Senior Pastor Transition Update

Discernment Process Update and Next Steps

Over the past several months, the Church Council engaged in a thoughtful period of discernment focused on CUC’s future leadership. As part of this process, we offered a series of listening sessions to the congregation, providing space for members to share hopes, priorities, and perspectives for the next chapter of ministry at Columbine United Church. Participants across the multiple sessions represented a broad cross-section of worship service attendance, ages, and length of membership.

Several themes emerged with remarkable consistency. Congregation members expressed a strong desire to continue prioritizing children, youth, and young families, while also preserving CUC’s progressive, open, and affirming identity. Community, connection, and belonging were repeatedly named as core strengths to be protected and strengthened. Participants emphasized the importance of stability and continuity during this season of transition, alongside thoughtful growth, strong preaching and teaching, and clear, confident leadership.

When asked about leadership needs, the congregation described a next Senior Pastor who is a strong administrator and organizational leader, a gifted preacher and teacher, and a relational community builder aligned with CUC’s values.

Feedback regarding Rev Jill VanderWal reflected a high degree of alignment with these priorities. Participants highlighted her leadership, deep knowledge of the congregation, commitment to young families, ability to build community, and strong preaching and teaching. A straw vote taken during the sessions showed overwhelming support for Jill VanderWal serving as the next Senior Pastor, with many noting that this support was grounded in trust, continuity, and shared vision rather than convenience.

Based on the discernment process and the clear themes from the listening sessions, the Council’s next step is to connect with the Denver Presbytery to share these findings and begin the formal process of moving forward. This will happen in the coming days.

Following that conversation, the Council will schedule a congregational meeting with the purpose to vote on extending a Call to Jill VanderWal to be our next Senior Pastor. If the congregation votes in favor, the Denver Presbytery will still need to approve that Call at a Presbytery meeting in August or October. After the congregational vote, the council and the nominating committee will move forward to form a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) to address the resulting vacancy. 

Specific timelines for these next steps are still being determined, and more information will be shared as it becomes available. The Council is deeply grateful for the congregation’s thoughtful participation, prayerful engagement, and trust throughout this discernment process.

Please direct any questions, comments, or concerns to

council@columbineunitedchurch.org.

Bullet Point Recap

• The Council completed a congregational discernment process, including listening sessions with over 100 participants across both worship services.

• Clear priorities emerged: children, youth, and young families; strong community and belonging; progressive, open, and affirming theology; and stability during transition.

• Congregation feedback emphasized the need for a strong leader, preacher/teacher, administrator, and community builder aligned with CUC’s values.

• Feedback showed overwhelming support for Jill VanderWal as the next Senior Pastor, citing trust, continuity, leadership, and alignment with congregational priorities.

• Next steps:

• Council will share findings with the Denver Presbytery.

• The congregation will be asked to vote to extend a call to Jill VanderWal as Senior Pastor.

• After the vote, it will be determined whether a Senior or Associate Pastor role remains open, and a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) will be formed to search for that position.

• Timelines are still being finalized; updates will be shared as they become available.

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Current Council Members: Rod Eggert, Megan Pickett, Rena Koesler, Anne Prather, Lori Halverson, Susan Lummanick, Ily Holbrook, Jennifer Milstead, Jim Sult