Senior Pastor Transition 

A MESSAGE FROM THE ELDER BOARD

Jay Abramson informed the Elder Board that he believed God was making it clear that he was in the final phase of his ministry at Valley Community Baptist Church. After nearly 30 years in ministry at Valley, including 25 years as Senior Pastor, he announced at the February Congregational Meeting that he would be retiring in 2020.

Click here to read the entire message.

Next Update: December 8

Please make pans to attend our next all-church Congregational Meeting and Dinner, which will include an update from the Senior Pastor Search Committee. We'll gather at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, at Valley Avon. The dinner is free, and childcare is available for kids 3 and under. You do not need to be a member to attend, but only members may vote on motions. No RSVP required, either -- just show up for a great meal and important updates!

September 2019 Notes

At the quarterly Congregational Meeting, Search Committee Co-Chairs Charlotte Hacker and Sam Moy provided a full update on the search for our next Senior Pastor. They explained how the search committee is working closely with Agora, the firm that began the national search June 4. They also detailed the many steps in the process. Here are the major takeaways ...

• The search is going well, and on schedule! Agora is working through many applicants and candidates.

• The committee is meeting regularly, and consistently providing feedback to Agora based on the several-step search process. For example, the committee has watched about 20 sermons from seven applicants who have made it to that stage of the process with Agora.

• The committee is encouraged by the progress to date and the quality of the applicants so far. The process is rigorous, and there is no timetable for the final stages, such as the search committee recommendation, the Elder Board interviews, and an eventual vote from Valley members. We were reminded that all of that is part of God's timing!

July 2019 Notes

The Senior Pastor Search Committee recently met with Agora, the outside firm hired by Valley to conduct the national search.

 Agora reported that since the job was posted June 4, they have received several resumes, which they are reviewing. Agora spent the first month “casting a wide net” in the search, which includes emails and phone calls to specific Christian organization leaders who fit our profile. The Committee and Agora will continue to meet every 3-4 weeks for updates as this phase continues.

 There are two things the congregation can do in this part of the search process:

• If you have suggestions for candidates, or appropriate contacts in your network, please  let the Search Committee know and it will pass along the information to Agora. You can email ideas to Communications Director Mike Guersch.

• Please continue to pray for the Search Committee, our next Senior Pastor, Jay and Liz, and the entire process. Senior Pastor Transition prayer cards are available at all locations.

March 2019 Meeting Notes

ALL ABOUT THE SEARCH COMMITTEE

The Senior Pastor Search Committee is all set after the Valley congregation approved the three open positions. The committee:

Charlotte Hacker (co-chair)

Sam Moy (co-chair)

Caleb Earnest

Katie Greenlaw

Bill Lindberg

Mary Marlowe

Kip Mentzer

Nancy Parent

ALL ABOUT THE OUTSIDE SEARCH FIRM

 The Elder Board recommended Agora Search Group as our outside search firm for the Senior Pastor Transition process, and the congregation unanimously approved the choice. Most churches of Valley's size utilize a national search firm in the process of calling a new Senior Pastor. Read more about Agora at its website.

Agora follows a four-phase process in its Senior Pastor searches:

- Define

- Discover

- Discern

- Decide

About This Page

This page will serve as the communications hub for the entire Senior Pastor Transition process at Valley. Feel free to bookmark, and check occasionally for updates and new content. Our goal is to keep you as informed as possible during the transition.

We will also try to answer questions about the transition that would be of widespread interest. Email Communications Director Mike Guersch if you have a question you'd like to see answered in this space. 

Here's the Latest ...

UDPATE: NOVEMBER 8, 2019

More Candidates Under Review

At the beginning of the month, the Senior Pastor Search Committee received nine more sermons from Agora, which is conducting our national candidate search. The Committee is evaluating the sermons and will provide feedback to Agora this month, even as other candidates continue to move through the long process. Sermon evaluation is just one early step in the search, which (encouragingly) continues on schedule.

Save the date: Please mark your calendar for the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 8, at 5 p.m. at Valley Avon. The Search Committee will provide another update at that time.

UDPATE: SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Committee Shares Process Details

The Senior Pastor Search Committee shared numerous details about the ongoing search at our quarterly Congregational Meeting. Co-chairs Charlotte Hacker and Sam May discussed several aspects of the search, which is on schedule and producing numerous candidates. Check out the highlights from their presentation in our notes section on the left of this page.

