The Staff Parish Relations Committee has completed its tasks with regard to the posting of a new senior pastor to Trinity Church. As reported to the congregation on February 6, Bishop Matthews has announced that the Rev. Larry R. Baird will become the pastor of Trinity on July 1, 2011.
The role of the SPRC in this process was to compile a Trinity profile, with congregational input, in the fall 2010 months. Charlie Yund, then SPRC chair, led in preparing the profile. The profile described the circumstances of Trinity and our best perception of the needs of the church. With Pastor Childs’s concurrence in the desirability of a pastoral change, the cabinet of district superintendents decided to recommend to the Bishop that Rev. Baird come to Grand Island. Larry and his wife Brenda are eager to re-enter parish ministry after the eight years Larry has served as a district superintendent. The SPRC met with District Superintendent Natalie Hanson and the Bairds on January 30 and concluded that Rev. Baird is a good match for our needs. We believe that good things lie ahead for Trinity.
Members of the SPRC have engaged with Pastors Childs and Lange in the visioning project. We are hoping that the Trinity leadership and membership will be enthused about the concepts and goals generated by this process. We want to convey to Rev. Baird the hopes and plans of Trinity people for a new and creative ministry.
The Board of Trustees is already looking into parsonage needs.
Between now and July 1, the SPRC will devote its energy to seeing that a smooth transition takes place; that Pastor Childs is duly celebrated for his significant contributions to life and change at Trinity; and that the Bairds are given a warm welcome and full church cooperation as they begin ministry here. There are some dates that church leadership should keep in mind:
Sunday, May 22. Rev. Baird will preach at the two 10:30 services.
Sunday, June 19. Rev. Childs’s last services; farewell reception.
Sunday, July 3. Rev. Baird’s first services as pastor.
Sunday, July 10. Welcome reception.
July date TBA. “Meet the leaders” cookout at the Burkmans’
The SPRC needs the help of lay volunteers in several functions related to the transition.
Tom Burkman, Chair, SPRC
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