This Sunday at UMCG marks an exciting shift in how we live out our calling as a church.
As many of you know, we are welcoming Rev. Heather Connor as our new Minister of Formation and Outreach. You’ll be seeing more of Pastor Heather—in worship, in classrooms, around the building, and especially in our community. But you’ll also be noticing something else: this isn’t the same pastoral structure UMCG has had in the past. And that’s by design.
For many years, UMCG has faithfully served as a “finishing school” for associate pastors; newer elders placed here to grow, learn, and eventually move on. These associate pastors were often pastors-in-training, answering to the senior pastor, operating mostly from the “second chair.” They had authority, yes—but often without full responsibility. UMCG was good at this model—after all, I was once one of those associate pastors. That model worked well for its season. But ministry seasons change.
With Pastor Heather’s arrival, we are stepping into a new and more collaborative model of leadership that reflects both our clergy’s unique gifts and our church’s evolving needs. Here’s one way to explain it:
Imagine a medical team. As an elder, my role is like that of a primary care physician. I’m a generalist. I look after the overall health of the patient (in our case, the congregation), develop long-term relationships, make referrals, help discern the next steps, and keep the mission of healing moving forward. I focus on the big picture: vision, alignment, and the spiritual well-being of the whole church.
An associate elder (what we’ve had in the past) would be more like a medical resident. Bright, capable, and learning fast. But not yet fully in charge. They answer to the attending physician, rotate through different departments, and gain experience before moving on to lead elsewhere.
But a deacon? A deacon is like a board-certified specialist, who is an ordained person called and trained to lead the church in particular areas of mission. Deacons are not assistants or trainees. They are ordained leaders hired by the congregation and appointed by the Bishop to bridge the church and the world.
Pastor Heather’s areas of specialty at UMCG are formation and outreach; two core systems in the life of a healthy and thriving church.
- Formation is about how we make disciples. From the first moment someone walks through our doors or watches online, formation is the process of helping them grow in faith, deepen their relationship with Christ, and walk the road of sanctification. Pastor Heather will curate and support this path of engagement, help organize and lead Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, and guide spiritual formation across all ages and stages.
- Outreach is about embodying God’s love beyond our walls. Pastor Heather will lead us in identifying needs, building partnerships, and coordinating opportunities to connect with our community. From local service projects to broader justice work, Pastor Heather will help ensure we’re not only welcoming people in but also sending people outward.
These are not side ministries. In a world where the culture no longer drives people to church, formation and outreach are central to our mission. And Pastor Heather isn’t an apprentice; they are our lead pastor in these two areas. That means as Pastor Heather assimilates into UMCG, there will be times when I’ll be taking my orders from Pastor Heather. And I’m thrilled about that. This kind of mutual, Spirit-led leadership allows each of us to thrive in our calling while working together for the good of the whole church. It’s not about hierarchy, it’s about partnership.
Now, it’s true that while Pastor Heather brings a wealth of ministry experience, having served in churches, led worship, built programs, and shaped outreach, they are newly commissioned as a deacon and fresh out of seminary. There are still some pastoral functions Pastor Heather hasn’t done yet: officiating weddings, performing baptisms, leading funerals, and presiding at the communion table. But guess what? Deacons, like elders, are ordained for word, service, compassion, and justice, and they share sacramental authority with elders. We’ll be training and supporting Heather in these areas. That’s how we grow together.
As we enter this new season, I invite you to join me in three things:
- Pray for Pastor Heather and their family.
Starting in a new ministry role is holy and exciting but it can also be overwhelming and isolating. Your prayers and encouragement matter more than you know. - Partner with Pastor Heather.
If you care about faith formation, discipleship, children and youth, spiritual growth, or outreach; don’t wait to be asked. Pastor Heather wants to walk alongside you in ministry. Show up. Speak up. Step in. - Participate in the shift.
This new model is more than a staffing change. It’s a re-commitment to our mission of making disciples. It’s a way of saying that every person matters, and that the work of forming disciples and loving our community is worth leading boldly and investing in fully as we illuminate our community with God’s grace.
I believe God is doing something new at UMCG. And I believe Pastor Heather is a gift to us for such a time as this, as we recommit to being a church, and a denomination, that forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.
Grace and peace,