Dear Members and Friends of Arlington Community Church UCC,
It has been with sorrow for us, and joy for him that I received the resignation call from our Rev. Nate Klug at the beginning of this week. In line with the ACC Bylaws, his notice of resignation has been accepted. He began with us with a Designated Term Ministry of two years and has graciously served us beyond that.
Each of us has met the news of his upcoming departure with sadness for our church and for ourselves. Yet we also understand that it is a good decision for Nate and his family to be closer to grandparents, and we rejoice with them. We will take faith in the Holy Spirt that moves among us, as we move with Nate through the weeks ahead, reflecting on the blessings received through his two years plus ministry among us. We are also strengthened by what we have accomplished as a church community. During the first months of Nate’s ministry, our congregation added 10 new members, we took inspiration from his storytelling that always bound scripture with the reality of our current lives. We have weathered a major pandemic and we’re coming out whole and thriving. Beyond that, we have continued our vital service to those in need, participated in small group intimate conversations, bible studies, poetry readings, supported and checked in with one another through grief and sorrow, built a virtual holiday bazaar, and began again to move ahead with capital projects. All along the way we have been blessed by Nate’s reflections during worship, his insights, prayers and support.
These next few weeks, we’ll be developing plans to celebrate Nate’s ministry, and to begin the search for, first an Interim Minister and then a Settled Minister. We will also all have opportunities to give your thoughts and ideas into the process. We’ll keep you posted along the way. Next week, Council will be discussing some of the details. Please let me know if you feel called to step in to assist with tasks: celebration and/or search. Thank you.
I have contacted Davena Jones, Associate Conference Minister with the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC, who will be supporting and assisting with our transition. She will guide the Interim Minister Search Committee (approved by Council) to select a trained interim minister who will provide continuity in worship, pastoral care, and program/staff oversight. This minister will not be a candidate for the “settled” position as our senior minister but will help facilitate our transitional work in preparation for the settled minister search. In the meantime, there will be planning for Nate’s exit interview lead by his Pastoral Support Committee: Ruth Robinson, Anita Baker, and Tom Dean. And finally, during his last Sunday with us, Worship will include the Liturgy of Farewell with a formal Release of Ministry. We will keep you informed as we move toward our future.
For now, let us express our gratitude for Nate’s ministry here and enter a time of celebration and prayer with him. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Linda Young, ACC Moderator