Dear Northbrook,
Today is the day each year as part of the United Methodist Church that we announce annual clergy appointments. Along with clergy appointments we also have several other staffing updates to share.
First, I received a letter from our District Superintendent, Michael McQueen this week affirming that Laurie Moeller is re-assigned to Northbrook as well as Ryan Young. Dr. McQueen also shared that Dave Allen Grady is being reappointed. While this is a bittersweet moment for our newly combined Christ UMC and Northbrook UMC congregation, it’s an exciting opportunity for Dave. This appointment fulfills a long-time dream to serve as a co-pastor with his wife, Susan. The Allen Gradys will serve together at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church in Peachtree Corners beginning in July.
We are excited to share that Northbrook is receiving two new associate pastors. Rev. Elizabeth Pollard joins us from Ben Hill UMC as a Senior Associate Pastor. Elizabeth is a fully ordained elder and her focus areas at Northbrook will be community outreach, missions, and worship.
In addition, Rev. Kena Newkirk, who is a newly commissioned elder joins us as an Associate Pastor. Kena will direct and develop the Family Ministry at Northbrook with special focus on the children, youth, Northbrook Preschool families, and women's ministry.
Elizabeth and Kena’s full-time appointments begin July 1. However, we are fortunate that Kena can start at Northbrook on a part-time basis in May.
We are excited for Dave’s new opportunity and to receive two new clergy to serve and grow Northbrook. With eyes set on the future growth of this community, we are also adding new faces to our staff. As previously announced in the Midweek Update we have a new Financial Administrator. Sara Armstrong joined staff earlier in April to provide financial organization and support to Brooks McGinnis, the CPA firm which now handles the bulk of church finances.
On May 1, Lorin Tate joins the staff as our new, full-time Children’s Ministry Director. We are thankful the search for a Children’ Ministry Director concluded in a timely manner, with a wonderful result, and that we now have a full-time person to help re-engage and renew this ministry.
Lastly, we have established a new role with a focus on programming, discipleship, and membership at Northbrook. We are pleased to announce that Allen Whittaker, whom many of you will recognize as a guest worship leader for modern worship, joins the Northbrook staff on June 1 as the Executive Director of Discipleship and Membership.
There’s a lot of change and new, exciting things on the horizon at Northbrook and we are so grateful for your patience and support as we set this course. Before we do that though, we want to pause to recognize the ministry and leadership of Rev. Dave Allen Grady. It’s no small feat to merge one church successfully and seamlessly with another. But, that is exactly what Dave did, and during a pandemic no less. We are grateful for his attentiveness, thoroughness, his vast knowledge of all things concerning the United Methodist Church, and for his ministry at Christ UMC and here at Northbrook. Please join us in extending thanks to Dave for his faithful service and congratulating him on his next appointment. We are working on a proper send-off for Dave in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned for details.
Thank you again for your support and being part of these exciting times at Northbrook UMC!
Grace and Peace,
Jan Holcombe, SPRC Chair
