Senior Minister Search Committee Update | November, 2021

November, 2021:

Dear Riverside Family,

For the past five months, the Senior Minister Search Committee has engaged in conversation with over fifty ministries, groups and individuals. We have listened with open and prayerful hearts to your responses to the questions we raised with you: What energizes you to do the work of this ministry and the church? What are the challenges of doing this ministry? How have you experienced God’s presence in your life here at Riverside? Why do you come to Riverside and why do you stay? In order to become ready for a new senior minister what are three things we as a church need to address? Why are you a Riversider? What three words describe the characteristics you want to see in the next senior pastor? What has Riverside needed that has been absent?

The Search Committee is grateful that members of the church have been enthusiastic in their participation. We have relied on your honest feedback as we create a Riverside church profile. Congregational reflections have included the many strengths, resources and qualities of the members and staff, as well as areas that need improvement. This is a demanding and spiritual process as we seek to present a clear and authentic description of who we are and who God is calling us to become. Our church profile will present Riverside’s vision of ministry goals and competencies that will lead us into closer relationships with God and one another.

We are in the process of completing the church profile, which will be presented to lay leaders and shared with the congregation. The Search Committee will post the profile and job description on our website and in appropriate publications. More details about our work will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

As we search for the one whom God is calling to serve as our next senior minister, and as we journey together through this transition, please pray with us and seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide us. May Christ be born anew in each of us.

Blessings,

Alexa, Andrea, Annie, Beth, David, Emily, Hylda, Karissa, Lee, Lisa, and Mark