Leadership Transition Completed at The City Church
September 18, 2009, Kirkland, WA
Judah and Chelsea Smith were installed as the Lead Pastors of The City Church at a widely-attended Sunday evening installation service on September 6, 2009. The service at the church's Kirkland campus capped off the leadership transition announced by the church's Board of Elders in June, with Judah and Chelsea taking leadership of the church and Wendell and Gini Smith transitioning to a new role as Founding Pastors.
The transition day kicked off at the church's Sunday morning services with Pastor Wendell preaching his final sermon as the Senior Pastor. His sermon focused on one of the key messages of his life - God's plan to build His church, including The City Church and all local churches in Seattle and around the world. Dr. Smith discussed the calling he and Gini received in 1992 to leave the church where they were associates pastors for 20 years and start a church in Seattle. He encouraged the congregation to continue investing their lives in the church. As the Founding Pastors, Pastor Wendell will now focus on writing and the church's network of affiliated churches and Pastor Gini will continue as the church's Executive Pastor.
A number of pastors from the Seattle-area and from around the United States joined The City Church pastors and congregation at the installation service. In addition to the many in attendance, noted church leaders such as T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Reinhard Bonnke, David Yonggi Cho, and John Bevere sent video greetings and letters that were shown or read at the service. Many other letters from church leaders around the world were complied into a book presented to the Smiths.
The evening included a video highlighting The City Church's first 17 years under the leadership of Pastors Wendell and Gini. In addition to Smiths, the keynote speakers were Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, Casey Treat of Christian Faith Center, Frank Damazio of City Bible Church in Portland, Oregon, and Dick Iverson, chairman of Ministers Fellowship International.
The September 6th services and many other City Church services and messages are available for download at the church's www.thecity.org website.
The City Church is a non-denominational church using a multi-site model. The church congregation meets at various locations, with live worship services and preaching simulcast live via satellite to each location. The congregation currently meets at church campuses in Kirkland, Belltown, the Central District, the University District, Issaquah, Mountlake Terrace, and Camano Island. Its network of affiliated churches includes congregations located throughout the United States, as well as in Japan, Mexico, and the Philippines.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Pastor Judah Smith, please contact Christy Adams at 425-803-3233 or christy.adams@thecity.org.
Video of announcement
Questions and Answers
Are Pastors Wendell and Gini leaving?
No, they will remain on staff and on the Board of Elders and actively involved in the Church as Founding Pastors
What will Pastors Judah and Chelsea do?
Pastor Judah will be in charge of the church beginning in September. He will be the primary preacher, casting vision, teaching and training leaders, and leading the church into new areas of ministry as the Holy Spirit leads. Pastor Chelsea will be at his side and more active in leading the church, teaching classes and other areas of ministry. They will both serve on the Board of Elders, and Pastor Judah will become Chairman of the Board.
What will Pastors Wendell and Gini do?
Pastor Wendell will be more involved apostolically (that is, with our other churches) writing and developing training materials and some teaching. Pastor Gini will remain in her executive role, overseeing the administrative structure of the church, working with the new pastors.
When will all this take place?
The special Installation service for Pastors Judah and Chelsea will be Sunday Night Sept. 6th at 6:00 PM at the Kirkland Campus.
Pastor Judah will present his vision for 2010 and beyond at the annual Vision Banquet, on Sunday Night September 13th at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.
Pastor's Perspective: Transitions
Time to change. But fear not. The stars have not moved, the purposes of God are still at work and the Lord who called the past few generations, is calling yet another one- to step up and lead with stars in their eyes.