A HOPE and A VISION
Dear Saint Peter’s Church Family,
Over the past two years the Stewards and I have been searching for senior level pastoral leadership for our Church. We intentionally set the bar high and were pursing only those candidates who had significant leadership experience and who would have the capacity to enhance the mission and ministries of our Church.
During this process we have talked to a number of candidates, explored in depth with one, and pursued another for over a year. Our search process came to a halt as the Corona virus began to ratchet up in March.
On May 26th, Bishop Todd Hunter and I had a regularly appointed call. During our conversation Todd told me about a pastor, AJ Sherrill, whom he considers to be one of the most gifted young pastor’s on the landscape of the Church in North America. He had been talking to AJ about a leadership transition that he was considering into Anglicanism and into leadership in an Anglican Church. As I heard Todd speak about AJ, I thought: This is exactly the level of leadership that I have longed for (and have been praying for), for Saint Peter’s.
I asked Todd for AJ’s phone number and we talked that afternoon. Honestly, our conversation was electric (that is how it felt for both of us). We texted back and forth on Wednesday and Thursday and by Friday of that week I was on a Zoom with AJ and his wife, Elaina. AJ flew to Charleston on May 31st in time to attend our Church Picnic.
He spent three days in our home, and Rees and I really enjoyed our time with him. During his visit he met with some of our Stewards, Staff, and folks from our Church (in particular, Martin and Ashley connected with him). Because of Covid’s limiting connectivity and AJ’s full-time position as Lead Pastor in another Church, we kept these meetings confidential and small in scope.
Since that time, Elaina has visited Charleston and AJ has had conversations via Zoom with all of our Stewards, along with some of the staff and other members of our Church. Over the past two months, Rees and I have relationally connected with AJ and Elaina and feel a kindred spirit in terms of God’s Kingdom mission.
MEET AJ
+ Here is a link to AJ’s resume. He has led and started churches our size and much larger.
+ AJ and I share a close friendship with Bishop Todd Hunter and the Rev. Kris McDaniel at Trinity Church in Atlanta. Both Todd and Kris know me and our Church very well. They believe that AJ could be an amazing answer to prayer and, honestly, beyond anything that we could have hoped for or imagined, in terms of our leadership search process. (Todd’s recommendation letter to our Stewards)
+ AJ has been moving toward Anglicanism for a number of years. In the process Todd and Kris have mentored him in much the same way that I mentored Kris in his journey into Anglicanism.
view AJ’s Latest Teaching and Transition Story here
+ We share a kindred spirit and theology in terms of the Church, Scripture, Mission, Formation, and the Holy Spirit. Check out the link below where he shares a bit of his sense of mission and theology (Vision for Ministry). This was five years ago as he embraced a journey that would culminate in his call to Anglicanism.
+ He has strong teaching, preaching, vision, and leadership gifting. Here are some links to a few of his preaching and teaching offerings, as well as, his transition story that he shared this past Sunday.
meet the sherrill family
Here are some highlights on AJ and Elaina that we have picked up on:
+ AJ and Elaina are about 20 years younger than Rees and me (Ouch!) and they have a seven-year-old daughter.
+ He is a very strong and confident leader with a refreshing humility. His wife is extraordinary in faith, wisdom, and relational connectivity. She grew up in Georgia and AJ spent most of his growing up years in Nashville and Orlando.
AJ’s desire would be for me to mentor him, be connected to him and remain vitally connected to the leadership of our church. Rees and I would welcome that kind of relationship. Actually, we have been praying for several years for a running buddy that I could pass the Lead Pastor baton to, and whom I could run along side of. This would also open up some freedom for me to creatively focus on the things that I am most gifted to offer Saint Peter’s. Both Todd and Kris believe that this is actually the best and most healthy way to move forward for AJ, our Church, and me. They both believe that only someone of his gifting and confidence would be able to fully and freely move forward in this kind of an arrangement where I would transition to a Senior Pastor role and AJ would be the Lead Pastor. Our Board of Stewards concurs in this assessment and direction.
As founder of our Church, I would have a role going forward on staff as teacher, preacher, mentor and encourager of our mission and values. AJ would be the Lead Pastor as defined by our By Laws.
The resources offered in this letter are the beginning of a several week conversation to introduce you to AJ and Elaina. Covid has offered us new and different opportunities to have these types of conversations.
In early August we will offer you an introductory video, of AJ and Elaina’s own making, introducing themselves to you.
On the evening of August 16th we will offer a webinar type forum (and if we are having corporate gatherings at that time, then in person, as well) to hear from AJ, the Stewards, and me about ways forward in this transition.
The last Sunday in August AJ will preach in our Sunday worship.
The Stewards, the Staff, and I are excited about the gift and the goodness of God that we see, hear, and discern in our conversations with AJ. I can’t tell you how encouraged and excited Rees and I are about this opportunity to right-size my leadership at Saint Peter’s for this next season of ministry and life with you.
Be encouraged, in Jesus the best is always yet to come!
TJ