Pastoral Search Committee Update

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August 27, 2017 UPDATE

I wanted to provide an update on the Pastoral Search that has been conducted throughout the summer.  As stated in our last update, the Search Committee decided to first evaluate Pastor Josh for the position as Gateway’s Pastor, before looking externally. After discussions with many individuals in the congregation and interviewing most of the Gateway Staff, Pastor Ben, and Pastor Josh, the Search Committee has voted unanimously to recommend Pastor Josh to the congregation as our next Pastor. As the next step, Gateway’s Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday evening, September 10, where the congregation will vote on Pastor Josh filling this role. If that vote is in favor of Pastor Josh being our Pastor, then the congregation’s recommendation will be presented to the Midwest Presbytery of the EPC for a vote on September 15 & 16.

Assuming all positive votes for Pastor Josh, he would be installed as our Pastor on November 5.  You may be wondering, “But what about Pastor Ben?  I thought he wasn’t retiring until May 2019.”  That’s a great question.  Once Pastor Josh becomes the Senior Pastor, Pastor Ben will transition into the role of Campus Pastor for County Road 9.  We’ll still have plenty of time to glean his wisdom and experiences…and put up with his corny jokes. :)      

If you have any questions or thoughts, please don’t hesitate to contact any member of the Search Committee.

Matt Heft

Previous June 20, 2017 Update for your reference

Greetings Gateway Family! The Pastoral Search Committee wanted to provide an update on where we are at in the search process. As you probably know, on Sunday, May 21, there was a congregational meeting to both accept Pastor Ben’s retirement plan and elect a search committee. During the committee’s first meeting, we elected officers for the committee. The members/officers of the search committee are:

Cody Fletcher
Matt Heft - Chairperson
Shirley Reasner
Jenn Spears – Vice Chairperson
Justin Stiles - Secretary
Larry Tietje
Jim Tomlinson
Dave Vaas

The search committee has jumped right into the search process as outlined in the EPC’s Book of Order and the Procedural Manual for Ministerial and Candidates Committees. 

One of the key components of this process is identifying who Gateway is as a church and what we would be looking for in a Senior Pastor. To facilitate this process, the Search Committee has been completing the EPC Church Information Form.

While working through this form, the Search Committee has decided to consider Pastor Josh Hanson, Gateway’s current Associate Pastor, before considering any outside candidates. To this end, we are beginning interviews of Gateway’s staff, and eventually Pastor Josh himself.

I have a special request of you. Would you dedicate yourself to praying for each member of the search committee as we go through this process? Will you commit to being in prayer for Gateway Church and what God has in store for us in the future? Will you pray for wisdom for all that are involved in this process? Thank you for committing to prayer.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to myself or any members of the search committee.

In Him,

Matt Heft