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A Special Message from the Arlington Metaphysical Chapel Board of Trustees
Posted November 1, 2011
November 1, 2011 marks a significant change in our ministry. Suzanne DeBerry, President of the AMC Board of Trustees has announced that she has received the resignation of our Pastor, Rudy Careaga, who has made the difficult decision to leave his post because of work and health concerns. Rev. Careaga’s career responsibilities have grown, requiring a more intense focus of his time. These changes have forced him to come to a difficult conclusion that the time constraints would prevent him from effectively serving the chapel as its spiritual leader. In his own words he stated:
Dear AMC Friends and Family,
While personal and professional demands preclude me from continuing in my role as pastor of AMC, I feel confident that work we have accomplished as a community over the last 3½ years have laid a solid foundation for a bright and prosperous future at AMC. How? The AMC Board of Directors represents committed and able leadership, and the array of senior ministers and emerging seminarians continues to provide solid spiritual direction. Above all else, however, is your---the membership’s---active role in ensuring that AMC’s mission is relevant to today’s world. Through your acts of charity and compassion, your volunteerism, your time, AMC will continue to be a source of Light and Love for many.
Yours in spiritual service,
Rev. Rudy Careaga
Rev. Careaga was appointed Platform Chair, following the retirement of our founding Pastor F. Reed Brown in July 2008. He was ordained by the United Metaphysical Churches a few months later, and was installed as the Pastor at our January 2009 membership meeting. In her announcement to the board and ministerial staff, President Suzanne DeBerry stated, “I am personally grateful for his leadership these past three years and enjoyed working with him and wish him well in the future.”
In the absence of a Pastor, it is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to ensure that the spiritual needs of our community are met. We are pleased to announce that Associate Pastor Jim Wilkins has agreed to serve as interim Pastor until a permanent replacement can be found. Rev. Wilkins has served as an officer on the Board of Trustees for many years, selflessly volunteering his time, not only as Treasurer and Associate Pastor, but also participating in countless AMC activities and events, and spending much of his personal time working in the background making sure that our physical property is in order. Rev. Wilkins has recently taken a more active role in the church’s ministry, serving on the platform several Sundays a month.
So what does this mean for the future of AMC? Change is a time for growth. Just as in the autumn, the bounty of the harvest makes room for the new growth in the spring, we have a new generation of budding ministers who will have the opportunity to shine their light on our congregation. Our ministerial staff, along with our Seminarians, will be stepping up to serve the chapel in any way they can. Just as Rev. Brown, Rev. Tedora and Rev. Careaga have lovingly served us in the past, Rev. Wilkins, along with Associate Pastor René E. Brown and the many newer faces of our ministry will carry on in the same tradition. They will be coordinating their efforts to ensure that the spiritual needs of our community continue to be met during this transition.
This time of change is also an opportunity for you to be involved, and we would like your participation. We will be holding a special meeting on Sunday, November 6, after the 30th Anniversary remembrance event with Rev. Brown where our members and friends will have the opportunity to ask questions of Rev. Wilkins and Suzanne DeBerry. Immediately following that open forum will be a meeting with pastors and seminarians to assist us in mapping our future for 2012 and beyond. Meanwhile, we are launching our search for a permanent Pastor, and we will keep you apprised of our progress as this effort continues.
As we go through these changes we are grateful for the support and love that our members and friends have shown, and we appreciate the positive energy you give to keep the chapel growing through your volunteer efforts, your donations and your loving presence.
Blessings to all,
The Arlington Metaphysical Chapel Board of Trustees:
Suzanne DeBerry, President
Jim Wilkins, Interim Pastor and Treasurer
Mark Stein, Vice President
Cathy Polen, Secretary
Trustees:
Tracy Bridgham
Alice Mayo
John Nevitt
Ed Snyder
Wendy Welhaf
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