Pastor Rob Singleton said he enjoyed dreaming with leaders of Vaughn Forest Church, Montgomery, during the past several months but has decided not to accept the position offered to him as lead pastor.
The church’s governance board said it is in agreement with the decision.
What would have been a move to form a network of churches, starting with the nondenominational church in Colorado where Singleton serves as pastor, also is negated with this decision.
Singleton and the new network were both affirmed March 10 by the congregation but within hours of the vote, both Singleton and several Vaughn Forest members had questions and concerns.
Mutual decision
“This decision is mutual between our leadership and Rob,” a March 14 letter to the congregation from the church’s governance board says. The board met the evening of March 13.
Singleton told The Alabama Baptist he initiated a conversation with several of the church leaders the morning of March 13 to explain he didn’t feel the church was ready for a national vision. “I shared with them that perhaps sometime in the future we could revisit it,” he said.
The letter from the governance board reads, “Through the process of affirmation and in the subsequent days, many questions regarding the vision and future of Vaughn Forest Church arose. We want you to know we hear and understand your questions and concerns. …
“We, the Governance Board, fully acknowledge that our communication to the congregation regarding the lead up to the affirmation Sunday, information about Rob and the affirmation vote itself were all not done as they should have been.
“The Governance Board takes full responsibility for this and we as a leadership team profusely apologize for these oversights.”
Vaughn Forest’s method of selecting a pastor is a mixture of traditional and nontraditional. The church functions under a governance board, which serves to keep the church focused on its mission and vision and oversees the hiring and accountability of the pastor.
Search team process
When the pastor position is vacant, the governance board appoints a pastor selection team of seven to nine church members, including at least two members from the governance board. The team is to be nominated by the congregation, reviewed and selected by the governance board and then affirmed by the congregation.
A two-thirds recommendation is required by the selection team for a candidate to be presented to the governance board, which then decides whether to move the candidate to the next step of asking the congregation for affirmation.
At least 75 percent of church members present on the day of the vote must affirm the proposed candidate.
Singleton received unanimous votes from the selection team and governance board and near unanimous affirmation from members. (TAB)
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