What's Happening Now

    There are four significant events that are going to happen in the administrative life of Epiphany within the next week.  All four events are in the area of leadership. This week’s blog addresses these events in order to keep you up to date about what is happening at Epiphany.
    Epiphany is a large church and it requires strong leaders to envision and implement its ministry programs, recruit and train volunteers, and to grow ministry.  Therefore, the first three events address replacing former leaders. 
    Today, Tuesday April 12, the task force responsible to find a new youth director for Epiphany is recommending an offer be extended to one of the candidates it has interviewed.  If the Council’s vote is positive, the candidate will be contacted and hopefully will accept the offer.  This is very positive news as we begin the process of building on the strong work of those who have kept the youth program alive since its last director left.
    Also today, Bishop Holloway of the Southern Ohio Synod will meet with the Church Council to talk about the process of calling a new senior pastor.  After the Bishop’s meeting, a call committee will be appointed and synodical forms will be filled out.  These forms will be given to potential candidates as they prayerfully consider entering into a conversation with Epiphany.  Throughout the entire process, Epiphany will be working with Pastor Ed Williams, Assistant to the Bishop.
    A week from today, April 19, the Council gathers for its regular monthly meeting.  One agenda item is a vote to extend an offer to a pastor to be on the interim team.  This pastor will preach twice a month at the Austin Campus, develop ministry programs at the Austin Campus, and help in the chaplaincy care.  The goal in calling this pastor is two-fold.  First, it is to guarantee that both Austin and Far HIlls have preachers and presiders for the celebration of Holy Communion.  Second, the development of ministry at Austin will help this campus grow in worship, study, serving others, and fellowship.
    Finally, the Council will begin practicing a new leadership approach of overseeing Epiphany’s ministries.  In large congregations, the Council is responsible for, 1. visioning, 2. setting policies and boundaries, 3.  defining the end results of ministries, 4. drafting the annual budget, 5. evaluating the senior pastor, and 6. recommending a new senior pastor when the current senior pastor resigns or retires.  The Council is not responsible for the implementation and supervision of daily ministries.  Implementation and supervision of daily ministries is the responsibility of the senior pastor.  This month, the Council is reducing the allotted time for overseeing daily ministry and increasing the time allocated for a discussion of the purpose of Epiphany.  Once the Council has reached consensus on Epiphany’s purpose, it will begin to discern God’s vision for Epiphany over the next ten years.  The Council’s consensus around purpose and discerning God’s vision will be used in the conversations Epiphany will have with candidates to be the new senior pastor.
    The votes to invite three people to join Epiphany's staff are important as we move through this transition period.  The Council’s reallocation of time from overseeing the daily ministries of Epiphany is of equal if not greater importance.  This reallocation will help Epiphany meet the ever changing ministry needs of those who live in an ever changing world.
Pastor Pete