Following the Annual Meeting of September 25, 2022, the Board has been at work. On November 17, the Board received the resignation of our Lead Pastor, Kirk Cowman, effective December 31, 2022. Kirk and Britton are moving to Alberta to lead the St Albert Alliance Church. We are thankful for their ministry among us. We are sad to see them leave us, but we know Holy Spirit is leading in their lives.
We held a special Board meeting on November 17, 2022, to consider transition leadership for the interim between Pastor Kirk’s departure and a new pastor coming to lead Living Hope Alliance. The Board has asked Al Fedorak to serve as Living Hope’s Interim Lead Pastor, effective January 1, 2023. Al will serve in a 60% capacity in this role and will serve as Chair of the Board (which is a Lead Pastor’s right to do in the Alliance). To facilitate this, Al has resigned his position as a Board member, effective December 31, 2022, so he can be hired as staff. As such, the Board will appoint a new member to fill the vacancy.
We discussed the need to form a Pastoral Search Committee to find the next Lead Pastor for our church. In early January, we will meet with our District Superintendent to develop an action plan.
One item of interest to our members and adherents may be a request from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC). It was mentioned at our AGM that charitable status for nonprofit organizations, particularly any who oppose abortion, and churches, are under scrutiny by the current Liberal government. Legislation is being considered that would revoke charitable status for any organization that opposes abortion. The EFC has requested support from its members to oppose the legislation. A letter from the EFC is available to any interested persons who wish to read the full letter; you may contact the church office for a copy.
Celebrate this miraculous Christmas season; may God bless you richly in the coming New Year.
Your Board of Elders
Al Fedorak (Chair) Kirk Cowman (Lead Pastor)
Kevin Gatschene (Vice-Chair) Deji Oyetuga
Shannon Vinter (Treasurer) Lola Sotomi
Gwendolyn Schroeder (Secretary)
