Letter to Membership
Members of Highland Hills Baptist Church,
It goes without saying that all of us have been affected over the last 14 months in ways that we could not have imagined. We have lost loved ones, had our own struggles with coronavirus, or at the very least, know someone who has. Work, education, and travel have been disrupted, and churches across the nation have had to adapt to new ways of serving their parishioners and communities.
As we come out of the pandemic and return to some sense of normalcy, we have an opportunity to reimagine how we pick up where we left off with our Vision 2020 plan that the church began implementing in 2018.
We will do that reimagining with a new staff structure. This week Cass DuCharme resigned as our Associate Pastor for Music and Youth to take an administrative position with another church in our community. Ruth DuCharme, Associate Pastor for Faith Formation for Families, has also resigned to pursue new opportunities that align with her evolving sense of calling, gifts, and passions. Both resignations are effective June 30, and their last Sunday will be June 13. In the days ahead the Personnel Committee will be planning an appropriate way to recognize and thank the DuCharmes for their combined 50-plus years of ministry at Highland Hills. Those details will be communicated to you as they are finalized.
In recent days Charlie Barton, our maintenance director, resigned to better attend to family needs in Forsyth. We also will plan a fitting way to thank Charlie for his more than 10 years of dedicated service to our church.
Our Pastor, Jake Hall, is committed to this new phase of ministry and understands the challenges and opportunities ahead. The Board of Deacons affirmed the direction of our congregation under Jake’s leadership and supports him as he enters this next phase in the life of Highland Hills. The Personnel Committee has pledged to work with Jake and provide the time and support to re-tool and re-envision the practice of ministry after COVID and through the continued implementation of our strategic plan.
It may sound like a cliché, but, like you, we truly believe Highland Hills is a special place, made so by special people. If we all can focus on addressing our future opportunities and challenges together, we can continue to be a special place for each other, our community, and our world.
Please pray for our Pastor, deacons, staff, and other church leaders as we seek to follow God’s will for our congregation in the days ahead. We will be praying for you.
Larry D. Brumley, Chair Board of Deacons
James S. Netherton, Chair Personnel Committee