Resignation

This is the letter that was mailed out to my congregation last week:

Dear HWPC family,

Our Lord has blessed us with His great mercy and grace, building, growing, and sustaining us as His people! I trust you join me in finding rest and peace in Him.

Four years ago, the congregation of Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church voted unanimously to extend a call to me to serve as the congregation’s Pastor. These several years have been a great blessing to all of us as the Lord has done so much work in our midst: an anniversary celebration, election and ordination of a number of new officers, calling Doug Barcroft as Associate Pastor, and of course the addition of so many of you! (Nearly 75% of our current congregation have come since I’ve been here.)

It was clear to both Marcie and me in August of 2007 that God was calling us Hickory Withe— as Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” The Lord gave us love and commitment for this congregation, this community, and the work He called us here to do. When we moved to Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church, we came with the hope that this might be our only move!

Just as that calling was clear, however, what is also clear to us at this point is that our time here is coming to a close, as the Lord is now calling us elsewhere. I have received and accepted a call to be the Senior Pastor of Dove Mountain Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona. Having prayerfully considered this course and calling together, and sought the counsel of a number of wise friends, I am able to embrace this new call with full confidence.

I am therefore resigning as the Senior Pastor of Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church. In order to most effectively prepare for the time of transition before the congregation, I am committed to remain for two months; my last Sunday will be October 23. During that time, I will be working closely with Pastor Doug, the Session and Diaconate, and the administration volunteers to make the transition as smooth as possible.

We will have a congregational meeting on Sunday, August 28, in order to have a vote to accept my resignation. During that time— or anytime— I’ll be happy to answer any questions that you may have about what is next for the Eubanks family. (Questions about what is next for the congregation should be directed to Pastor Doug or the Session.)

Though my relationship with you as your pastor will change, our love for you will not change. I am thankful that one day all believers will be together in the New Jerusalem. Meanwhile, I trust that the future for Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church is bright, and that the Lord has great things in store.

In His love,

Ed Eubanks, Jr.