Pastor Search Updates
The elders encourage the congregation of Valley View to join us in prayer as we work through the process of seeking God's leading for our next senior pastor. Our by-laws prescribe the Board of Elders to appoint a search committee consisting of seven members of which at least three are elders. The search committee has the responsibility to qualify a candidate in regard to character, education, ministerial record, professional abilities, references, and biblical qualifications. The search committee then presents the candidate to the Board of Elders for confirmation by unanimous vote. The Board of Elders then recommends the candidate to the Valley View membership at a called congregational meeting to be approved by a 3/4 majority vote.
Members of Valley View are invited to provide input on the process by emailing .
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December 17, 2024 Update:
The following email was sent to the congregation including an update on the search committee and pastor search process. Please continue to pray for Valley View as we seek God's direction and leading in this process.
Dear Valley View Church Family,
We are writing to let you know about some important updates regarding the Board of Elders and search committee.
Debbie Bedker who has served three four-year terms as an elder at Valley View and was due to roll-off at the end of 2024 has elected to resign her position as an elder. We thank Debbie for her service to Valley View and look forward to her continuing to serve as one of our adult Sunday school teachers, mentors, and prayer partners moving forward.
As you know, it has been a long and difficult season for Valley View as we work through identifying our next senior pastor. After six months, and considering over 40 candidates, the search committee had still not presented a single candidate to the Board of Elders. As more information became available, it was clear to the Board of Elders that the committee had been operating outside the scope prescribed to them by our by-laws. Additionally, cooperation and communication had broken-down to the point that the committee was no longer able to effectively function. Therefore, the Board of Elders found it necessary to dissolve the search committee.
Andre Rivas, who came on the Board of Elders in 2024 and served as the chair of the search committee has elected to resign his position as an elder. Matt Draper, who was affirmed at our last congregational meeting to come on the Board of Elders in 2025 and served as a member of the search committee, has elected to resign from becoming an elder. We thank Andre and Matt for their service to Valley View in these capacities.
Please continue to join us in prayer as we seek God’s leading for Valley View. The Board of Elders is committed to continue shepherding and leading us through this season. We are confident God is working in and through all these circumstances and has a plan for Valley View. Tim Goodyear, our executive pastor, has agreed to continue serving in an interim pastor role through the Christmas season and we will re-evaluate the best next steps starting in January.
We will keep you informed on any decisions made or next steps taken. If you have any questions regarding these updates, you can email them to the Board of Elders at .
Grace and peace,
Bruce Enns, Chris Hausbeck, Dave Prazak, Tim Goodyear, and Andy Burns (elder-elect)
The Valley View Bible Church Board of Elders
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September 15, 2024 Update:
An update was given in the September 15th worship service on the progress of the search committee. The committee has been in prayer and working very diligently in seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have received about 40 applications and are now going through those to review experience, theological alignment with Valley View, and fit for our congregation. We will begin interviewing applicants in the next couple of weeks. Please be praying with the committee as we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in finding the person for our next senior pastor.
You can see the full announcement by clicking HERE and advancing to time mark 19:30 in the video.
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August 18, 2024 Update:
An update was given in the August 18th worship service on the progress of the search committee. Since the last update, the committee has spent time with members of the congregation in focus group settings to better understand the heart of our church and the things that need to be considered as we prepare for this next season. Additionally, the committee has spent time in prayer and reviewing the senior pastor job description developed and approved by the Board of Elders. The position has been posted on churchstaffing.com and the committee will be looking at both internal and external applicants as we seek who God has for us as our next senior pastor. Please continue to lift up the committee in prayer as we work through this process.
Updates will be available at vvbc.org/search or by visiting vvbc.org and clicking on Pastor Search Updates under the What’s Happening drop-down menu.
Members of Valley View are invited to provide input to the search committee directly by emailing .
You can see the full announcement by clicking HERE and advancing to time mark 46:00 in the video.
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June 23, 2024 Update:
An update was given at the end of the June 23rd worship service announcing the appointment of the search committee by the Board of Elders. The search committee will begin meeting to review the requirements and qualifications for the senior pastor outlined in the church's by-laws as they seek who the Lord has for our congregation. Please be praying for discernment and unity of the committee members as they seek the Lord's heart in their next steps and this next season for Valley View.
The members of the search committee are: Andre Rivas (elder and chair), Debbie Bedker (elder and co-chair), Bruce Enns (elder), David Prazak (elder), Donna Anderson (member), Matt Draper (member), and Kennedi Hernandez (member).
You can see the full announcement by clicking HERE and advancing to time mark 1:04:00 in the video.
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April 25, 2024 Update:
The following email was sent to the congregation as a follow-up to the announcement at the end of the April 17th worship service that Pastor John has accepted a call to serve as the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Tempe.
Dear Valley View,
If you missed this past Sunday morning at Valley View, I’m writing to let you know about the special announcement Pastor John made at the end of the service. A few months ago, he was approached by First Baptist Church in Tempe and asked to be considered for the role of senior pastor there. After a season of prayer and seeking God’s leading, John has accepted the call to be their senior pastor. John’s last Sunday at Valley View will be May 19th.
You can see the full announcement from Pastor John by clicking HERE and advancing to time mark 1:34:00 in the video.
These transitions often raise questions of what’s next? Over the next few months, the elders will be working through the process of identifying a new senior pastor for Valley View. During this interim, our staff team will continue with all the ministries of the church. Finally, we will have a preaching team on Sunday mornings throughout the summer.
This is one of those bitter-sweet times in the life of a church. We are sad to see John leave, but we also celebrate with him this new calling God has given him. Please keep John and Stacy and their family in your prayers during this time of transition. Also, please continue to pray for the staff, elders, and people of Valley View as we work through this next season in the life of our church.
Grace and peace,
Tim Goodyear
Executive Pastor
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