Dear City Church Friends:
I want to communicate some important news to you.
After a significant time of prayer and discernment with one another and some good friends, Sara and I have accepted an offer for me to become Assoc. Prof. of Counseling and Pastoral Care at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI., a move which will give Newbigin House of Studies an even greater presence in our partner seminary, and further our progress on several key projects we envision for the future. While this means a transition from San Francisco and the City Church staff, I’ll continue working with Scot Sherman as I have been to advance Newbigin House of Studies. In fact, I will be teaching our M.Div. students all of their core courses in counseling and pastoral care, while helping develop our M.A. program, something my presence in Holland, MI will make much easier. And I’ll continue serving our Newbigin Fellows program.
When we moved to San Francisco almost 5 years ago, I came with two major goals – to start a counseling center and to help start a seminary. We’ve accomplished both. Our counseling center has a staff of six, led exceptionally well by Rev. Jay Wilson. We’re in the fourth year of a very successful lay counselor training ministry. Johnny LaLonde has successfully launched a host of support groups. And the center has gained a reputation for excellence, such that many pastors and surrounding churches send people our way.
Together, Scot Sherman and I launched the Newbigin Fellows program, which is also in its fourth year. We’ve seen over 80 men and women trained through it. Last Fall, we started our Master of Divinity program under Scot’s leadership with 13 students. Scot and I have logged many, many hours traveling back and forth to Holland, MI, strategizing, teaching, and more. At this stage in the evolution of Newbigin House, it made sense to us that I should be there, not only because of my strengths in teaching pastoral care and counseling, but as a strategic next step in partnership.
Scot Sherman and Fred Harrell have not only been amazing colleagues during this process, but extraordinary friends. Not everyone gets to say that about people they work with. They have been my primary “counselors” in this discernment process. In many ways, this is a decision we’ve made together, for the sake of mission. City Church’s influence has grown not just locally, but nationally, and within our denomination. We play a very vital role in educating, coaching, mentoring, planting churches, and more. This transition allows me to play an even more vital role in my primary area of specialization – counseling and pastoral care – in Newbigin House, City Classis, and our denomination.
We’ll grieve many things as we transition this summer. I’ve learned more than I’ve taught to others because of my extraordinary colleagues. I can’t imagine a more rich and stimulating collegial environment working alongside the pastors and staff of City Church San Francisco. In many ways, the climactic moment for me was last Fall’s One Church – One Story emphasis, where as a church we came together to read Leaving Egypt and to explore our own stories in light of God’s grand story.
We’ll grieve the loss of everyday interactions with close friends and colleagues. Though I’ll continue to fly back and forth for different events, our family will miss worshipping in the most extraordinary church I’ve ever been a part of.
As always, these transitions can bring some disappointment and even confusion. ‘Transition’ is not always seen as positive! But, I’ve been around many churches, and stagnancy does not forward the mission of God. What I love about City Church is that we’re not afraid to make these hard choices for the sake of the larger mission, even if there is some disappointment, confusion, or disruption along the way. I will remain a part of the leadership of Newbigin House, engaged in our programs, including the Newbigin Fellowship. I’ll expect to see you, and perhaps even preach every now and then, in the future. I’d ask you to be in prayer for all of the many “moving parts” involved in a transition like this, and especially for my family.
A favorite theologian and mystic of mine, Lady Julian of Norwich, said many centuries ago, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” Scot Sherman has texted me these words many times over the past months as we’ve all prayed through this decision. And yes, indeed, all manner of thing shall be well…
Grace and peace,
Chuck De Groat