CELEBRATING GENEROSITY: Annual Report & Succession Update
RBC ANNUAL REPORT 2018: From Sunday, December 9, here’s Executive Pastor Bruce Campbell giving an end-of-year financial update. You can find this information and much, much more by reading through the 2018 Annual Report. It is a joy to look back and remember the great things God has done, and the Annual Report allows us an opportunity to do that in the context of our church. May this year-in-review be an encouragement to deeper worship and more profound trust as we look back and are reminded of the good God has done among us for the glory of His name.
SUCCESSION UPDATE: The video above also includes a brief update from the chairman of the RBC elders, Eric Smith, regarding where we are as we trust the Lord to raise up Pastor Mike’s successor. The text of Eric’s announcement is also included below.
Since it has been some time since we have addressed the subject concerning the status of Mike Minter’s succession, the elders wanted to provide you with an update: To be clear up front, we are not announcing Mike’s imminent departure or replacement.
It has been said that every pastor is an interim pastor. God provides a pastor so that he might teach & shepherd the flock until the time that he hands off the baton to the next pastor, also provided by God. National statistics tell us that the average tenure of a senior pastor is less than 8 years. We are glad that Mike never got the memo, as he has persevered more than 40 years the senior teaching pastor of RBC. We are tremendously blessed to have Mike stand in this pulpit for all these years and although he remains youthful, we are all aware that Mike is not eternal (at least not in his present flesh).
You might not be aware of this, but as a result of Mike’s humility, he began engaging in dialog with the elders almost 15 years ago, about what a healthy succession plan might look like. Mike has demonstrated great faith in the Lord and willingness to “step out of the way” at anytime, should it be deemed best for RBC. I want it to be clear that no one in leadership is looking forward to his departure and there is no imminent concern for his replacement. At the same time, we desire to be diligent and thoughtful about the future. Our hope is that the Lord would grant us the opportunity to identify Mike’s eventual replacement, perhaps even years prior to Mike’s departure. We are also excited as we look to the Lord to see who He will provide as Mike’s successor. Understand, Mike is in excellent health and enjoying the opportunity to serve RBC with his preaching and teaching gifts.
The elders have for many years been prayerfully considering what a healthy transition looks like. We have been revisiting the position description and continue dialog regarding a succession plan. At some point in the near future, we will, Lord willing, invite the pastors, staff and all of you to consider your network of relationships in order to harvest potential names for consideration as we conduct a soft search. We will not be advertising or retaining a search firm at this time.
Although the future is not certain, we are confident that He who has begun a good work in the Saints at RBC will be faithful to complete it. He who has raised up Pastor Mike so profoundly, will He not care for His church?
We invite you to continue joining us as we earnestly pray and seek both His timing and His choice. It is our sincere purpose and hope that this transition will honor the LORD, honor you, and honor Mike & Kay, servants through whom much fruit has been born.
Thanks for co-laboring with us.