Pastor's Letter of Resignation
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:6-7)
(Philippians 4:6-7)
January 7, 2020
Dearest Saints of God,
It was five years ago this coming April that I first visited Immanuel. At the time, I was still a few weeks away from my seminary graduation, and both I and you were trying to discern whether this match was what God had in mind for our ministries. I still remember the grace and welcome you showed me from the very first interview. I remember how you generously entrusted this newly-minted minister with the authority to serve as your pastor. Since that time, God has continually used your gifts of generosity, trust, and welcome to help me grow as your pastor, and God has used my gifts to benefit your ministry here in return.
As fruitful as these past few years have been, I have come to believe that God is calling me away from Immanuel. Because of this, I have accepted a call at another congregation in Northwest Washington, and my last Sunday here will be February 2nd. There are a variety of personal and professional reasons for this, including closeness to our families, but the most important reason is that I truly believe that God is calling me to utilize my gifts in another congregation.
It is with deeply mixed feelings that I announce this. On the one hand, I am excited for the future God has in store for my ministry and for Immanuel’s future development. On the other hand, it causes me great sadness to leave a group of people as loving and generous as you. It is hard for me to imagine a better congregation for my first call, and I am deeply grateful to God and to you for the privilege of having served as your pastor.
I’m sure you have many questions about the future and about what this pastoral transition will look like over the coming months. And while I continue to be your pastor for the next few weeks, those questions about the future are better directed to the council. However, know this: you already have the leaders and resources needed to make this a successful transition, and Bishop Kristen and the synod staff are ready to support you along the way. Most importantly, you have a God who continues to sustain you, to watch over you, and to call you into his mission here in this community.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor John Guthridge
Dearest Saints of God,
It was five years ago this coming April that I first visited Immanuel. At the time, I was still a few weeks away from my seminary graduation, and both I and you were trying to discern whether this match was what God had in mind for our ministries. I still remember the grace and welcome you showed me from the very first interview. I remember how you generously entrusted this newly-minted minister with the authority to serve as your pastor. Since that time, God has continually used your gifts of generosity, trust, and welcome to help me grow as your pastor, and God has used my gifts to benefit your ministry here in return.
As fruitful as these past few years have been, I have come to believe that God is calling me away from Immanuel. Because of this, I have accepted a call at another congregation in Northwest Washington, and my last Sunday here will be February 2nd. There are a variety of personal and professional reasons for this, including closeness to our families, but the most important reason is that I truly believe that God is calling me to utilize my gifts in another congregation.
It is with deeply mixed feelings that I announce this. On the one hand, I am excited for the future God has in store for my ministry and for Immanuel’s future development. On the other hand, it causes me great sadness to leave a group of people as loving and generous as you. It is hard for me to imagine a better congregation for my first call, and I am deeply grateful to God and to you for the privilege of having served as your pastor.
I’m sure you have many questions about the future and about what this pastoral transition will look like over the coming months. And while I continue to be your pastor for the next few weeks, those questions about the future are better directed to the council. However, know this: you already have the leaders and resources needed to make this a successful transition, and Bishop Kristen and the synod staff are ready to support you along the way. Most importantly, you have a God who continues to sustain you, to watch over you, and to call you into his mission here in this community.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor John Guthridge
