We hope you took time to read Lauren Jones Mayfield’s letter of resignation to the congregation and Mary Alice’s letter of response in your email yesterday. If not, you can access it here. Lauren has been such a gifted pastor and preacher, mover and shaker, prophetic voice and public witness, trusted colleague and faithful friend to us since she began at Highland in July 2016. We will deeply miss her presence among us as she takes her own brave next step in her vocational journey and call.
The Personnel Ministry Group met to receive Lauren’s news on Sunday, and we began to imagine our next steps in ways that will support the thriving of our staff and our church moving forward. We don’t have any details to share yet about interim plans but will be in touch with more information in the days ahead.
In the meantime, we want to focus on celebrating Lauren and expressing our gratitude for her 8 years of ministry with us at Highland. We hope you will make plans to join us for a congregational celebration on her last Sunday, June 2.
~ Mary Alice Birdwhistell