Dear Union Community:
Moments before first opening our doors, we gathered in prayer and held hands while Awake My Soul played overhead. We prayed that God would awaken the souls of people who walked in our doors...the soul of our neighborhood, and the soul of the church. I had no idea the degree to which Union would awaken my own soul. As I write this letter, my soul runs deep with joy, mourning, excitement, opportunity and especially gratitude. I’m writing to let you know that on June 15th, I will finish my time as Founding Pastor and Executive Director for Union to serve as a Director of Product Management for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church.
One of the vows Methodist pastors make when we are ordained is not to remain in any one place longer than we should. As Union grows increasingly diverse in every way, it is clear to me that this is an organization that will gladly follow the lead of someone who does not carry so many privileged identities. Furthermore, I’ve long held that in order for Union to remain innovative, it cannot keep a founder for too long. I do not want to stand in the way of the gifts that new leadership and perspective can uniquely offer. Despite the pandemic, Union is more stable than it has ever been. Now is the right time to pass leadership to someone else so that they can lead Union in cultivating new sparks that will set our city on fire in ways that I have never imagined.
Union’s greatest success stories occur when someone applies the confidence and skills they’ve learned at Union to serve beyond Union’s walls. I have the incredible opportunity to take what I’ve learned at Union and be a part of innovative work that will impact and reimagine ministries across the globe. The emotional and spiritual labor you have done to awake my soul will continue as I serve in new ways through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. I will do my best to make you proud.
Bishop Mike McKee and our District Superintendent, Debra Hobbs Mason, are working with Union leadership to appoint a new Executive Director and Pastor, effective July 1. I hope to see you out on the lawn this week at A Room for Vincent and at a celebration of our years in ministry together on June 15th at 8pm as a part of the Kuneo worship gathering. You don’t need to be religious to be a part of it. All are welcome. I’d love to sing Home and Awake My Soul with you one last time.
Peace,
Rev. Mike Baughman
Executive Director & Founding Pastor