Business Meeting 2020

The past year

Challenging

How to sort out who to listen to for what regarding the virus

Isolation

New approaches w/technology

Preaching was especially strange

A serious interruption in normal life and in normal Church life for sure

Still trying to react rightly, and especially cautiously

Many conflicting even medical opinions have had us try to take the most cautious course we can for the Body - better safe than sorry

Trying to make room for various views, opinions and convictions on roads we've never been down before

It has opened theological questions previously unaddressed

It has had us all examining why we make certain decisions we do make with new scrutiny

The outrageously contentious election cycle, as yet not fully ended

Learning how to love one another in the Body of Christ while not inventing new criteria for what makes for salvation other than justification by faith alone in Christ alone - not party affiliation

And we've got more ahead

How much then our need to redouble our faith in trusting the goodness and sovereignty of our God in such strange and uncertain times

To be sure we don't lose focus on the main things: Preaching the Gospel, growing in Christ, and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

The coming year

Transition at ECF

My health - running low / don't want to cheat youSky's parentsNeed for transition as a ChurchSense of preparedness- Jim & the Elders

It is not my job to sell you on Jim. Only to report how I see things.

A later vote to confirm or not - as you each individually assess

For me: Philippians 2:19–23 (CSB): 19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

We, most wonderfully have a very different situation here.

Ken

Scott

Ed

Brian

Ben

In a new capacity - Al

And now Jim

ECF has a team of those who are like-minded with me in what is truly most important for an assembly - I can say with absolute confidence that they are men of proven character and who genuinely seek your best interest by seeking the interests of Jesus Christ for you all. It is the envy of the many churches I have the joy of interacting with

It truly is an embarrassment of riches in this regard.

Perfect? No. Perfectly suited for ECF? Unquestionably in my mind.

And in this past year plus, in spending time with and observing Jim personally and in his capacity as associate, watching him grow as a preacher and observing his personal spiritual life: I have nothing but the utmost confidence for the future.

I have no reservations at all and nothing but optimism for the future of ECF and the care of your souls.

I cannot tell you how that makes me feel. It is an answer to a multitude of prayers over a number of years.

Now as for timing - Sky has repeatedly refused to be a part of my decision making process. That this must be a decision I make alone with the Lord, and that she is fully supportive of however long or short that may be.

Having not taken advantage of some sabbatical time the elders have urged me to take for the last several years - it is the plan to take January and February as a sabbatical in TX, doing what we can for Sky's folks.

Then returning, I have set the date for my full retirement for March 31, 2021.

And I need to elaborate some:

We will be leaving ECF at that time

If I remain, I cannot psychologically disengage from feeling the ongoing responsibility for you all

That is a weakness in me that I cannot overcome - and thus I need to let go fully and let ECF and the leadership move forward apart from me

It is also a matter of genuine fairness to Jim should you vote to have him step into the senior role

As I have said from the beginning of our associate search, ECF needs to step into a future which will demand changes to meet the new challenges which seem to be forming nearly every day

And fortunately, there are enough elders and other leadership of varying ages, gifts and experiences that I believe we are in the best possible condition for that to happen.

I pray it will happen joyously, smoothly, and seamlessly

As you can imagine, after more than 40 years here - this is not easy. ECF has virtually been my life for nearly all of that time.

But I believe things are in the right place, for a shift in focus in being able to get to writing projects I have stalled for decades, and giving time to other fields of service I simply cannot pursue otherwise.

God has brought us to this time and place, and am content what has been arranged