Pandas Like Stability
I think it is fair to say that most people (and pandas) like having some stability in their lives. How much stability is up for debate, but we all need some along the way. Well, thankfully for our little panda family, there is some additional (if only short-term) stability in our world! While this may not be news to everyone following our adventures, we wanted to make sure everyone was up to date. So, if you already know, please act appropriately surprised and pleased!
Originally, my call to serve the congregation here in Groomsport, Northern Ireland, was for one year. That meant we would be coming back to the US sometime in August, 2016. However, the senior pastor of our congregation is retiring this summer. This means a lot of transition will be happening in the congregation over the coming months. The Kirk Session (the board of elders who make decisions regarding the congregation) met and decided having some consistency in pastoral leadership would be a positive, and requested that our family stay for an additional year!
We have gladly accepted the request, and now that all the official people on both sides of the Atlantic are happy with the arrangement, I can announce officially that I will be continuing to serve Groomsport as their Assistant/Associate Pastor until July, 2017. We will be returning to the US for some time over this coming summer as originally planned (so yes, you can likely still get some face time in with the baby panda), but instead of sticking around, we will be coming back to Groomsport for more adventures in County Down!
So, if you weren't able to make a visit work in your schedule before the end of summer, 2016, guess what? You have a whole additional year to come visit!!! We'll keep the guest bed ready for you.
Answers to some common questions:
No, I don't know exactly how my role in the congregation will change, but I will NOT be serving officially as the interim pastor. The system for calling a new pastor in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is quite different from the PCUSA. I should know more in the coming weeks, but in short I will be focusing on the day-to-day ministry of the congregation (preaching, pastoral care, studies, etc), while another pastor focuses on the work of transition and calling the new pastor.
Yes, we are all very excited to get to stay another year, but we really do miss all our family and friends back in the US. Being so far away is the hardest thing about our time here. That's why you should all come visit!
The thing we are most looking forward to about staying? Probably missing out on all the craziness of the general election season back in the US!
If I didn't answer YOUR question, feel free to leave it in the comments below.