Clarendon for Change
My title is intended only as a pun on recent campaign slogans, and not intended to make light of a significant change for our church happening very soon. Below is the letter of resignation that Pastor Alan made public earlier this week following his acceptance of a new position with Leesburg Community Church. If you have questions or concerns about what is next for our community, please feel free to email either David (david@1bc.org) or myself (haley@1bc.org).
June 1, 2009
Dear Friends at Clarendon,
It is with sadness, but also with a sense of God’s call that I write to let you know that on May 31, 2009 Leesburg Community Church voted to call me as their pastor and I have accepted that call. I, therefore, will be resigning as the pastor of The Church of Clarendon effective July 11, 2009 to go back to Leesburg Community Church as their pastor—it was the church I was leading before going to the Baptist World Alliance and coming to this church as pastor. Please know that I do not take this action lightly. It is only after much prayer and reflection that I have come to this decision, believing it is God’s hand that is guiding the entire process.
My seven years as the pastor of this church have been very rewarding and exciting years. They have been years that Elaine and I have built friendships that will last all our lives. They have been good years in which the church has grown and overcome many of the obstacles that faced it. I believe the building program will go forward and that the congregation will continue to grow so that by God’s grace there will be a strong church in this location for many years to come. Although my time at the church seems brief, only four of the church’s ten pastors have had a longer tenure—and few have had the privilege of serving the church at a more exciting and strategic time. For all of this and for each of you I am very grateful.
Now I ask for your prayers just as Elaine and I will be praying for all of you. The Leesburg Church is losing $33,000 per month and the weekly attendance has dropped from 1,000 to only 400. The church still has a monthly loan payment that must be met for some of the buildings we built while I was the pastor there. It is not going to be an easy task to rebuild that church’s congregation, ministries and finances—just as I know that being out of the building will be challenging for this church. But God is faithful and I believe that God can be counted on to work in both churches to continue their important ministries.
Please know that I consider all of you my friends and that I will do whatever I can to assist you whenever I can. God has a plan and that plan always is best for all. Keep the faith, love one another and serve God will all your hearts and the future is secure. May God richly bless you all!
Your fellow servant of Christ,
Alan Stanford
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