Spark |

Jared Boyd Jared Boyd jb@centralvineyard.com

Ben Collins Ben Collins lawhound@hotmail.com Kori McCollum Kori McCollum kori@elementville.com Hailey Akah Hailey Akah haileyakah@gmail.com Tori McGraw-Rowe Tori McGraw-Rowe tori.mcgrawrowe@gmail.com Daniel Dybdahl Daniel Dybdahl dybdahl.daniel@gmail.com Ben Gibbons Ben Gibbons bendgibbons@yahoo.com

Parker Frey Parker Frey parker@centralvineyard.com Thomas McGraw Thomas McGraw mcgrawtg@gmail.com Karl Boettcher Karl Boettcher karl@centralvineyard.com Ebiji Akah Ebiji Akah e.a.akah@gmail.com Kathryn M Ray Kathryn M Ray katiray@mac.com June Reynolds June Reynolds junereyn@gmail.com Hannah Estabrook Hannah Estabrook hannahruthestabrook@gmail.com

11.07.2025

Dear Central Vineyard Board Members,

I'm writing to update you on our Elder’s Discernment process related to the future leadership structure of Central Vineyard Church beyond the interim role that I gave my “yes” to nearly two years ago.

The headline:
We, the provisional elders, have reached full consensus in recommending to the Board that Parker and I step into the roles of Co-Lead Pastors beginning in January 2026 (more below).

We are deeply grateful for the discernment process itself. Over these past months, we have engaged in prayer, honest dialogue, and spiritual reflection together. There has been ample opportunity to practice our Way of Proceeding—working toward clarity, advocating for positions with candor, listening for the Spirit’s movement, and naming both the challenges of this season (and the discernment required) as well as the graces.

Parker and I remain settled and filled with hope and vision for the future of Central Vineyard. We continue to sense the Spirit’s invitation to lead together—not as a compromise, but as a shared vocation. We believe this model of co-leadership, however long God would have us in it, is strategic and timely for the next season of Central Vineyard’s life. The conclusion of the remaining elders is that there is a high degree of trust in both Parker and I, and that if we have together discerned that this is how we would like to lead --- "...it seems good to us and to the Holy Spirit" as best as we can see.

Background and Context

As you know, this discernment process has taken place downstream of several prior decisions and commitments. The “downstream” nature of this discernment was something that featured relatively large in some of our dialogue. The Board originally called me to serve as Interim Lead Pastor for a two-year term, with the possibility of continuation based on mutual discernment. Parker’s hiring was also made with the hope that, in time, we would explore and discern together how his leadership might grow into a more substantial pastoral role.

As elders, we recognized that we were not beginning from a blank slate entirely, but entering into the flow of discernment that had already begun between me, Parker, and the Board. I think because this was the case, we had some work to do to recognize that we’re not just here to rubber-stamp a decision that had already been made. It was and has been really important to me for our provisional elders to know that if anyone had concerns about either the model of shared leadership, or either Parker or I's posture or abilities as leaders, that this process was designed such that people could give voice to those concerns. We understand that, given some of the upstream processes (which probably could have been different under different circumstances), that our task was not to reopen every option but to discern specifically whether Parker and I leading together was a viable option with a shared model of leadership.

Our Process

From August through October, we engaged in Module 3 of the Vineyard USA Discernment Course (which I produced in 2024 at VUSA's request), sharing written reflections on our interior movements—what Ignatius would call consolations and desolations. We prayed, listened, and met together several times for conversation and clarification.

Throughout the process, a number of meaningful questions and tensions surfaced:

- How to ensure that the process remained open and not prematurely concluded.
- How to safeguard true discernment amid established authority structures.
- How to clarify roles, responsibilities, and long-term sustainability for a co-lead model.
- How to hold the church’s grief and transition with patience and care.

Rather than dividing us, these questions deepened our trust in one another. They also helped us see some things that we'll need to attend to– namely, holding some space for whom this transition has been hard. We see the need, for example, to host at least one "listening session" before the end of the year (after we announce this new structure) for people to be able to ask questions and name some grief that we believe is still in pockets in the Central Vineyard system.

Consolations and Affirmations

By the close of our process, a shared sense of agreement had emerged. We collectively expressed confidence in the complementary gifts Parker and I bring—Parker’s pastoral steadiness and organizational care alongside my focus on vision, formation, and mentoring of younger leaders.

We sensed that this partnership offers the kind of balance and maturity needed for a church in a “re-rooting” season.

Next Steps

We now bring this recommendation to you, the Central Vineyard Board, for prayerful consideration and confirmation, in accordance with our bylaws. We would welcome any conversations you believe would be helpful in this confirmation.

Once the Board affirms this recommendation, Parker and I will work together with you and the elders to develop a communication plan for the congregation that honors the discernment process, names the decision clearly, and gives space for prayer and response. We recognize that Tori would likely serve as taking lead on some of the strategy of this communication, with support from both Parker and I from our seat as Elders and future Co-Lead Pastors, as well as support from the rest of the CV Board.

Our desired timeline would be that the Board could engage in any further conversations or deliberation and reach a decision by the end of November. We would hope to that the initial communication to the congregation be done via a written letter in the first week of December (or even a bit earlier). Other communications can flow from there.

AND… if there is more that needs to be explored or done or anyone on the board has any desire to lean into the conversation more deeply— let the timeline be nulled! I’d prefer to make sure that we have all voices in the mix and that the process is thorough rather than meet some deadline. I will note that we did communicate at our last congregational meeting that the Board would update the congregation on the future leadership structure in “early December” (If I am remembering correctly).

Thank you for your trust, partnership, and prayerful care during this time of discernment. This has been a deeply formative process for all of us, and we are grateful for each of you and for the steady hand of the Spirit leading us forward.

With peace and gratitude,
Jared Patrick Boyd
(on behalf of the Elder Team)
Interim Lead Pastor, Central Vineyard
11.07.2025

// Jared Patrick Boyd, OCL
Central Vineyard
Interim Lead Pastor
614.205.1124