More Biggish News...
and "Some Good News"
Three weeks ago we shared some “kind of big news” with all of you…news that our Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the UMC had discerned a new appointment for me (Steve) to Aledo, Illinois. As we announced that move, I shared that the United Methodist Church’s “sending system” essentially helps arrange marriages between congregations and pastors based on mutual gifts and needs. I also shared that, perhaps surprisingly to some, this system works amazing well!
I want to share that the Pichaske crew has always trusted the appointment-making process...even when we were surprised by it. We moved from Peoria to Rushville in 2008 just as we started seeing real momentum (and shortly after I moved into a role that I truly loved) as an associate pastor at FUMC Peoria. We didn't want to move, but the moment we said, "Yes," we knew that God was going to help make it work well. We were uncertain about the move from Rushville when Megan was in the middle of her junior year of high school. But the minute we said, "Yes," to coming to Prospect we sensed that God would make it work. (We still regret not being able to experience more of Megan's senior year...but God has certainly brought us many blessings over the past six years!)
In the midst of processing the move to Aledo, it became clear that a likely path forward for the Pichaskes would include Beth and the girls staying in the Peoria area while I moved to Aledo. Beth would keep her teaching job at Harrison Elementary School, the girls would likely stay at Dunlap High School, I would try to come stay with them on Fridays and Saturdays (?), they would join me in Aledo on Sundays...potentially for the next two years until Addison graduated (or at the very least until Beth found a teaching job in or near Aledo). The more we tried to embrace this reality, however, the more we realized that this was not something any of us wanted to experience. It didn't feel like a "win" for anyone, including the members of Aledo UMC who, no doubt, want a pastor/family that’s fully committed both to the church and their community.
So...I'm sharing with you that I will not be moving to Aledo. I have, instead, asked the conference for a leave of absence (i.e. I will not be "appointed" to a church after July 1st). It is my understanding that our conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry will formally vote on my request on April 16th but I have been given permission to share the “change of plans” before that formal vote.
We're certainly heading into uncertain waters, but I want you all to know that we feel very much at peace.
What does that mean for all of us?
First of all, it does NOT mean that I no longer love or support the United Methodist Church. It simply means that I’m stepping out of the itineracy (i.e. the process of being “sent” by the conference’s leadership wherever they discern my gifts are most needed) for a season. As Christians, we all live in a covenant relationship with God. For the past 18 years, I have also lived in a covenant relationship with both the United Methodist Church and the Pichaske family. In this moment, I felt that I could not honor both covenant relationships fully at the same time. As such, I have simply, with what I believe is the Holy Spirit’s leading, chosen one connection over the other for this particular season.
It also means we plan to keep serving Prospect as best we can, as best anyone can in this uncharted Covid Crisis, before handing the baton to Pastor Linda on July 1st. We genuinely believe that great days lie ahead for Prospect! We have a great vision for DEEP & WIDE ministry, a tremendously gifted staff, committed and talented lay leadership, and the conference has discerned a wonderful new pastor to help lead you all into the future!
The Covid Crisis will pass…and Prospect will move into the fullness of God’s 2020 Vision!
It also means that I will be searching for a new job and we will be looking for a new home. (Not exactly the best time to be searching for employment, right?!?! We are definitely asking you to keep your eyes open for us! We're open to opportunities "in ministry" and/or in the "secular world.")
And it means we welcome your prayers in the midst of this new journey into the unknown!
Great days for Prospect do lie ahead!!! Let’s continue to drive towards that reality!
<><,
Pastor Steve
p.s. If you don't regularly read the "Seedbed daily text," here is yesterday's offering. (JD Walt is leading us through an extensive study of the Exodus). I definitely felt that it spoke to me!