Pastoral Transition
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where is Pastor Gabe?
Last summer Gabe Gilliam announced his resignation from the position of Teaching Pastor at Saratoga Federated Church. He stayed on and preached through the end of September to allow for an orderly transition. He has followed God's call into a new career and is now working at Cisco in a role that encourages their employees to serve in the community. Q: What’s next for Saratoga Federated Church? The Nominating Committee selected a Search Committee to seek a new pastor. That search process is underway. We believe strongly that God has a person in mind to fill this role at SFC. However, we are also mindful that finding the right person could take some time. View the Search Update button periodically to read the latest updates on the search process. Q: Who is going to preach on Sundays while we find the new pastor? The Council of Elders appointed a separate team to find interim preachers who will prepare and deliver Sunday sermons at all three services until the permanent new pastor is found. At this point the team has lined up a series of interim preachers out through August 2019. They have intentionally chosen people with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives with the hope that will be helpful for the congregation in this season. Our own pastoral team will preach occasionally during the balance of the interim period. Q: How long do you expect the search for a new pastor to take? It is difficult to pinpoint an exact time frame. We have been advised that these searches can take from five months to a year. Q: How can I give input into the criteria for a new pastor? The best way to give input is to contact the Search Committee. Q: How can I help? We ask that you please pray for guidance in the search process. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the Council of Elders and the Search Committee. Please pray for the families of our church leadership, our pastors and our staff, as this process is likely to be more time-consuming and taxing than their regular duties. And thank God for His ongoing faithfulness and guidance to Saratoga Federated Church. Q: If I have questions or concerns that are not answered here, to whom should I direct them? To the Council of Elders. |