UDPATE: AUGUST 24, 2019

Process Moving On Schedule

The Senior Pastor Transition Committee wants to thank you for your prayers as our search continues. The committee met this past week with Agora, which reports that there is a great deal of interest in the position. As a reminder, it was originally estimated that the entire process could take 6-9 months, and we are in step with that timeline.

UPDATE: JULY 20, 2019

Transition Committee Meets

The Senior Pastor Transition Committee met as scheduled with the Agora search team this past week. Applicants continue to move through the process at Agora, which reported that the posting is being received positively by leaders at various Christian organizations. The next meeting is scheduled for August.

UPDATE: JULY 14, 2019

Agora Reviewing Applications

The Senior Pastor Transition Committee is happy to report it is meeting regularly with Agora, which is receiving resumes and reviewing them for consideration. Agora is in active search mode and pursuing prospective candidates. See the full update on the left to learn more and about how you can help!

Click here to view the job posting

UPDATE: JUNE 7, 2019

Full Job Profile Posted by Agora

The search is on! Agora, the outside search firm approved by the Congregation to conduct a national search for our next Senior Pastor, posted the full job description and profile on their website this week. Agora is now in active search mode, a key step in the Senior Pastor Transition process. 

Click here to view the job position overview on the Agora site. From there, you can click to the full profile of the opportunity.

UPDATE: MAY 21, 2019

Transition Town Halls Concluded

Thanks to everyone who attended our Transition Town Halls in May. The Senior Pastor Search Committee hosted nine gatherings across all three locations, hearing from Valley attenders about their thoughts and expectations of our next Senior Pastor.

The Committee will use that feedback to assist as they consider candidates recommended by our outside search firm. Your insights will be invaluable in the process!

UPDATE: APRIL 13, 2019

Search Firm Visiting Valley

Leaders from the Agora Search Group are visiting Valley this weekend for several discussions and to experience a worship service at Valley Avon. Malcolm and Rob are meeting with elders, pastors, staff, and the Senior Pastor Search Committee. They've also asked for prayer for their search and for the new Senior Pastor, whom God will call to serve at Valley.

NEWS ALERT: MARCH 31, 2019

Search Committee, Search Firm, Funds Approved

Valley members unanimously approved several important steps in the Senior Pastor Transition process today at a special Congregational Meeting at the Avon Campus.

Katie Greenlaw, Charlotte Hacker, and Kip Mentzer were approved for the three open positions on the Senior Pastor Search Committee. They will join current Standing Search Committee members Bill Lindberg, Mary Marlowe, Sam Moy, and Nancy Parent. Church Chairman Tom Turbiak also announced that the Elder Board appointed Caleb Earnest to fill the elder spot on the eight-person committee, following our church Constitution.

The congregation also approved the hiring of Agora Search Group as our outside search firm, as well as funding for that search. Two-thirds of the funds will be part of the next fiscal year budget.

UPDATE: MARCH 20, 2019

Senior Pastor Transition Question 1:

With the recent departure of our Executive Pastor, how is the staff leadership currently structured? 

Answer: 

An interim leadership plan has been put in place for Valley staff. The plan spreads Tim’s responsibilities and direct reports across three people already in key staff leadership roles at Valley: Senior Pastor Jay Abramson, Church Administrator Kevin Haskins, and Interim Care Ministry Director Jay Kuhrt. Because the partnership between a Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor is crucial to healthy ministry, Valley will not be pursuing another Executive Pastor until the new Senior Pastor is called.

Pastor Jay oversees Kevin Haskins (Church Administrator), Jay Kuhrt (Interim Care Ministry Director), Susan Hart (Worship Arts Director), and Brandon Sanford (Students and Children). Pastor Jay meets regularly with Pastor Mark Woof (Simsbury) and Pastor Andrew Southwick (Bristol) regarding preaching plans and pastoral mentoring.

Kevin Haskins oversees Pastor Doug Christgau (Outreach) and Pastor Jerry Costley (Spiritual Growth & Discipleship). Kevin continues to oversee Finances, Human Resources, Facilities, and Communication staff. Kevin is an ex-officio participant at the Elder Board meetings and the staff representative on the Standing Search Committee. 

Jay Kuhrt oversees Mark Woof (Simsbury), the IT/systems staff, and the front-office staff. Jay also leads and facilitates all staff team meetings. Jay continues to oversee the Care Ministry staff. 

GOT A QUESTION? LET US KNOW

We want this space to be the information hub for the entire search process. If you have a question that might be of general interest, please email our Communications Director for consideration. Thanks for your participation!