A SEASON OF CHANGE
Assessing. Growing.
Moving on into our future.
Meet Our
Interim Rector Designate
Bishop Kym and the Good Shepherd Vestry have called the Reverend Gordon Sandquist to be our Interim Rector starting on September 1. Pastor Gordy is an ordained Lutheran minister who in the past several years has served churches as an interim pastor. The Vestry believes he brings the right skills to lead Good Shepherd through our transition and discernment period as we prepare to call our new Rector.
Pastor Gordy looks forward to joining us. He has been serving congregations since 1983 in a variety of roles, including minister for youth, evangelism, stewardship, adult learning, ministry development, and, since his ordination in 2012, as a pastor. More recently he served as Intentional Interim Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loveland and earlier at Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs.
If you ask what he does in his spare time, he will probably mention reading. You might see his face light up as he begins talking about tying flies and any day on the river. He is open to invitations to river time, likes swing a club on the golf course where he knows how to celebrate a slice, and welcomes wondering and wandering conversations about faith, theology and life.
Click on the button below to read Senior Warden Andy Folkerth’s entire announcement emailed to the congregation on Friday, July 10.
As we begin our search for our next Rector, the first step will be writing a Parish Profile to help prospective candidates understand our congregation. Then we will narrow down, interview and select a candidate to lead Good Shepherd. Then Bishop Kym will call the candidate to Good Shepherd. Finally, we will make plans to welcome our new Rector into the parish. To lead this work, we will establish three committees: a Profile Committee, a Search Committee and a Welcoming Committee. Requests for committee applications will go out in the next few weeks. The Vestry hopes to select committee members by early September.
We Have Appointed An
Interim Rector.
What Comes Next?
Father Gary is retiring
on August 31.
On Tuesday, May 26, Father Gary shared his retirement plans with the staff and vestry and then sent a letter to members of the congregation. After 35 years of active ministry (including eight years here at Good Shepherd), he is looking forward to time to enjoy his family, to rest, and to experience renewal in nature. Press the button below to read in full his announcement letter to the congregation.
What happens now?
While we will miss Father Gary’s steady, faithful, and inspiring leadership, the path forward is in very good hands. Andy Folkerth, our Senior Warden, and Curt Watson, our Junior Warden, have met with the Transition Officer of our diocese to discuss the path ahead. Together, they have identified a promising candidate to serve as an Interim Rector who will be interviewed by the Vestry in the near future. They plan to have our Interim Rector begin Sunday, September 6.
As the first step to recruit a new Rector, Andy and Curt will lead a Profile Committee to develop a comprehensive Parish Profile and a Ministry Portfolio. Afterwards, they will establish a Search Committee to select candidates.
We have three summer months ahead to honor Father’s Gary’s ministry with us, enjoy fellowship with him and his family, and send him off with all the love and gratitude this parish has to offer. Take the opportunity is the weeks ahead to let Father Gary know what his ministry has meant to you.
To read our Senior Warden’s entire letter of response to Father Gary’s announcement, click on the button below.
Find the latest news about the transition here on this page, in the newsletter or through Father Gary’s weekly video update.