Dear Church Family,
On behalf of Scott Culclasure, Personnel Chair, I am writing to share with you the news that our Church Administrator, Scott North, has made the decision to retire after 14 years of service to our church.
Scott discerned this path in the fall, and shared with us earlier this spring. Characteristic of Scott, he has been concerned about how this timing impacts the church, especially amidst other recent staff transition. We have assured him we can both feel his absence and support his decision at the same time. I’m sure we can all be grateful that he is doing what he senses is right for him and his family.
Scott shares the following with you:
It is difficult to express how much the members of First Baptist Church have given to me. I came here in 2009 thinking I needed a job, but I quickly realized that I needed much more. As church members welcomed me to my new role, they provided a level of encouragement to me that I didn’t know I needed until I felt it. It was the love of Christ flowing naturally from them to me, and it embraced me and let me know that everything was going to be okay. I expected to be here a short time, but as it turns out, I’ve worked longer at FBC than anywhere else in my career. And it is with mixed emotions that I am letting everyone know that my time at FBC is coming to an end. I am retiring from church administration earlier than I thought I would, but it is the right time, and I know it. I am looking forward to what is next with confidence for both myself and FBC because I know that as God has provided for us in the past, we can certainly rely on Him to provide for our future.
Scott will work in his current capacity through the end of this month, and be available the first week of June on a consulting basis. On June 7, he and his wife, Chris, will embark on some extended and long-planned family travel. After his return in mid-July, he will be available on a contract basis through the end of the summer to ease the church’s transition.
In related news, we want you to know that earlier this week Personnel approved a contract with an interim bookkeeper to help us with the essentials of accounting in this time of transition. Sara Manchester has extensive experience with nonprofit and church administration and accounting. She will overlap with Scott through the end of the month and then establish regular hours beginning in June. While Sara is not being asked to replace the entirety of Scott’s role, she will be able to fill the critical aspects of financial admin, giving Personnel time to assess throughout the summer and make the best plan for the next phase of Admin structure. We look forward to introducing you further to Sara and sharing more about plans in coming days.
For now, we want to make the most of the time we have remaining with Scott, and also find all the best ways to thank him for his faithfulness, friendship and excellent work. As part of this, Personnel invites church members to contribute to a Love Offering recognizing Scott’s years of service. Gifts may be made through our usual channels with “Love Offering” indicated in the memo. We will miss his service and ministry deeply, and try to honor that excellent work by making good plans for the church’s administrative work into the future.
Thanks, as always, for your prayers and support — for Scott and for our church amidst this transition and the work ahead.
Together in Love,
Rev. Alan Sherouse
Senior Pastor
