Regional Board Recommends Paul Allen to the Regional Assembly to be the Next Regional Minister & President

Paul Allen was born in Wilson, North Carolina, moving to Wichita, Kansas when he was ten years old. Both of Paul’s parents were Disciples congregational pastors and Regional Ministers. Paul attended Barton College (1993–1997), graduating with a degree in Religion and Philosophy. He attended Lexington Theological Seminary (1997–2001) and was ordained in June 2001. In addition to serving as a youth director and student minister while attending seminary, Paul served churches in Farmville, North Carolina (2001–2010), and Manhattan, Kansas (2010–201&). He has been the pastor of First Christian Church Huntsville, Alabama since 2017. He is married to Patti who is a Registered Nurse. They have a daughter Abby, who is a junior at Auburn University; and a son Joe, who is a junior in high school.

The Search Committee highly recommended Paul Allen to the Regional Board to be our next Regional Minister.  The Board met with Paul on November 18 at First Christian Church Kent to explore his experience and qualifications and how Paul can help lead the region as we do together that which we cannot do apart.

  • Paul has a deep understanding and appreciation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), what it means to be a congregational pastor and a Regional Minister. While firmly rooted in Disciples polity, he knows that the world changes and that the church needs to change with it.
  • He is excited about the Changes to the Design approved at the 2023 General Assembly and what it will mean for the general, regional and congregational expressions of the church going forward.
  • Paul does not have preconceived ideas about what ministry in the Northern Lights Region will be. He looks forward to inventing and supporting us as we continue together to become the Northern Lights Region.
  • Paul is an excellent listener and is eager to hear people’s stories. He asks excellent questions and genuinely wants to get to know people.
  • He asked many questions about our rural churches and wondered how we might re-engage with congregations who may feel like the Region and General Church have forgotten about them.
  • Paul expressed great interest in bringing together and supporting all of our pastors – those serving in congregations, as chaplains, in non-Disciples churches, as bi-vocational, as intentional interims, in non-traditional ministries, as new, first-time pastors, and those who are retired.
  • Paul displayed a deep passion for diversity and inclusion with in our church.
  • Paul expressed a commitment to supporting the Region as it moves forward with the process of becoming an Open and Affirming Region.

After a thorough conversation with Paul, the Regional Board voted unanimously to recommend to the Regional Assembly that Paul Allen be called to be the next Regional Minister-President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northern Lights Region.

 

 

VIRTUAL SPECIAL REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
DECEMBER 9th at 9 am AKST/10 AM PST/11 MST

Moderator Bill Jennison is calling a special assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northern Lights Region for Saturday, December 9th at 9 am AKST/10:00 am PST/11:00 am MST.  The assembly is called to consider the calling of a new Regional Minister & President of the Northern Lights Region.  The meeting will be held digitally through Zoom.  The Zoom link will be shared later with those who have registered for the assembly.  You may register for the assembly by using the link included in this announcement.

REGISTER THROUGH 12/7/23

Each congregation is entitled to two voting representatives at the assembly.  The Moderator or Pastor of each congregation must certify the congregation’s representatives to the regional office no later than December 7th.  All clergy with standing are also voters at the assembly.  Everyone is encouraged to register and attend the assembly whether a voter or not.

The proposed candidate is meeting with the regional board on November 18th and further information will be shared with the region following that meeting.

The decision to call a regional minister is one of the most important a region can make.  Please make sure you are a part of this decision by registering and attending the regional assembly on December 9th.

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, September 20, 2023

On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the Search Committee met to discuss the results of our first round of interviews with selected candidates.  We further narrowed the field, are in the process of contacting references, and have scheduled a second round of interviews.

We will be meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 to formulate interview questions specific to each of the candidates.

An updated reminder about the search process:

Next Steps:

  • When the Search Committee narrows the field to one candidate, we will meet together with the candidate in person and decide whether or not to recommend them to the Northern Lights Regional Board.
  • Once a candidate is recommended to the Regional Board, they will meet with the candidate in person and decide whether or not to recommend them to the specially called Northern Lights Regional Assembly.
  • When a candidate is presented to the specially called Regional Assembly, they will introduce themselves and respond to questions. The voting delegates will decide whether or not to extend a call to the Northern Lights Region.  And if extended a call, the candidate will decide whether or not to accept that call.

