The Annual Report for 2002

Richard Ames-Ledbetter, Clerk of Session

What follows in this document is a most remarkable annual report for what has been a most remarkable year. As we began the last year, there was not a doubt in any of our minds that the first page of this 2002 Annual Report would be written by the new Senior Pastor. As it has turned out, not only is there no report from a Senior Pastor, there is no report from any pastor.

We said goodbye to our Associate Pastor, Jerry Cooper, in June, and then to our Interim Pastor, George Antonakos, in July. With these departures, we began to rely more heavily on our Pastor Emeritus, Murray Smoot, to help with communion, baptisms, and preaching. As a result, a whole new generation of Central folks were introduced to and blessed by Murray's enthusiasm, vigor, and the depth and vitality of his walk with Christ. But in November, a stroke removed Murray (temporarily, we pray) from active service. And so we finished 2002 and entered 2003 without any pastoral leadership.

But the lack of pastors is not what is so remarkable. The amazing thing about Central's journey through 2002 is that, despite these challenges, the church has continued to grow: in membership, in attendance, and most of all, in ministry. In 2002, we welcomed 43 new members into our fellowship, 18 in the most recent class that joined in December. Despite a very uncertain economy, giving to the unified budget this year increased by about 4% over last year's giving. Worship attendance has continued to increase, with that increase actually accelerating during the last half of this year. The average attendance for the last four months of 2001 was 599, but was 662 for the same four months of 2002.

Ministry is busting out all over (almost literally, if you walk through our building on a Sunday morning). This year saw the birth of: a new men's ministry; an EPIC dance team, and a handbell choir. As you will see from the pages that follow, our existing ministries are thriving. Children's Ministry developed a whole new way to do Summer Bible School by moving out into the community; senior high ministry has actually doubled in size, beginning to overflow the new Student Ministry space, "The Loft." More college students and young adults are involved at Central than have been in the last two decades. Crowds for the Sundays at Central concerts have gotten so large that it is getting difficult to find a seat. And the Diaconate introduced Care Teams, a whole new way of doing their ministry.

As we reflect on this last year, we learn that if we are faithful, God will continue to bless our efforts, but not always (and perhaps, it seems, not very often) in the way that we anticipate. God has amazed us with his provision. When we needed an ordained pastor to administer the sacraments for us, God provided not one, but two gracious and wonderful pastors to fill in: Lloyd Umbarger (an evangelical pastor in Bel Air who "just happened" to have all these wonderful connections with Central) and Laura Crihfield (an ordained PC(USA) pastor who "just happened" to have moved to the area and started to attend Central). When, with Alida Oosthuizen's return to South Africa, Session felt the need for some additional leadership for the 8:15 and EPIC music teams, two wonderfully gifted musicians and worship leaders, John Pusateri and Eileen Gathman, graciously agreed to step into those roles. When Jill Marbach was no longer able to continue as the Missions Coordinator, two of those in our congregation with the strongest backgrounds and deepest understanding of our missions program, Phyllis and Pieter DeSmit, were available and willing to continue Jill's excellent work. And what can I say about the phenomenal slate of preachers that Steve Simms and Dottie Jones have been able to find and coordinate to fill the pulpit each Sunday.

This past year has helped us discover new areas of giftedness in many different individuals, gifts that might never have been unearthed had we not gone through this time together. Members of the congregation have found within themselves gifts and talents for providing pastoral care, administration, leading New Member Classes, and perhaps most significantly, planning and leading worship. (For the Advent season alone, the worship teams planned and lead 20 different worship services!) When the new Senior Pastor does arrive, he will most definitely be leading a team with a much deeper bench.

And for me personally, I will take away one more lesson from this amazing time: a deep and abiding appreciation for our staff, for those on the Ministry Empowerment Team, and for our elders. Multiplying ministries and worship services has added tremendous work and complexity to Central's day-to-day mission. Our staff has stepped up to bear the increased load with confidence and grace. Kathy Vaselkiv and the MET have given untold hours to coordinating the demands on the facilities and budgets, and to helping mission teams refine and fulfill their visions. I cannot recount how many times these folks have responded to the query, "Shouldn't we wait for a Senior Pastor?," with, "Why wait, let's do it." And the elders met together about 25 times this year, and have devoted countless hours between meetings. Many a night I would drive home from a Session meeting well after 11:00 o'clock, amazed at the wise word or decision or solution that God provided through this group of men and women.

So while I earnestly pray with all of you that the Clerk of Session will not be writing the first page of the next year's Annual Report, I stand with tremendous thankfulness, and with more than a little awe and wonder, at the unexpected ways that God has blessed Central Church in the year 2002. Praise be to God.