Changes: Moving

This week I shared with the church community I serve as pastor that I have taken another call to serve as pastor of a French Reformed Church in the town of Poissy in France (located in the Paris metro-area). For our family this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Such pastoral invitations are rarely extended to Americans. As you may know, we have lived in the past in France and hold it close to our heart. This is also a unique chance for us to provide our children with the opportunity to become bilingual and bicultural. This is also an opportunity for me to pursue further studies in theology and the challenge of cultural diversity.

We are both excited and torn. Excited for a new adventure as a family. Excited for new learning opportunities in terms of multi-cultural and cross-cultural pastoral leadership. We are also torn, sad to leave family, friends, our faith community and the life that we love and cherish here in Oakland.

I will continue serving Fruitvale Presbyterian Church as pastor through July 18^th. During this time I will be working to empower the Session to search for a new pastor, prepare for transition, and transmit the knowledge of daily operations of our church that only I possess.

This news is shocking and difficult for many folks in our church community and our wider community context; as well as for our family. We love Oakland and hope to return. We've committed to a 5 year pastoral term with the Eglise Reformee de Poissy.