Pastor's Note | Monday, January 27th

Our Annual Congregational Meeting held on January 21st was particularly significant in its focus upon transitions. We welcomed three people who are serving as Representatives of the Presbytery of Los Ranchos who are on the Joint Discernment Team (JDT) with our Congregational Representatives Team (CRT).

Many of you responded to the questions the Presbytery Representatives raised. I suspect many others had things to say but were hesitant to do so. If you would like to communicate with those Representatives please do so to: Reverend Kathy Sizer ( ), Reverend Richard Pfiel ( ) or Elder Betty Thompson ( ). They want to hear from you concerning the decision we have reached to seek to be dismissed from the PC(USA) and to affiliate with the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO).

That is one very major transition we are facing. And a transition like this means change. Some of us love change, others of us are reluctant to have to deal with it. I am confident that making the proposed change of denominations will both introduce significant change and - at the same time - not a major change.

By that I mean, as a church in ECO we will be held much more accountable to our call to make disciples of Jesus Christ. That is the major reason, in my opinion, for affiliating with ECO. There will be new ways of relating to other congregations in our common mission. There will be significant change in the overt focus on evangelism, disciple-making, and finding new ways to make Christ known to a changing culture.

On the other hand, we will remain committed to the Lordship of Jesus in every area of life, to our Reformed theological foundation (in fact, it will be strengthened in ECO), and to our commitment to provide both Classical and Modern worship styles. Moving to ECO allows us to build on the very best of our Presbyterian heritage while creatively responding to the new challenges of our changing world.

Two other transitions were mentioned at our meeting. Werner Ramirez, our Director of Student Ministries, will be taking a great step to attend Princeton Theological Seminary in preparation for future ministry. This is a wonderful opportunity for Werner and while we will miss him dearly we can be certain he is following where God is leading him.

The second transition is my own. It is my sense that we should begin a process of transition of pastoral leadership at Good Shepherd in light of God's guidance in Connie's and my life. Specifically, I see a transition into what is commonly termed "retirement" around July 2016. To facilitate thinking about and planning for this transition, our Session Personnel Team has invited Don Goehner, a highly qualified Church Staffing Consultant, to work with our pastors, Session members, and focus groups (consisting of people from the congregation) to develop a proposal for a transition of pastoral leadership over the next 30 months.

Please pray for some specific things:

1. For the Holy Spirit to guide us as a congregation through these times of transition.
2. For a sense of confidence that God is in control, that the risen Lord Jesus is indeed the Head of the Church and the Head of Good Shepherd.
3. For insight, wisdom, and clarity as we work on a pastoral transition over the next 30 months.
4. For us all to embrace the call to help our neighbors know the love of God that has been so vividly expressed through Jesus.

Let me end with the words of the Apostle Paul as he reflects on the grandeur and majesty of God:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

I want to see God glorified, Jesus exalted, and the Spirit poured out on and through us.

Pastor Jim