If everything works out, the newly called Regional Minister will begin work as soon as they are released from their current position – which can range from immediately to 60 or even 90 days.  Official installation will take place at the Regional Assembly in May 2024.

As with any ministerial search, potential candidates’ names and conversations remain confidential until made public as a recommendation to the region.  The only candidate’s name that will be known outside the search committee is the final candidate.

We ask for your continued patience and prayers as the Search Committee continues their work, and for the person God is calling to be the next Regional Minister in the Northern Lights Region.

Thank you for your prayers,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, August 31, 2023

Since today’s Northern Lights Express shared information about an anticipated specially called Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northern Lights Region sometime later this fall, it is time for another update on where the Search Committee is in the Regional Minister search process and what will happen next.

On Thursday, August 24, 2023, the Search Committee met with our Regional Minister Search Partner, Rev. Dr. LaTaunya (Toni) Bynum, Regional Minister Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of the Northern California-Nevada Region. Ahead of the meeting, Toni sent candidates’ profiles, responses to our questions, and the independent evaluator’s rating sheet to the Search Committee.

The Search Committee met the following Tuesday, August 29, 2023, to discuss the candidates and narrow the field to those deemed most qualified.  We scheduled the first round of interviews with those individuals for the second week in September.

Next Steps:

  • After the first round of interviews, the Search Committee will meet to further narrow the field. Search Committee members will contact references.  We will also write interview questions specific to each remaining applicant and schedule a second round of interviews with the remaining candidates.
  • When the Search Committee narrows the field to one candidate, we will meet together with the candidate in person and decide whether or not to recommend them to the Northern Lights Regional Board.
  • Once a candidate is recommended to the Regional Board, they will meet with the candidate in person and decide whether or not to recommend them to the specially called Northern Lights Regional Assembly.
  • When a candidate is presented to the specially called Regional Assembly, they will introduce themselves and respond to questions. The voting delegates will decide whether or not to extend a call to the Northern Lights Region.  And if extended a call, the candidate will decide whether or not to accept that call.

If everything works out, the newly called Regional Minister will begin work as soon as they are released from their current position – which can range from immediately to 60 or even 90 days.  Official installation will take place at the Regional Assembly in May 2024.

As with any ministerial search, potential candidates’ names and conversations remain confidential until made public as a recommendation to the region.  The only candidate’s name that will be known outside the search committee is the final candidate.

We ask for your patience and prayers as the Search Committee continues their work, and for the person God is calling to be the next Regional Minister in the Northern Lights Region.

Thank you for your prayers,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, July 24, 2023

The Position Announcement for the Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northern Lights Region was posted on May 15, 2023. It was circulated widely throughout the regional and general church.

The Search Committee took the month of June off while we waited for people to submit letters of interest by June 30, 2023. Those who expressed interest were asked to submit a written response to questions by July 31, 2023, to our Regional Minister Search Partner, Rev. Dr. LaTaunya (Toni) Bynum, Regional Minister Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of the Northern California-Nevada Region. Toni will then pass along the written responses and search and call profiles to an independent evaluator.

At our July 10th meeting, the Search Committee developed a rating sheet for the independent evaluator to use when looking at profiles and written responses to our questions. The evaluator will send a report to Toni, who will then meet with the Search Committee to present the report along with profiles and written responses from those who expressed interest.

The Search Committee also developed a list of questions for the first round of interviews.

Please continue to pray for the Search Committee and their work, and for the person God is calling to be the next Regional Minister in the Northern Lights Region.

Thank you for your prayers,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, July 1, 2023

The window for applicants to submit letters of interest for the position of Regional Minister is closed.  Our Regional Profile and the job description for the Regional Minister position may still be viewed at northernlightsdisciples.org/regional-profile.

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, May 15, 2023

At our April 20th meeting, the Search Committee finalized a draft of the Northern Lights Regional Profile. We then sent the profile to our Regional Minister Search Partner, Rev. Dr. LaTaunya Bynum, for feedback. At our May 8th meeting, we determined that the profile was ready to send to the Regional Board for approval at their May 14th meeting.

We are happy to report that the Regional Profile was approved and the Position Announcement for the Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northern Lights Region has been posted!

