Rob Harrell Announcement Feb. 28, 2016 Leadership Q&A Final

Transcription

1 Rob Harrell Announcement Feb. 28, 2016 Leadership Q&A Final [This document is solely for internal purposes to assist AOC Elders and Staff in responding to possible questions from the congregation. This document is not to be shared or circulated as a public document.] 1. Q: Is Rob retiring? A: No. Instead, Rob is transitioning to a new role in serving God s Kingdom locally, nationally, and internationally, which means he will be stepping down as our Senior Pastor. 2. Q: What is going to be his new role? A: Austin Oaks Church will be sending Rob out as a Global Ambassador to be a pastor to pastors. His new role will include working with Shepherd s Support International, which provides leadership and spiritual development conferences for pastors and their wives around the world. At a national level, Rob will be exporting the values of Pastors in Covenant (PIC), which has provided a relational basis for extraordinary unity for the Church in Austin. At the local level, Rob will work with Austin Bridge Builders Alliance (ABBA) and Christ Together Network to encourage greater collaboration among pastors and business leaders to strengthen the Christian influence in our city. Furthermore, Rob also will be working alongside our EFCA leadership to see how he can apply his gifts to benefit our movement. 3. Q: Will Rob continue to be on our church staff? A: Rob has agreed to continue serving as our Senior Pastor through the end of He will step down from that role earlier, if God provides us a new Senior Pastor before then. 4. Q: What about his new role as Global Ambassador? Will that be an Austin Oaks Church position? A: Yes and no. The Elders are excited about the possibility of Austin Oaks Church gifting Rob s time as a Global Ambassador locally, nationally and internationally. We believe this will be a blessing to the larger Church community, and to us as well. As such, Austin Oaks Church is exploring a level of financial support that allows Rob to fully use his gifts and experience for those beyond our church walls. The new role is not formally a Staff position, but rather a recognition that we are Rob s sending agency.

2 5. Q: Did the Elders encourage Rob to step down? A: Not at all. Pastor Rob, following the prompting of the Holy Spirit, initiated a conversation with the Elder Board at its January 2015 retreat more than a year ago. Rob expressed both his sense that it was time for him to pass the baton to a younger man for the sake of God s purposes, and his belief that God was calling him to something new. Since then, we have been relying on God through prayer for His wisdom to guide us forward. Now we have greater clarity on how God can use Rob in new ways that are compatible with Austin Oaks Church s purpose, and we want to join with Rob in this pursuit. 6. Q: How is Rob s new pursuit connected to the purpose of Austin Oaks Church? A: Glorifying God through life-transforming ministry is paramount to Rob and to our church. Making disciples by leading them to Christ, and then working to mature them, including encouraging and equipping those who are in ministry is very much aligned with our purpose. Sending Rob out to apply his God-given gifts to men and women in ministry extends the reach of Austin Oaks Church beyond our congregation and allows us to influence the growth and maturity of God s Kingdom in new ways and in new places. We are excited to be a part of Rob s new calling from the Lord. 7. Q: Why did Rob and the Elder Board take so long to tell the congregation about Rob s plans? A: When Rob first approached the Elder Board, the calling of God on Rob was still new. There was not real clarity about how God could use Rob, and it required much prayer and waiting on the Spirit to guide us. When Rob shared his sense of calling with the Elder Board a few months ago, that is when it became clear that it was appropriate to plan a time to let the congregation know, and to begin planning for a smooth transition. 8. Q: What is the process for finding and selecting a new Senior Pastor? A: Our constitution requires that we establish a Pulpit Committee. The committee is comprised of three Elders and two lay members. Our Nominating Committee will be accepting the submission of names for the Pulpit Committee very soon. 9. Q: Who is on our Nominating Committee? A: At our last annual meeting, the congregation approved lay members Steve Bishop, René Drouin, Sharon Metcalf, and Barbie Pappas to serve with two Elders on the Nominating Committee. The committee s role will be to bring to the Elder Board the nomination of two lay members to serve on the Pulpit Committee. The Elder Board will approve the nominations and then present the names to the congregation for its approval.

