Dear Lake Avenue Church Family,

We invite you to join the Senior Pastor Search Committee (SPSC) and the Ministry Council (MC) for a “Church Family Conversation” around our process, roadmap, and plans to search for a Senior Pastor for Lake Avenue Church on Thursday, October 28 from 7 PM - 8:30 PM. We know that the August news from the SPSC followed by Pastor Jeff Mattesich’s resignation has been difficult for the congregation to receive, leading to additional questions beyond those addressed at the Summer Congregational Meeting. Some of the questions include concerns and rumors, the process for discerning an internal pastoral candidate, and the resulting decisions that have been made. Beyond these questions, we know that many members would appreciate hearing more information about future search plans. This Special Congregational Meeting, requested by some of our members, will be an opportunity to hear from our SPSC and MC leaders regarding our search process and future actions.

The meeting will be held in person and will also offer a live-streaming option. It will include sharing from the Senior Pastor Search Committee (SPSC) and Ministry Council (MC), a time of questions and answers, and dialogue. Prayer will be incorporated into the meeting as we come together to learn, to be obedient to God’s calling on our church, and to consider the future with great anticipation of the Lord’s plans. This is not a regular business meeting and will not include any items to be voted upon or to be approved. We know there have been strong emotions and we believe it to be wise to pause and have a family conversation. Out of respect for Pastor Jeff, we will not be answering questions around his candidacy or his upcoming plans. For the Q&A portion of our Special Congregational Meeting, we request that questions be submitted ahead of time by 5 pm on Monday, October 25 so we may better organize our evening together.

We ask that the questions focus on two areas:

• Looking back at the process taken on by the Senior Pastor Search Committee
• Looking forward to the next steps in identifying the next Senior Pastor

We know that decisions around pastoral candidates, particularly internal candidates, can be difficult for a church. Such decisions can be used as a tactic by the Enemy to divide rather than unite the Body. As a church, we must remain united in our mission and in our calling: “Following Jesus, we participate in God's reconciling work by making disciples of all peoples and generations.” The brokenness of the world and the hope we bring of the good news of Jesus to our communities and to the world to reconcile that brokenness through His sacrifice of the Cross, remains our primary focus at Lake Avenue Church. It is what brings us together as God’s unexpected family.

In anticipation of upcoming conversations, the Ministry Council recently gathered for an evening of prayer. During that time, two verses were revealed to us:

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

As we approach the meeting, we ask you to join us in daily prayer. Seeking to be obedient as a church family, please pray that while God prepares us for something new, our love for one another would only increase. We want the world to see God through the testimony of the people of Lake Avenue Church and through what He will do with us as a family.

With blessings,

Dan Crichton, Church Chair
Stephen Welch, Church Vice-Chair