Next steps:

  1. Applicants have until June 30, 2023 to submit a letter of interest to the Search Committee Chair, Karrin Lewis, at rmsearch@northernlightsdisciples.org.
  2. Applicants will then be asked to submit a response to questions in writing.  They will have until July 31, 2023 to submit their written responses to our Regional Minister Search Partner.
  3. Profiles and written responses will be evaluated by an independent evaluator according to the priorities gleaned from the Regional Profile.
  4. The independent evaluator will send a report to our Regional Minister Search Partner.
  5. Our Regional Minister Search Partner will meet with the Search Committee to present search and call profiles and other paperwork on each candidate.

In addition to the Search Committee and their work, please pray for the person God is calling to be the next Regional Minister in the Northern Lights Region!

Eastertide Blessings,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, April 2023

At our April 20, 2023, meeting we approved a final draft of the Regional and Ministerial Profiles and sent them to our Regional Minister Search Partner, Toni Bynum, Regional Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada, for feedback.

We anticipate receiving Toni’s feedback prior to our May 8, 2023, meeting so we can finalize the profiles and submit them to the Northern Lights Regional Board for approval at their May 14, 2023, meeting.

Once the profiles are approved, the position opening for the Regional Minister and President of the Northern Lights Region will be announced.

Thank you to all those who continue to hold us and our work in your prayers.

Eastertide Blessings,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, March 2023

Search Committee members brought ideas from the listening sessions to our March 9th meeting, working to put together a first draft of our Regional Profile (who we are as the Northern Lights Region) and our Regional Minister Profile (what we are looking for in a Regional Minister in the Northern Lights Region). We also put together a list of possible questions which we will finalize for use later when we interview candidates.

At our April 20th meeting we plan to finalize the profiles and seek feedback from our Regional Minister Search Partner, Toni Bynum, Regional Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada. We hope to then submit the profiles to the Northern Lights Regional Board for approval at their May meeting.

Once the profiles are approved, the position opening for the Regional Minister and President of the Northern Lights Region will be announced.

Thank you to all those who continue to hold us and our work in your prayers.

Lenten Blessings,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, February 2023

After our January 2023 meeting, Debbie Jennison went through the data she collated from the many Zoom and in-person listening sessions held around the region last fall to pull out the pieces specific to the position of Regional Minister. She sent those results to the committee to review prior to our February 9, 2023, meeting.

The search committee used the listening session responses to identify that which defines us as the Northern Lights Region AND what we are looking for in a Regional Minister. The listening session participant responses also raised possible questions to ask candidates to write to or to use when interviewing candidates.

The ideas identified at our February meeting will be used to write a first draft of the Regional Profile and Regional Minister Profile at our March 9, 2023 meeting.

We again thank all those who participated in the listening sessions and ask you all to continue to hold us and our work in your prayers.

Blessings,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

From the Regional Minister Search Committee, January 2023
At our November 2022 meeting the committee decided not to meet in December. During that time Debbie Jennison graciously offered to collate the data from the many Zoom and in-person listening sessions held around the region.

At the January 2023 meeting, Debbie updated us on her progress. Since the information from the listening sessions will be used to write the Regional Profile AND the Regional Minister Position Description, as well as three or four questions for applicants to respond to in their letter of interest, Debbie is going through the data again to pull out those pieces specific to the position of Regional Minister. She plans to send out the collated results to the committee to review prior to our next meeting (moved to February 9, 2023, 6-8 PM PST).

We talked about the importance of NOT rushing the timeline for our work (typically 12-18 months):

1) to allow the region to experience an intentional interim time between Sandy’s departure and when the new regional minister is called, and
2) to take time to carefully sift through, prioritize, and make use of the information we gathered from the listening sessions – which will be the focus of our February meeting.

We thank all those who participated in the listening sessions and ask everyone to continue to hold us and our work in your prayers.

Epiphany Blessings,
Karrin Lewis, Chair
NL RM Search Committee

 

 

Updated listening session opportunities to date:

  • Northern Lights Region-wide sessions
  • Salish Sea Area
    • Bellingham (@ FCC Bellingham): 10/23 at 12 pm PDT
  • Tahoma Area
    • Sumner (@ Sumner FCC – including FCC Puyallup & FCC Kent): 10/29 – 10 am PDT
  • Columbia Area
    • Moscow (@ United Church of Moscow, ID): 10/24 at 7-9 pm PDT
    • Yakima (@ Englewood Christian Church): 10/26 at 1-3 pm PDT
    • Spokane (@ Country Homes CC): 11/1 at 5:30 pm PDT
  • Big Sky Area
    • Billings (@ Billings CC): 11/5 at 10 am MDT (coffee/roll 9:45)
    • Cane Ridge West: 11/19 at 12:30 pm MT (soup lunch 12 pm)

 

 

Regional Minister Search updates & next steps – September 2022 Report to the Board

In July, members of the Regional Minister Search Committee facilitated listening sessions at our two youth camps (Cane Ridge West and Gwinwood).

