On January 1, 2013, I’ll become the new pastor at the Seward Memorial and Moose Pass United Methodist Churches. This will be a very challenging move because of the length of time we’ve been in Girdwood. I love this place and its people. But, as we transition further into our building and expanded ministries, we believe it’s time for new pastoral leadership. The following is the letter that was emailed to our congregation today:

Dear friends at Girdwood Chapel,

It is the intention of Bishop Grant Hagiya to appoint me, Jim Doepken, to the Seward and Moose Pass United Methodist Churches as of January 1, 2013. That means that, at the end of this calendar year I will end my 12 1/2 years of ministry to and with Girdwood Chapel and the surrounding Girdwood community. The rest of the Doepken family will remain in Girdwood to finish the school year and then join me in Seward in early June 2013. This announcement was made at Girdwood Chapel this morning and will be made at the Seward and Moose Pass churches today as well.

There are several things that are important to convey to you.

To begin with, I could have said “no” to this move. While we say in United Methodism that our pastors are “sent” by Bishops and not “called” by local churches, I was merely asked if this move was something that I’d consider since the pastor who serves those two churches is retiring in June of this year. Julie and I considered it and are at peace with the move. It’s not something we sought out but believe God has his hand in it and look forward to the possibilities in store for both Girdwood and the Seward/Moose Pass churches.

You need to know that there is nothing “wrong” at Girdwood Chapel that has led to this move. Actually, things are still going well and we’ve been making some good progress economically and in ministry. However, part of my being the best pastor I can be for this church is to have it be in the best place possible after I’m gone as well. There are several pastoral moves in the conference this year and next with the greatest number of clergy available for a move to Girdwood. Moreover, as we are finishing our space, working on paying down the debt, and expanding ministry, it seems to be the right time to have someone new to come in and lead the church beyond this place to the future God has in store for it. I have been extremely comfortable here. I’ve told persons I feel the congregation and I are like an old married couple and we can finish each others’ sentences. We are at home with each other. That being the case, it’s my belief that the growth that can come out of a relationship with a new pastor could be very healthy for the congregation.

In addition to my belief that this could be a very positive thing for Girdwood Chapel, I think this could be a good thing for our family. This is in spite of the fact that it will mean living in two different places for five months. We will have been in Girdwood long enough to see our eldest go all the way from kindergarten through high school; a long time in “Methodist Pastor Years.” Even when we bought our house in 2002 we opted for a 7-year balloon payment, assuming that we might not even be here that long. And with church pastoral positions opening up every year, we were aware that we’d be asked to move at some point. This move allows Samuel to finish school in Anchorage. It means Moriah and Susannah will still have three years of high school left when they move. It means that Abigail and Bethany will be able to go to kindergarten here and experience the school that has been such a big part of our family’s life. It means that Julie will have a full year at the school with her teaching certificate before needing to seek other employment. And it means we will be close enough to welcome you as guests down at the parsonage in Seward.

Girdwood Chapel and the larger Girdwood community have been a great blessing for me, personally. I think I’ve grown in ministry here. I see the work of the church as something that leaves the church walls to minister to and with the community and its peoples. I have had great fun and I have wonderful memories and wonderful stories that I’ll be telling the rest of my life. And, for our older kids, this is where they’ve grown up. No matter where they go in life, when someone asks them where they grew up, they’ll say, “Girdwood, Alaska.” We’ve told our older kids that, if we had stayed in Indiana, the odds of being in one church this long are slim; that they probably would have moved a couple of times before now. Even for me, I’ve lived in the town of Girdwood longer than I’ve lived anywhere else. That is to be celebrated. This town and this church have been a big part of our lives.

This then becomes a time of transition for all of us. I’m not leaving soon. I’m going to be around. We have a lot of things we need to do over the next eight months. We still have hopes and dreams and a building that needs some work. We’ll need to give our attention to building up lay ministry to help the incoming pastor. There will be meetings with Superintendent Dave Beckett to determine what it is that the church will be looking for in a new pastor to take this church to where God wants it to be. There will be time for lots of goodbyes. And, I pray, that as I leave, you’ll look forward to something new…something holy and good and under new pastoral leadership.

This email is way too long. I struggled with what to say and how to say it since I know that there are times we all figured I’d be around forever. But that’s not going to be the case. Know that I am your pastor with all my heart and soul for the time I have left with you. I still love being your pastor. But soon it will time to let someone else love you at least as much as I have, maybe more. And while we know that I won’t forever be your pastor, I will forever be your friend. Thank you for these wonderful years.

The author of Ecclesiastes is someone named Qoheleth. He says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” After much prayerful consideration Julie and I agree that this is the time for us to move. It may be a sad thing. But we believe it will be a good thing…a God thing.

I still look forward to the work we have in front of us for the next eight months. Thereafter, I look forward to seeing you down in Seward.

Peace,

Jim