Transitional Season

Dear Shepherd of the Valley Family,

We held a congregational conversation after worship on Sunday, June 24, 2022 and wanted to update those of you who were unable to be there on what was covered.

We began with the Rev. Tom Hart’s departure at the beginning of April after 18 years of meaningful ministry here at SOTV.  The Rev. Trey Hammond was brought on board as the Bridge Pastor at the beginning of April to act as Head of Staff until a Transitional Pastor could be hired. We formed a Transitional Pastor Search Committee to do this important task for the church. They gave an update at the meeting Sunday. They had chosen a candidate to bring for an in-person interview, and learned last week that individual had just taken another position. So while this was disappointing, the committee has regrouped and continues their search. Sometimes a “No” leads to a bigger “Yes,” and God guides us by closing doors as well as by opening them.

Once a Transitional Pastor is hired, this person will lead the congregation through the important work of doing a mission study, helping us to discern who we are at this point in our communal life and what God is calling us to next. This is such a rich and important time for the whole congregation to be involved in listening to one another and to the Spirit as we step into the good future God has for us. The Transitional Pastor is generally at a church for 1-2 years. During this time, the congregation will form a Pastor Nominating Committee to call the next permanent Head of Staff.

If you have questions or concerns, feel free to talk with any of the session members, or to Trey or Sarah. We trust God is guiding us through this time, and are grateful for how God continues to work in and through us. We are a healthy congregation. Between in person and online participation in worship, we are at our pre-pandemic levels of attendance. Due to your generosity in giving, the church is financially strong.

We continue to reach out in love through our partnerships with La Luz Elementary, Heading Home, Rio Grande Food Project and other community organizations. We partnered with several Presbyterian Churches in Albuquerque to offer music camp for 30 children this week. We had youth participate in a faith formation and community building weekend at Ghost Ranch. We were recognized at the June Presbytery meeting for our support of the Young Adult Volunteer Program. Thank you, each one of you, for the gifts you offer and the ways you participate in our communal life as a church family. Pastors will come and go, but you, the church, remain and carry on the vital ministry of love that is the DNA of Shepherd of the Valley.