The Committee’s August meeting was spent with the Rev. April Johnson, Executive Director of Reconciliation Ministries, who led us through two hours of antiracism training specific to our Regional Minister search process.

The next step in preparing a regional profile and job description for posting the Regional Minister opening in the Northern Lights Region is to conduct more Regional Minister Search listening sessions around the Northern Lights Region. Our goal is to hold in-person sessions in each of the four areas (Salish Sea, Tahoma, Columbia, and Big Sky), as well as region-wide listening sessions on Zoom.

Many may wonder what the Northern Lights Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is AND what role a Regional Minister plays in a region.

While governed at the congregational level, ALL of the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in Alaska, Washington, Northern Idaho, and Montana make up the Northern Lights Region. It is through the Northern Lights Region that our churches are connected with each other and with the general Disciples church in Indianapolis.

Our Regional Minister-President serves many vital roles: clergy and congregational care, regional program oversight, Search and Call assistance, administrative responsibilities, denominational and ecumenical representation, and promoting the Northern Lights Region’s vision and mission.

We are confident that God is already working to prepare our region for a new Regional Minister AND preparing our new Regional Minister for us! That is why the Search Committee is eager to hear your thoughts as we walk through the process together.

Watch the Northern Lights Region calendar as Regional Minister Search listening sessions are scheduled.

So far, the following Regional Minister Search listening sessions have been scheduled:

  • NL Region
    • Board Retreat 9/23-24
    • Congregational Pastors 10/11, 11:30 am PDT
    • Regional Chaplains 10/11, 6:30 pm PDT
    • Region via Zoom 10/15, 10:00 am PDT
    • Region via Zoom 10/27, 6:30 pm PDT
  • Salish Area
    • Bellingham 10/23, 12:30 pm PDT
    • Seattle – TBD
  • Tahoma Area
    • Sumner 10/29, 10:00 am PDT
  • Columbia Area
    • Moscow, United Church 10/24, 7:00 pm PDT
    • Yakima, Englewood CC 10/26, 1:00 pm PDT
    • Spokane, Country Homes CC 11/1, 5:30 pm PDT
  • Big Sky Area
    • TBD

We also invited the NL Regional Transformation Team to meet with us at our next meeting on October 3, 2022.

Prayerfully,

Karrin Lewis
Chair, Northern Lights Regional Minister Search Committee

 

 

Update from the Regional Minister Search Committee – July 16, 2022:

RM Search Committee Orientation June 6, 2022:

Our Regional Minister Search Partner, Toni Bynum, Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada, oriented the search committee to the Regional Minister Search Process on Zoom.

First Committee Meeting July 11, 2022:

The full committee met via Zoom.

Timeline:

It is difficult to set a concrete timeline as there are some elements that we have control over and some that we do not. Typically, the process takes 12-18 months.

Anti-racism training for full committee.

We will all do this together. We have requested a trainer from Reconciliation Ministries. This is an important piece to ensure that the committee is open to hearing from to all applicants.

Input from various groups within the region:

  • Our first listening session took place at Regional Assembly on May 22, 2022.
  • Two listening sessions are scheduled, one at each of the Chi Rho and CYF camps at Cane Ridge West and Gwinwood.
  • The committee is working on reaching out to additional groups of folks to schedule listening sessions in the coming weeks.

Meeting Schedule:

The Regional Minister Search Committee set regular meetings via Zoom on the first Monday of each month, 6:30 pm (PDT)/7:30 pm (MDT) through the end of 2022:

August 1
September 12 (first Monday is Labor Day)
October 3
November 7
December 5

Next Steps:

Using input from the listening sessions, we will write a Regional Profile and a Regional Minister Job Description.

Questions and Comments may be directed to the RM Search Committee Chair, Karrin Lewis, at RMSearch@northernlightsdisciples.org.

