A Season of Transition

Grace and peace to you from our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. 

My heart is full of gratitude, love, and yes, sadness, as I write to share news that I have accepted a call to serve another congregation within the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod. My last day among you will be Sunday, May 31, Feast of the Holy Trinity. This decision has not come lightly; it was made following a season of bold and open discernment to the ways the Holy Spirit is calling me to serve the church. You have been a beloved part of my life and ministry since 2017, and it is never easy to step away from a community that has shared so much together. 

I know this news brings with it a mix of emotions—sadness, anger, uncertainty, maybe even a sense of loss or even relief—and it’s important that we name those feelings. It is okay to have such feelings during a time of transition. Personally, I carry the weight of sadness. We have journeyed together through joys and challenges, through laughter and tears, through worship and service, and much in-between. 

But we do not face this season alone. God is with us, guiding us as God has always done. The Holy Spirit, who has sustained this congregation for decades, is present and active now, leading us into the future with hope and promise. 

From the very beginning of my discernment, it was important for me to be fully transparent with the council and various leaders, sharing my journey of prayer as I considered this new call. That transparency has been a gift—it has allowed your council to begin prayerfully planning for this transition, ensuring that Peace Lutheran is ready to move forward in ministry. I want to assure you that this preparation, along with the guidance of the synod office, Bishop Hirsch, and the Reverend Amy Sevimly, Assistant to the Bishop for Mobility and Candidacy, will provide the support and resources needed to guide you through this next chapter. 

It is also important to me that you hear these words: This transition is not because of anything negative or because of any one reason. Nor is this the end of ministry at Peace Lutheran Church. Ministry is not about one person, like a rostered minister, but about the whole body of Christ working together. This congregation’s ministry has always been so much bigger than one individual—and that won’t change. The work of the church continues, even as pastoral leadership changes. 

I know there will be questions about what comes next, and there will be moments when the path feels unclear. But the Holy Spirit will guide you, as the Spirit always does. As Jesus reminded the disciples, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14.26). Beloveds, the Spirit is here, teaching, reminding, and equipping you for what is to come. 

To the leaders of this congregation: I encourage you to remain steadfast in your commitment to this community. Your gifts of leadership will help carry Peace Lutheran Church through this transition and into the future. To the whole community of faith: I invite you to trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance and to support one another with love, prayer, and tender care as you move forward together. 

As I reflect on my time with you, my heart overflows with gratitude. Thank you! Thank you for sharing your lives with me, for letting me be your pastor, and for the countless ways you have enriched my faith and calling. I will carry the memories of our time together into this next chapter of my ministry, as will I continue to hold you in my prayers. 

Friends, transitions like this are a reminder that we are always part of something bigger than ourselves. We are part of God’s story, a rich story that is unfolding in ways we cannot fully see or understand but can always trust. As we walk the road ahead, we do so with faith, hope, and love, trusting that the God who brought us together will continue to lead us forward. 

May the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in the days to come. 

In the heart of Jesus, 

Pastor Eric+