Pastor Transition Listening Circles: We Still Want to Hear You!

The NJLC transition team (Cindy Brady, Ron Bigley, Kris Bartanen) has completed 7 listening circles involving 22 congregational members. Thank you! That means, however, we have about twice that many more sessions to go in order to have a strong representation among New Journey's range of members.

We are gathering themes; individual comments are confidential and will be summarized anonymously to support (1) a transition report to Church Council and, following their review of the report, (2) a "Mission Site Profile" that, following Council approval, goes on to the Synod Bishop. Once accepted, the "MSP" informs the (3) call document for a next pastor. Please be prepared to sign-up for a listening session in January ("One hour. One time."), if we have not already heard from you. We will also be reaching out to away members to schedule virtual sessions.

As Pastor Dominic Palacios, our transition consultant, noted: "A Listening Circle is a group of 3-5 people, facilitated by a trained leader, who will discern the direction of New Journey together. Listening circles are a confidential, safe space where everyone has the opportunity to express their opinions without fear of judgment. We have a unique opportunity to reflect on where we have been, who we are now, and what we hope for in the future, and these listening circles will help guide the conversation."

As interim Pastor Tim Hansen also noted, the Mission Site Profile is a gift to the next pastor because it will outline the path New Journey sees for its future. We are not seeking a pastor to choose a path for us; rather, we seek a next pastor to partner with us to achieve congregational goals.