October 12, 2020
Dear Denver Presbytery Members,
On behalf of your Presbytery Council, I am informing you that last week we voted to not renew or extend our Presbytery’s contract with Rev. Dana Hughes as our Transitional Presbytery Pastor. Therefore, this contract will conclude as of October 31, 2020. Council determined that the evolution of Rev. Hughes ministry and vision had grown incongruent with the overall needs of our Presbytery. The Presbytery Council lacked confidence in her plan to conclude the visioning and transitional efforts in a unified and timely manner. We have released her from all contractual duties and are providing her with three months of severance compensation.
We are grateful for Rev. Hughes’ two years with us and the ministry she provided to our staff, pastors, and congregations. She provided us with leadership through our staff transitions, global pandemic, and civil distress while structuring our transitional and visioning activities. Rev. Hughes served Denver Presbytery beginning at the end of October 2018 with an initial 12-month contract which was renewed for a second 12-months in 2019. She will continue to be a member of Denver Presbytery in good standing.
The Presbytery Council also voted this past week to seek an outside consultant to walk alongside us as we complete the outstanding efforts to define a vision for our future, evaluate our staffing and organizational structure, and provide recommendations for our future vitality. We believe such a consultant will effectively guide our efforts and help us design an effective Ministry Information Profile to propel our Presbytery into a thriving future.
During this interim period, our Stated Clerk, Rev. Olivia Hudson Smith, will serve as the Interim Head of Staff. Rev. Joel Adams, who serves as our Presbytery Associate for Congregations, will continue picking up more of the pastoral duties for our Presbytery. Our newest staff member, Rev. Fernando Rodríguez will continue to work closely with our New Worshipping Communities and other Mission and Ministry duties. Until the end of my term as Moderator in January 2021, I will continue to moderate our Assemblies and the Presbytery Council. Beth Carlisle, Chuck Sparks, and Sue Pilcher will continue in their roles and responsibilities as well. Our Presbytery Pastoral Care Team will continue to provide pastoral care for pastors across the Presbytery.
At our October 27th Assembly, we will continue to communicate with you regarding the roles each group within the Presbytery will take to assist in this transition, as well as our goals and objectives. The Council met multiple times over the past week and will continue to do so to ensure that we address concerns in a timely fashion that arise from you and all members of this Presbytery. We ask for your prayers for wisdom and discernment as we make decisions in the days and weeks ahead.
We know that we have a talented staff and gifted members in our workgroups and committees who we can rely upon to continue our shared ministry. Your Presbytery Council is confident that these adjustments will provide our Denver Presbytery, congregations, and Teaching and Ruling Elders with the best way forward for a successful transition.
With Grace and Peace,
Rev. Justin Spurlock
Assembly Moderator