April 16: Email from Karla

Beloved FCCH, Over the past several months, the Human Relations Ministry (HRM) of our church has been working to develop a clear policy regarding the return of former clergy to the life of this church. This work was handed over from the Transitional Leadership Team, who was tasked by Council to address recommendations from the succession plan developed by forty leaders of our church two years ago. A policy was developed, approved by Council in March, and was communicated to you, the congregation. Many people have expressed their approval of the policy and its wisdom, which encourages social contact between the former pastor and the congregation after a year of a newly settled pastor, but doesn’t permit former pastors to return as members. There are some people, however, who have expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction with this policy.  Please know that my heart is filled with compassion and concern for each of you who have expressed your dismay regarding the new policy.  What I want you to know is that this issue is of critical importance, not only for the health of the church, but for the vitality of my ministry as your settled pastor. It is for this reason that UCC guidelines, based on best practices and a multitude of real life experiences, suggest a one to three year evaluation and discernment period. This process involves the new pastor, the retired pastor and the Committee on Ministry of the Western NC Association of the Southern Conference of the UCC. HRM concluded, and I agree, that such a prolonged review process would be detrimental to everyone involved. First, I fully support this new policy. I believe it is wise for this present time, and wise for the future. It is my general experience that once a clergy person has served as a pastor to a congregation, they are always regarded as such.  Whether intentionally or unintentionally, former pastors can create awkward and unhealthy situations for congregants and the new settled pastor. It can also be difficult for former pastors to come back to the church where they were once “in charge,” making it difficult to move on to a healthy new phase of life.  Clergy are former employees, and as such, understand they are subject to personnel policies of a local church, the guidelines set out by the denomination in which they serve (in our case, the UCC), along with being subject to the UCC Ministerial Code of Ethics for clergy. It is unfortunate, I think, that there was an assumption communicated that retired clergy, upon invitation by the settled pastor, can automatically rejoin the congregation they leave after a year. Since I believe requiring a new settled pastor to make this determination is unfair to all involved, the policy of the HRM is a wise and clear path forward, both now, and for all future pastors of this church. When my ministry here is ended, I will embrace this policy because I believe in its wisdom. I am grateful for Rev. Weidler’s rich legacy of ministry at FCCH. For many of you, Rev. Weidler’s ministry touched your lives in profound and personal ways~~through walking with you as you experienced grave illnesses, through celebrating your great joys, through the message of progressive Christianity, through the Open and Affirming process, and more. This is good pastoring, and I join with you in honoring that legacy.  Finally, after careful discernment and much prayer, I do not believe it would be in the best interests of Rev. Weidler, the church, or my ministry with you to invite him to reenter the life of the congregation. This position is not intended to reflect negatively on the character of Rev. Weidler, the church or myself. It is my deepest hope that members can enjoy their relationships with Rev. Weidler outside the context of congregational involvement. I know my stance will disappoint some of you, and change is hard. In my time as your Pastor over the past 15 months, I hope I have acted in a way that cultivates a level of trust that enables you to feel confident in my leadership. And more, I hope you will support me as I affirm the wisdom of this policy. The people of our Human Relations Ministry have worked prayerfully in careful discernment, and your support is of critical importance to our church, and to my ministry going forward. I love and care for each person who is part of this beautiful congregation. I ask for your prayers as we focus together on our ministry of love, justice and hope in these uncertain and evolving times.  In faith and with love, Karla