3 10. Q: When will this all happen? A: The process for submitting names to the Nominating Committee will begin shortly. Once the Elders have approved the nominations, the Elder Board will call for a special congregational meeting to vote on the nominees. Once the nominees are approved, the Pulpit Committee will begin interviewing candidates for Senior Pastor. 11. Q: Does the congregation get to vote on the new Senior Pastor? A: Yes. According to our constitution, church members vote to approve the new Senior Pastor. This is a good reason for anyone who is not a formal member to become one so you can vote when a new Senior Pastor candidate is put forward. 12. Q: What role will Rob have in selecting the new Senior Pastor? A: Rob s association with so many pastors will be a great value and we expect that he will submit names to the Pulpit Committee for consideration. However, it is the Pulpit Committee s role to investigate, interview, and recommend the best Senior Pastor candidate to the Elder Board. The Elder Board will bring a final recommendation forward for the congregation s approval. 13. Q: Will the congregation have the chance to hear the potential candidates preach before we vote? A: Yes. The congregation will be involved and well-informed throughout the entire process. 14. Q: Are we trying to find a pastor within the EFCA denomination? A: We will be praying and searching for the Senior Pastor God is calling to our church. Our church doctrine is compatible with many Bible churches. Our search will include the EFCA, but will not be confined to it. However, the candidate must agree with our Purpose, Values, and Vision, and be in agreement with EFCA Doctrinal Statement. If he is not ordained by the EFCA, he must be willing to seek ordination with our EFCA Movement. 15. Q: How can members provide input to the selection process? A: Members already have approved our EFCA Doctrinal Statement, our Purpose, our Church Values, and our 2020 Vision. These will be guiding principles for the Pulpit Committee s work. However, the most important contribution each member can make is to pray fervently for God s protection, wisdom, and discernment as we embrace His future plans for Austin Oaks Church.

4 16. Q: What if the new Senior Pastor wants to eliminate the traditional worship service and make Austin Oaks Church all contemporary? A: One of our guiding principles is to be historically appreciative, but culturally relevant. We also are well-known as a multi-generational church with multiple expressions and worship styles. We are confident that God will bring to us someone who finds our current culture appealing. We do not anticipate attracting a candidate who is looking for a church he can completely change. 17. Q: So, can we anticipate no change with a new Senior Pastor? A: As believers, we should all recognize that God is about change and transformation for His glory. A new Senior Pastor is the first change we anticipate. After that, we anticipate that God will use him and our congregation to do more than we could ever ask or imagine. 18. Q: Will Rob end up reporting to the new Senior Pastor? A: Similar to the many missionaries our church supports, Rob will not have a formal reporting relationship to the new Senior Pastor. However, we will look forward to hearing periodic reports about how God is using Rob in the mission field. Rob will be available to the new Senior Pastor to be an encouragement as he desires. 19. Q: Will Rob continue to have an office at the church? A: We will be happy to provide an office to Rob, if needed, appropriate, and available. But right now, Rob has indicated he would be happy to work out of his home, after a new Senior Pastor arrives. 20. Q: Is Austin Oaks Church taking on the responsibility to fund Rob s efforts with Shepherd s Support, ABBA and Christ Together Network, and his work with the EFCA? A: Our church already provides financial support to ABBA, Christ Together Network, and to the EFCA. Our funding support of Rob will allow his service to these organizations to be a gift from our church. Shepherd s Support International already has its own funding mechanism in place to cover Rob s work with that organization.

5 21. Q: How much are we committing in support of Rob going forward? A: That detail is not yet determined. However, we want to bless Rob in his new calling from the Lord, and our plan to work with Rob and each organization to determine what is best. 22. Q: This seems like we are taking on more expenses, at a time when the church is struggling financially. How can we afford to do this? A: There may be some additional expense initially in caring for Rob well. However, we are working to put into place a plan that allows for ABBA and Christ Together Network to begin taking on greater financial ownership over time. We are committed to blessing our Pastor gratefully but responsibly. 23. Q: Does the congregation get to vote on the amount of financial support we provide Rob going forward? A: The financial planning for Rob s transition will be part of the budget. The congregation approves the budget at its annual meeting in August. 24. Q: What is the impact of our current debt on being able to attract a strong senior pastor candidate? A: Our desire and prayer is that our congregation will be generous in eliminating our debt entirely before we hire a new Senior Pastor. Imagine how even more attractive our church will be to potential candidates if we had no debt! # # #