An Important Update - Celebrating Pastor Randall
Friends of LaSalle, this past week we shared with our members and regular attenders an important update about a member of our staff, Pastor Randall Blakey. We want to share it here with our entire newsletter list as well.
Pastor Randall has decided to leave his role this summer, after 15 years of full-time ministry at LaSalle, and more than 30 years serving the wider church. He has been contemplating this shift for some time, and decided that this is the season to move toward a long-held goal of pursuing a PhD in Pneumatology, as well as utilizing his other interests. We know that in all that he turns toward next he will continue to bless and build up others, as he’s done so richly here in our midst. We are deeply grateful for all the ways he has shaped this community and are committed to honoring, celebrating, and sending him off well in the months ahead!
Please save the date for Sunday, July 19th, for his Celebration Party after worship, where we’ll make space to thank and celebrate Pastor Randall together on his last Sunday at LaSalle. We will share more information about various ways to take part in this celebration in the coming weeks, including through an online portal for notes and video messages.
We want to ensure Pastor Randall ends well and is celebrated wholeheartedly, and we are also already at work putting a strong plan in place for the future. Rev. Liz and Pastor Randall have already begun a structured transition plan, including staffing assessments, a finance consultant review, updated building reserve studies, and knowledge transfer to key staff members. Elder Board Officers have also met to discuss this process and keep healthy and intentional communication happening throughout this process.
We know that this is a significant transition that contains both joy for what's next, and real loss of what has been — for our church, our community, and for Pastor Randall and his family. Even as we plan carefully and move forward with confidence, we invite you to join us in holding this season with care, and praying for everyone involved, especially Pastor Randall and his wife Sonya Blakey. Please read the linked letter from Pastor Randall to read more on this decision in his own words.
If you have any questions about this transition, please feel free to reach out to Rev. Liz or Moderator Kari. We'll be in touch with more details on this in the coming weeks, and will share this news publicly online soon as well. Thank you for your presence and participation in the life of LaSalle as we walk into this next chapter together.
With much gratitude – Rev. Liz and Moderator Kari