Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker Announces Official Retirement
Dear Family of Faith of University Circle United Methodist Church,
Since July of 1974, I have been the appointed pastor of a United Methodist Church. That means I have been leading a church family for 43 years. What is most amazing to me is that for 31 of these past 43 years I have been in the City of Cleveland. As marvelous, exciting, demanding, sometimes overwhelmingly difficult and wonderful as these years have been it is time for me to embrace a new phase of life.
After a number of weeks of consultation with Bishop Tracy Malone, Resident Bishop of the East Ohio Annual Conference, Dr. Steven Bailey, Superintendent of the North Coast District, and the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee of our congregation, I have asked that my last Sunday as the Pastor of University Circle United Methodist Church be January 28, 2018. This request, totally at my initiative, has been honored.
I count many blessings amidst the 31 years of ministry in Cleveland. Not the least of these would be the singular opportunity and privilege it has been to accomplish, with you, the building of a diverse, inclusive, loving, accepting, dynamic, vital, and spiritually authentic family of faith.
We embark now on a new phase of life and ministry. For Grace and me it will include preparing for a completely new schedule of daily life. At this point, we cannot even begin to think about what weekends and every major holiday will become. For this church family you will, through the leadership of the Pastor/Parish Committee, embark on an exciting next chapter of dynamic, inclusive, loving, urban ministry by discovering, anticipating, and welcoming new, pastoral leadership.
As part of a transition plan in pastoral leadership, it is intention of the bishop, in consultation with our District Superintendent and in careful conversation with our Pastor/Parish Committee, to appoint an interim pastor of this congregation effective February 1, 2018 and concluding June 30, 2018. On July 1, a new pastor, identified as a result of a national search, will begin lead pastor responsibilities.
Particularly for Grace and me, the months ahead will be emotionally challenging. We have come to love you all so very much. And, to be sure, the privilege which has been mine to have been invited into your lives as your pastor, and I hope friend, has been a gift for which there are not sufficient words.
However, I will work to find and articulate some of those words, as together, we share the weeks and months ahead.
Your pastor and friend,
Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker
Since July of 1974, I have been the appointed pastor of a United Methodist Church. That means I have been leading a church family for 43 years. What is most amazing to me is that for 31 of these past 43 years I have been in the City of Cleveland. As marvelous, exciting, demanding, sometimes overwhelmingly difficult and wonderful as these years have been it is time for me to embrace a new phase of life.
After a number of weeks of consultation with Bishop Tracy Malone, Resident Bishop of the East Ohio Annual Conference, Dr. Steven Bailey, Superintendent of the North Coast District, and the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee of our congregation, I have asked that my last Sunday as the Pastor of University Circle United Methodist Church be January 28, 2018. This request, totally at my initiative, has been honored.
I count many blessings amidst the 31 years of ministry in Cleveland. Not the least of these would be the singular opportunity and privilege it has been to accomplish, with you, the building of a diverse, inclusive, loving, accepting, dynamic, vital, and spiritually authentic family of faith.
We embark now on a new phase of life and ministry. For Grace and me it will include preparing for a completely new schedule of daily life. At this point, we cannot even begin to think about what weekends and every major holiday will become. For this church family you will, through the leadership of the Pastor/Parish Committee, embark on an exciting next chapter of dynamic, inclusive, loving, urban ministry by discovering, anticipating, and welcoming new, pastoral leadership.
As part of a transition plan in pastoral leadership, it is intention of the bishop, in consultation with our District Superintendent and in careful conversation with our Pastor/Parish Committee, to appoint an interim pastor of this congregation effective February 1, 2018 and concluding June 30, 2018. On July 1, a new pastor, identified as a result of a national search, will begin lead pastor responsibilities.
Particularly for Grace and me, the months ahead will be emotionally challenging. We have come to love you all so very much. And, to be sure, the privilege which has been mine to have been invited into your lives as your pastor, and I hope friend, has been a gift for which there are not sufficient words.
However, I will work to find and articulate some of those words, as together, we share the weeks and months ahead.
Your pastor and friend,
Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker