Dear Theophiluses,
I have accepted a position at my undergraduate alma mater, Evangel University. Beginning in May I will be serving as the Director of Theology and Global Church Ministries for their College of Online Learning.
If this comes as a surprise to you—trust me—I think I might be more surprised. I’ve been completely committed to the local church for the last 15 years in Springfield, New Haven, Aberdeen, and Iowa City as I have completed my higher education and pastored. I have not chased after a position in higher ed, and I never saw it as my ultimate goal. Nevertheless, the Spirit has led. I’m excited.
My position will be remote, which means I can stay at Resurrection Assembly here in Iowa City and continue to minister as a pastor. Moving forward, I will no longer have the title “Lead Pastor,” but “Pastor of Theology and Preaching.”
What I do here on Substack has been to bring my vocation as a theologian to the local church, and vice-versa. That will not change. I will still be a theologian in the local church, and a pastor in the academy.
Moving forward, Pastor Abby Anderson will be the sole Lead Pastor at Resurrection. A number of years ago I told Joy Qualls that I was pretty sure that one of the many reasons God installed me at Resurrection in Iowa City was to facilitate Abby taking charge of the church. I didn’t know at the time where that would leave me, but now I do.
Abby and I have been an incredible team for the last 7 years. We’ve itinerated across eastern Iowa doing good for hungry bellies, roofless heads, and weary souls. Above all else, we’ve urged one another on and held each other accountable as we have preached the mystery of our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Abby and I will continue to make a great team, but I also know and believe that my new, limited role at the church will create space for new leaders to emerge. We’ve already got a couple Philips and Stephens waiting in the flanks.
I have had a repeated dream over the last several years that over a single week’s span, Resurrection experiences unprecedented and incredible numerical growth. In the dream, I’m still at the church and I’m standing in the pulpit. I realize that I’m not in charge of the church even though I stand ready once again to proclaim the good news. I have interpreted this in two, complimentary ways.
First, I’ve never been in charge of the church though I stand so regularly in its pulpit and preside over its table. As many of you know, I think church growth models are doomed to failure—when we make it our goal to grow, we never move on from milk to meat, and sabotage our own longevity. Of course I want all churches to grow, but I think the best way of growing is not to try to grow. God causes the growth. All we can do is plant and water and watch.
Second, God in his great and sometimes indiscernible plan wants me not to be in charge of Resurrection when he causes the growth. I’m content to know that his good, pleasing, and perfect will will be done.
Easter was my final sermon at Resurrection before this new chapter begins. I’m linking the podcast below. It is perhaps the most vulnerable I’ve ever been in the pulpit, and it is a fitting end to the last 7+ years.
EASTER AT RESURRECTION:
Congratulations on your new role, and congratulations to Pastor Abby. You two are a great team. You have served everyone God has brought your way and I’m sure you will both continue to do so.
You are both a blessing to Iowa City and to us!
Congratulations on the new role! It is inspiring to see fellow believers stepping out in faith to pursue the paths the Holy Spirit has paved out for them.