Psalm 4:1

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

I write this now only a couple days removed from the notice we received from Pastor Tab Cosgrove that he has formally returned(declined) Hope’s call to serve as its Senior Pastor. By the time you read this, we will likely have some better insight into next steps and plans moving forward. For the moment, though, I think it is important to acknowledge that after more than a year of waiting, prayer, interviews, town halls, and a call service, we are still left waiting. For many, this is a somber moment of disappointment, worry, concern, and perhaps even hurt. For many more, there is surely a feeling that a resolution was wanted so that we could move forward in hopeful expectation and joy for whatever God has for us.

In such moments congregations often wonder where we went wrong and whom, if anyone, can be blamed. Let’s address both as clearly as possible: we did nothing wrong and there is no one to blame. How can I speak with such confidence that we did nothing wrong? Because our Ministry Leadership Team and Call Team have acted exactly in the manner proscribed by our synodical church body, our district president, by our district’s call handbook, and in accordance with our doctrine and theological convictions. Every part of this process was done decently and in order. We formed a Call Team, asked for nominations, submitted names to the district president, received a qualified list, asked candidates to allow their names to stand, interviewed candidates twice, invited a final slate for town halls, voted in accordance with our constitution and by-laws, and extended a call according to the ordinary, time-honored manner present all throughout our church body. In every way possible, fairness, integrity, and dedication to a godly process were sought and preserved.

So, is there then someone to blame? Absolutely not. I have said it before, and I will say it again, our Call Team has put in extraordinary hours both in person and from home. They have sacrificed evenings, taken time away from their families, prayed, discussed and debated, worked through numerous details of evaluation, and pushed tirelessly to move the process forward with as much expediency as possible while living in the practical constraints given them. If you are struggling, imagine how they might feel having worked so hard to bring us to this point. I call on every member of this church to speak with gentleness and love, especially at this time, towards our sisters and brothers who have worked for our welfare in this process. Anything less is out of step with who we are as members of Hope Lutheran Church.

What then of Pastor Cosgrove? Graciously, with sincere love and care for a church he holds dear in his heart, Pastor Cosgrove participated in a process he did not seek. He came honestly, spoke with integrity and humility, and offered his thoughtful consideration. He then did what every Pastor has to do when presented a call: he prayed, sought wisdom from trusted sources, wrestled with it, and pursued the Lord’s guidance. In the end, Pastor Cosgrove received that guidance and declined. To do otherwise would be to ask him to go against his conscience and the leading of the Lord.

As difficult as it may be to accept, what has happened here is a normal part of the process to seek a Senior Pastor. I won’t ask you not to hurt, not to wonder, not to feel disappointed or unsure. I will ask you to temper those feelings so that you do not say things you in time regret, so that you do not let your hurt spill into sinful talk, so that you do not divide against one another. Now, more than ever, it should be apparent that we need to hold on to one another. Now, more than ever, we need genuine grace for one another, kind words that build up, forgiveness and mercy manifest in action. Now, more than ever, we need the unity of the Spirit that comes from our Lord Jesus.

Whatever comes ahead, we will ford it because God is our helper. God will provide for our needs, he will help us as he has helped us countless times before, and he will send us the Pastor he is calling to serve. Until then, hold tight to my hand as I hold tight to yours. Remember Whose church this really is; remember that if Jesus has died for us, there is nothing needed he will keep back from us; remember that we are the very body and bride of our Lord.

Waiting for the good news with you,

Pastor Devin Murphy