Succession

A word from The Elder Board

Church family, 

We are pleased to announce that after an agreed upon process, prayer and discernment it seemed good to the Spirit, the Elders, and the District Superintendent Matt Boda to call Jeremy Cook as our next Lead Pastor.
 
Our work to search for a new Lead Pastor began with prayer and we haven’t stopped praying.  Thank you for working alongside us in this process.  A huge thank you to the Succession Committee for their substantive service to the Elders and the church.  The Elders have taken the last few weeks to work from that foundation, and to interview the candidates and reach a decision.  The overall process included significant collaboration with our District Superintendent, a staff survey, a survey of 100 volunteers, interviews of the candidates and significant reference work.  Throughout, the focus was to discern a candidate who would be the best fit for the future based on the posted job description and priorities.  We were blessed with a very strong short list.
 
We have trusted that the sovereignty of God has been leading through this process.  We are excited about the gifts, connections, and experience Jeremy will be bringing to this position.  We look forward to welcoming Jeremy and Heather and their children Oliver and Ciana back to our community. 
 
We are now moving to the transition phase of our plan.  Jeremy will begin September 16 allowing two weeks of overlap before Greg completes his service on Sept 29.
 
On behalf of the Sherwood Park Alliance Church Board of Elders,
Grace Albers, Chair

Looking forward

Over the next few weeks we’ll conclude our Succession process by wrapping up the Transition Phase and entering the Continuation Phase. Here are a few notable dates coming up.

August 31/September 01 | Long weekend Service | Pastor Greg sharing a testimony based sermon.

September 07/08 | Fall Launch | Graham English here preaching; he is the Director of Leader and Church Development, North at Western Canadian District.

September 14/15 | Greg’s Farewell Service | This is Greg’s last sermon weekend. If you'd like to give a card or a love offering to Greg and Corrine, The love offering will be open online on Friday, September 13 - Monday, September 23rd. A basket will be available in the church office to drop off cards during office hours and at the info desk during weekend services.

September 16 | Jeremy Cook begins and takes over as Lead Pastor.

September 21-22 | Jeremy’s first weekend preaching.

September 28-29 | Jeremy’s Commissioning Weekend | Matt Boda from the National District office will be here preaching and commissioning Jeremy. This is also Pastor Greg's last weekend with SPAC.

Timeline

Our hopeful timeline

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Intentional Succession?

When a pastor initiates a transition and signals to the Board that they should prepare to hand leadership to another, we call this intentional succession. The goals include modelling healthy transition and preparing the church for the next era of ministry. Every church is unique, and every succession scenario has its own complexities, but typical succession processes include four phases: Preparation, Selection, Transition, and Continuation.

Preparation Phase

Proactive Approach: Since the outgoing Lead Pastor has initiated succession, this phase can be more strategic and less reactive. The outgoing pastor works with the Board in creating a succession plan, ensuring alignment with the church’s Purpose, Priorities, and essential Practices. The process can be more orderly and less hurried, allowing for thorough preparation and widespread involvement of the congregation.

Selection Phase

Inclusive Process The SPAC Board of Elders expects to create a subcommittee of the Board, known as the Succession Committee. The composition of the committee will include current Elders and additional congregational members. The committee will listen to input and support the Elders by reviewing and interviewing applicants while being supported by the District Superintendent of The Alliance Canada, Western Canadian District. When the committee reaches consensus, they will recommend a short list of candidates for consideration by the Board of Elders.

Transition Phase

Mentorship: The outgoing Lead Pastor continues in their role while serving as a mentor to the incoming leader, providing guidance, sharing insights, and navigating the handover. This type of collaborative approach, with the outgoing pastor championing the new leader to the congregation, is a way to welcome and prepare for the final succession phase.

Continuation Phase

Legacy and Stability: The outgoing Lead Pastor steps aside, and a new Lead Pastor assumes the role while respecting the church’s legacy and maintaining a degree of continuity. Enhanced Confidence: The congregation feels confident and secure in the church’s future, knowing that succession was thoughtfully planned and executed.