Hello MCCC,

I wanted to share a brief update on our progress toward finding a settled pastor. 

At the suggestion of Rev. Allen Harris (Regional Minister for Ohio) we formed a Transition Team soon after Chad announced his departure from MCCC. The work of that team was put on hold as we focused our efforts on finding an Interim Pastor, which resulted in Rev. Cynthia Klingemier joining us on July 1. (Welcome Rev. Cynthia!)

With Cynthia’s guidance, that team is now reviewing and summarizing the feedback gathered at our Congregational Cafe from this spring. We’ll plan to have another session in Sept for those who may have missed the first one, to ensure everyone shares their thoughts and hopes for MCCC.  

Once that feedback is gathered and distilled, it will be used to develop our Congregational Profile – a necessary step to start communicating with potential ministerial candidates. 

Once we have our Congregational Profile in place, the Transition Team will hand off their work to a Pulpit Search Committee, which we expect to form before the end of 2026. If everything goes according to plan, the Pulpit Search Committee will start interviewing candidates in January. 

(There will be eight members on that Committee, to be appointed by the Board and Elder Chairs.)

We welcome your questions, ideas, and feedback as we walk this path of discernment. And most of all, we ask for your prayers in support of this important work!

Always feel free to contact me with any questions. 

Steve Hurd / Board Chair (shurd1@aol.com)