Professionalism is the death of authentic church.

If the church was designed to be led by professionals, then pastors could come and go as and when opportunities arise, maybe looking for better pay, or better hours, or some other personal benefit. The church itself would be a different kind of organisation, prizing efficiency at the expense of relationships, control over reality.

But the church is not professional in that sort of way because it is a family. And this changes how we view pastors and leaders, and how they see themselves. As pastors, we are not in this to merely work for the church as you might engage in many other jobs, but to be a part of the church in a deep and intimate way.

Because of this, it will be a profoundly important moment for us when we welcome Tobias Brown as a pastor along with his family, and say goodbye to Jeremy & Jen Moses and their kids. We are marking both of these moments on 15th of June at our Together Sunday.

Jeremy and Jen have had an extraordinary impact over these past 10 years at Grace. They have embodied the same heart that Paul spoke of: ‘But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us’ (1 Thessalonians 2.7–8).

And we know that the Browns will touch many lives in the years to come, not just because of their gifts and callings, but also because that’s how families work. We become entwined, and we share our very lives with one another.

I’m sure you understand that this is an emotional and poignant time for me, full of conflicting emotions, including hope and happiness, as well as a sense of loss. Being ‘unprofessional’ (so to speak) makes the highs a little higher, and the lows a little lower. But I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Let’s embrace this precious moment as a church family with expectation and prayerfulness.