank Linwood for your prayers, support and encouragement through out the Pastoral Search. The search committee met for an extended meeting Tuesday night, May 25th. We reviewed feed back we had received from the congregation and from face-to-face interviews with the visiting candidate and his wife. The outcome of this meeting was to recommend issuing a call for the candidate to become the next Senior Pastor at Linwood. On Sunday morning, June 6th, we will be conducting a member vote to confirm or decline the committee’s recommendation. Covenant and Community Members are eligible to vote. For those not able to be present on June 6th, absentee ballots can be obtained at the church office during regular church hours prior to Sunday's vote.
5.9.10 Upon receiving Pastor Bill’s resignation the board met with our District Superintendent Isaac Smith. At his suggestion, it was determined the board would act as the search committee and hope to get input from as many others as possible. Isaac Smith immediately began the process of sorting through 50 or more resumes and presented four primary candidates to the board; one from outside our district and three within our district. One we chose not to pursue. The second dropped out. We had two phone interviews and two face to face interviews. After careful deliberation we decided to continue our search for other candidates. We have had a second phone interview with one of the candidates. After talking with his references and careful deliberation, we have asked the candidate and his wife to come for a formal interview and to preach to the congregation. He has excellent credentials and is extremely well respected at his current congregation in western New York. We have confirmed their visit for the weekend of May 21-23 and are planning to schedule both formal and informal opportunities for the entire congregation to meet with the candidate. Thank you all for your prayers and patience. Sincerely,
3.22.10 The Pastoral Search Committee continues its efforts to determine the next senior pastor for Linwood Wesleyan Church. This process has already provided approximately ninety candidates; some from within the Dakota District, some from outside the Dakota District and even some currently from outside the Wesleyan denomination. Approximately 15 resumes have been thoroughly reviewed by the District Office with 6-8 being reviewed by the local Search Committee. The Committee has held two phone interviews and two face to face interviews with candidates of interest. New contacts and resumes are are still being received and reviewed and at least one additional phone interview is being coordinated. Additionally, requests have been made of the two candidates who have already been given face to face interviews to provide the Committee a video recording of their sermon(s) for review. Strategic information and ongoing communications continue with candidates of special interest......as do the prayers for God's leading during this important process.
2.25.10 The LBA Pastoral Search Committee has taken the feedback recently provided by Linwood memebers and have developed a "preferred profile" for our new Senior Pastoral candidates. This has been communicated to the District Office and a subsequent meeting with District Superintendent, Isaac Smith was held on February 16th during which time several resumes were reviewed and discussed in detail. Upcoming conference calls with leading candidates are currently being scheduled and some initial phone interviews should be held within the next week.
1.24.10 On Sunday, January 24, at the close of the 11:00 G2 service, Pastor Bill Kinnan announced to the Linwood congregation that he was resigning as Senior Pastor after 17 years of ministry here. Here is the content of his public announcement. Watch for more news here as the church board begins a pastor search process. Local Board of Administration (LBA)
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