 

 

Report to the Northern Lights Regional Assembly – May 21, 2022

Report                                        Regional Minister Search Committee                                    #22-2

Dear Friends of the Northern Lights Region,

In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Northern Lights Region, when there is a Regional Minister vacancy, a search committee is selected and confirmed by the Regional Board, to come together to lead the process of calling the next Regional Minister.

The following people consented to serve on the committee and have been confirmed by the Regional Board.

Barb Lancaster, Big Sky Area, layperson         Debbie Jennison, Columbia area, layperson
John Richards, Tahoma Area, layperson         Rachael Gumber, Salish Sea Area, layperson
Stephen Underwood, Big Sky Area, clergy     Guy Schmielau, Columbia Area, clergy
Leslie Smith, Salish Sea area, layperson         Karrin Lewis, Tahoma Area, layperson, Chair
Amy LaCroix, Tahoma Area, clergy (Regional Moderator-Elect and ex officio member)

Orientation of the committee will be led by our Regional Minister Search Partner, LaTaunya “Toni” Bynum, Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada, who will be walking with us on this journey.

The integrity of this process requires the participation of the member churches gathered throughout the Northern Lights Region.  Your voice is very important.  As we begin this work, the first task is to develop a profile of our Region that will enable prospective candidates to have a better understanding of who we are and what our hopes and dreams are for the work of the church through our Region.

There will be a series of Regional gatherings to share in prayer and conversation.  Members of the Regional Minister Search Committee will be present to lead the prayers, facilitate conversations and listen to your hopes and dreams for the Region.  We anticipate that each gathering will last approximately an hour and a half.  In order to reach as many people as possible the meetings will be held via Zoom.  One will be scheduled during a monthly Fireside Chat and another during a Saturday Shine session.  More information will be shared in the coming weeks with specific details about these gatherings.  To begin the prayers and conversations, we will meet in person on May 22, 2022 at 9 AM in the worship space at Regional Assembly (30 minutes prior to worship).

On the website for the Northern Lights Region you will find updates and other information concerning this process and journey.  We welcome your input and ideas.  We covet your prayers as we move forward in a way that honors and glorifies God.

Shalom,
Karrin Lewis, Search Committee Chairperson
RMSearch@northernlightsdisciples.org

 

 

Meet the Regional Minister Search Committee – May 2022

Hello, Friends of the Northern Lights Region,
Our Region continues to embrace change. We celebrate the ministry of our Regional Minister, the Rev. Sandy
Messick, and send our love and prayers as she prepares to follow God’s call to a new region. AND we look forward to discovering the “something new” that God continues to make in the Northern Lights Region.

It is my privilege to chair the Search Committee for the upcoming Regional Minister vacancy. The following
people consented to serve with me. They have been confirmed by the Regional Board and will be
commissioned at Regional Assembly later this month.

Barb Lancaster, Big Sky Area, layperson        Debbie Jennison, Columbia area, layperson
John Richards, Tahoma Area, layperson        Rachael Gumber, Salish Sea Area, layperson
Stephen Underwood, Big Sky Area, clergy    Guy Schmielau, Columbia Area, clergy
Leslie Smith, Salish Sea area, layperson        Karrin Lewis, Tahoma Area, layperson, Chair
Amy LaCroix, Tahoma Area, clergy (Regional Moderator-Elect and ex officio member)

Orientation of the committee will be led by our Regional Minister Search Partner, LaTaunya “Toni” Bynum, Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada, who will be walking with us on this journey.

Your voice is very important. We have a series of questions we will use to begin conversations during the upcoming series of listening sessions. Two among those questions are:

What gifts, experience and commitments do you believe the next Regional Minister needs in order to be effective in leading the Northern Lights Region forward with health and vibrancy?

What gifts, experience, and commitments do you believe the next Regional Minister needs in order to be effective in leading the Northern Lights Region with health and vibrancy?

While most of our listening sessions will be via Zoom, we will meet in person on May 22, 2022 at 9 AM in the worship space at Regional Assembly (30 minutes prior to worship), to open these prayerful conversations.
Look for updates and other information concerning the Search Committee’s process and journey on the website of the Northern Lights Region. We invite your input and covet your prayers as we move forward!

Shalom,
Karrin Lewis, Search Committee Chairperson
RMSearch@northernlightsdisciples.org