Pastoral Transition 2023
There will be a Pastoral Transition at Friendship Church in 2023.
Update
Friendship Membership voted to affirm Scott Petersen as Lead Pastor on April 23.
The membership of Friendship Church voted to affirm Scott Petersen as Lead Pastor on April 23. Scott will assume the role of Lead Pastor on July 30, 2023. In the interim, Pastor Mike will continue coaching and planning with Pastor Scott, until he transitions his role on July 30. This process was developed well in advance of this transition, with a goal for Friendship to be an even stronger church in the future. Pastor Mike will remain on the church staff in the future, where he will devote more time to specific ministries.
Friendship Church is looking for ministry-focused, Christ-centered individual to assume the role of Next Gen Pastor.
Letter from Lead Pastor, Mike Norton
On March 19 I announced my intention to retire as Lead Pastor at Friendship Church. Sue and I have been praying about our future and the future of Friendship Church. After some months of discussion with our Drive Team and Personnel Team I feel this is the right time to make this transition.
While we have had faithful and effective leadership in the past, I believe it is our congregation's unity and spirit of 'followship' that makes our church successful. This gives me great confidence for our future.
My personal faith, marriage, and family have been deeply shaped by Friendship and we expect to continue to make Friendship our church home. I hope to support this transition and contribute to our church's health and growth from a different, and far smaller, role within our staff.
You will read elsewhere that our Drive Team is recommending that Scott Petersen be our next Lead Pastor. This will be decided by the members on April 24. I give this choice my full support. Scott and I have worked closely for 16 years. If you know us both, you know that our personality and styles are quite different BUT over those years we have never had a disagreement on the vision of Friendship Church or theological matters. Choosing Scott is our next, best step forward.
Could I ask you? Please pray for Sue and I, Scott and Jennifer, all our staff, our leaders and members that God works His will in our church through this transition, that we enjoy His blessing, bear fruit in ministry, and bring Glory to Him.
Please bring your questions or concerns to me.
~ For Christ and His Kingdom,
Pastor Mike Norton
Letter from the Drive Team
Dear church family,
The Drive Team has had the special opportunity to come alongside Mike as he has sought God’s guidance in understanding what’s next. Through prayer, discussion, and unity of spirit, we share in Mike’s excitement and confidence about what God has in store for him and our church.
Please know that the church and Mike are in a strong and healthy position to begin this transition and continue the church’s mission and vision.
We are grateful that Mike and Sue want to continue to call Friendship Church home and will take on a new role centered around guiding and developing select ministries at Friendship and beyond. He is a valuable resource for our church and will continue to offer his wisdom, experience, and leadership. One thing has been clear in our work surrounding this transition, Mike loves you and our church, and there is much work God is calling us to do.
Our church bylaws outline the steps for this transition process. The first step has occurred, as the Drive Team has recommended Scott Petersen as the nominee for the Lead Pastor position. The next step is the church membership will have the opportunity to decide on the Drive Team's recommendation. The membership meeting for this purpose is being called on April 23 at 11:30 am. Please keep an eye out for further details and updates, and do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
We will have an opportunity to celebrate and honor Mike and all that God has accomplished through him at Friendship. But for now let’s each keep our focus on the future and do our part so that Friendship is as faithful and fruitful as possible.
~ Friendship Drive Team
How Can I participate in this Transition?
Engage
Stay informed and engage in this transition process. This webpage will be updated regularly. Also, please reach out to leadership with any questions you may have.
Unity
Respect the past and focus on the future. Remember the many ways God has blessed Friendship Church over the years and look forward to a future in which God is equally at work in our church.
Pray
Prayer isn't the least we can do- it is the most important thing we can do.
Have Questions?
Do you have questions about this transition that were not answered? Contact a member of the Drive Team for answers.
FAQ
Have questions about this transition? Here are some of the answers:
Was this a sudden decision?
No. This decision came from many months of discussion prayer and discernment regarding his next phase of ministry with Friendship Church. Mike has also been in close communication with the Drive Team and Personnel Team regarding what God has next for his ministry.
Will the Lead Pastor’s responsibilities and job description changes?
The Personnel Team is working with Scott to review and possibly revise the Lead Pastor job description. While it is unlikely there will be sweeping changes, we want
to be sure our pastors’ responsibilities align with their unique spiritual gifts and talents.
The search has begun in the hiring for new staff?
The search has begun. The Drive Team and Pastor Scott partnered with the Personnel Team to develop a hiring strategy and some re-alignment to staffing. We will fill the position vacated by Scott with a full time staff member whose title will be Next Gen Pastor. This person will be expected to support all the programs at Friendship Church, but the primary focus will be students and their families (middle school and high school) and young adults (college age and beyond).
The Personnel Team is responsible for finding and evaluating candidates for staff positions. Candidates will meet
with several staff and congregation members who will have input to the final selection of our next staff. Per our By-Laws, there is no membership vote for staff postions.
The Job Description and Application process can be found at friendshipchurchinfo.com/jobs
Who will handle the vacated roles and responsibilities in the interim?
Mike Norton has agreed to back fill and assist with the roles and responsibilities until the new staff positon(s) have been filled.
What is Mike’s future role going to be?
Mike and Sue plan to make Friendship Church their home church and, in the short term, Mike will stay on staff in a limited, supporting role. Mike’s experience and
commitment to Friendship Church will be instrumental in a smooth transition.
The specifics of the role are still being defined but will likely evolve as we hire a new staff member, and everyone becomes comfortable in their new roles. In the long
term, Mike expects to remain an active member, using his gifts and considerable experience to support the various ministries of Friendship Church.
When will all this take place?
The membership of Friendship Church voted to affirm Scott Petersen as Lead Pastor on April 23. Scott will assume the role of Lead Pastor on July 30, 2023.
Are there plans to honor the Norton’s for their contributions to Friendship Church?
Yes! While there is no event or gift that can fully represent our appreciation for all Mike and Sue have done for and at
Friendship Church since its very beginning, we want to have multiple opportunities to celebrate and commemorate Pastor Mike’s ministry throughout 2023. Stay tuned for more information about exactly how and when we’ll celebrate the Norton’s.
How does Pastoral transition work?
Our by-laws outline the process as follows:
10.06 Vacancy
At a time of pastoral vacancy, an interim pastor may be appointed by the Drive Team.
10.07 Electing A New Lead Pastor
When the position of Lead Pastor is vacated, the Drive Team will take appropriate action to secure a qualified candidate to serve as Lead Pastor. The Drive Team will recommend the candidate to The Personnel Team and after agreement to the membership. Approval by the membership requires a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present at a duly called Membership Meeting for this purpose.
What can the congregation do to support Friendship Church during the pastoral transition?
Pray. Prayer isn't the least we can do- it is the most important thing we can do.
- Pray for our pastors, our staff, ministry leaders and congregation.
- Pray that we will know and follow God's will in every decision.
- Pray that we remain sensitive to the feelings and needs of everyone affected.
- Pray that we approach this change as an opportunity to continue to reach the community with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ and teach that the Bible is relevant to everyday life.
Accept. that pastoral change is inevitable in the life of any church. Mike is uniquely gifted by God, and was sent to Canton to establish and lead Friendship Church. We have benefited from his commitment to his calling, his leadership and his wisdom for 25 years. Our next Lead Pastor will play a different role in the life of Friendship Church, but he has also been sent and uniquely gifted by God for this period in the life of our church.
Respect. the past and focus on the future. Remember the many ways God has blessed Friendship Church over the years and look forward to a future in which God is equally at work in our church.
